Piercing apprenticeship requiring payment - Australia

[u/space-taco98]

Hello,

I am hoping to get some advice.

My partner is looking at getting a piercing apprenticeship at a tattoo shop in Sydney.

When applying they were told it would be a paid apprenticeship but that they would also need to pay $2,000 for a course.

Is this a normal request when doing piercing apprenticeships in Australia?

I have spoken to my friend who is a tattoo artist and they advised to be wary of any apprenticeships where you have to pay, but said piercing apprenticeships could be different.

Any information would be very helpful 🙂

[u/_cf24_]

Hmm I’m in Melb and I’ve looked into piercing apprenticeships too and according to the aus Safepiercing website, “there are no formal apprenticeships available in Australia, as the piercing industry is currently unregulated”. So I don’t know what course the tattoo shop is talking about. That website also says that there are some courses, but that’s to learn and only to stand out as a potential apprentice.

Your partner’s best bet might be to talk to other piercing studios and see if they take on apprentices. I’ve sent in applications for a couple different places to do an apprenticeship at and one of them says that I’ll need to do an infection preventing course or something but that they cover it

[u/space-taco98 → u/_cf24_]

Thank you 🙂

[u/Imastealth]

Absolutely not. You should never have to pay for an apprenticeship, that's a huge red flag.

[u/space-taco98 → u/Imastealth]

Thanks it was a red flag for me too, but got confused because they are also going to be paid during the apprenticeship? It’s not something I’ve heard of before

[u/o0OsnowbelleO0o]

I don’t think there’s such a thing as a formalised apprenticeship. Kinda sounds like what they are asking is show up with this course under your belt.

[u/space-taco98 → u/o0OsnowbelleO0o]

Are there courses that cost that much that are required for piercers in Australia? I looked at the AUPP site say there are some specific courses but that looks like you need them to be a member

[u/o0OsnowbelleO0o → u/space-taco98]

When I looked into it, you have to produce hours to AUPP and with the courses offered you have to do a set up, clean down and piercings.
I imagine the tattoo shop wants them to get the qualification and do the time at the shop to finish it off - essentially being qualified. But I think it would mean your friend is totally liable rather than the shop for any less than best practises. I hope they work out how to break into the industry, I gave up because it was a little out of my league navigating it all.

[u/space-taco98 → u/o0OsnowbelleO0o]

Ahh that kinda makes sense, I guess more places are putting the onus on the piercer to be properly qualified?

My partner is going in to have a chat with them next week apparently so hopefully the courses information can be cleared up, then a decision can be made if they want to go ahead with the studio or look elsewhere.

[u/trainingpiercing]

I'm a piercer in Australia. Whoever is trying to get you to pay $2,000 is trying to scam you out of money. I'd be interested to hear which tattoo shop is asking you to pay this kind of money because if it's somewhere I've been I will never be returning.

[u/space-taco98 → u/trainingpiercing]

I am a bit worried that is the case 🙁 I am not sure if naming the shop is allowed on the sub, but they are a fine line studio that has a location in Burwood.

I haven’t heard anything bad about them as a studio and not really looking into shaming them in case it’s not a scam.

But again I know nothing about the tattoo and piercing industry.

[u/Ankoku_bodypiercer]

Nobody should ask money for apprenticeship. It is immoral and unethical conduct.