We’re matching Tattoo Apprentices in Spokane with working Tattoo Artists now. Apply today to be first in line.

In Washington, your tattoo license belongs to you, not the tattoo studio. The state licenses every Tattoo Artist individually, and you can only tattoo at a licensed location, so your training needs to happen inside one. The usual way in is to walk into shops and ask, and most say no. Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship replaces the cold ask with one application, and we match you 1:1 with a working Tattoo Artist who has agreed to mentor you.

What is a Spokane tattoo apprenticeship?

It’s training led by a Mentor, where you learn safety, drawing, machine handling and work with real clients in a professional tattoo studio.

Months of guided practice build discipline, technique and an eye for design. By the end, you’re not guessing your way through a tattoo. You’re working with confidence.

A real tattoo apprenticeship pairs you with a Mentor who corrects your mistakes in real time. That feedback loop is the fastest way to grow.

Why start your tattoo career in Spokane, Washington?

Spokane’s Tattoo Artists have a history of building their scene together, Washington pays well, and our Mentor network is growing here.

The local community lifts each other up. Spokane-area Tattoo Artists co-founded the Lilac City Tattoo Expo at the Spokane Convention Center, with local tattoo studios contributing Tattoo Artists to the show. For a Tattoo Apprentice, that’s the kind of community you’d be training into.

The pay is worth it. As of December 2025, Tattoo Artists in Spokane earn an average of $51.95 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. Statewide, the Washington average is higher, at $58.19 an hour as of September 2026.

Pro Tip: Tattoo Artists who show up consistently and treat clients like neighbors build reputations that last.

How long does a tattoo apprenticeship take?

Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship takes 18 to 24 months across four phases, and you never advance before you’re ready:

• Phase 1, drawing and design: Drawing, line work, shading and color.
• Phase 2, hygiene and safety: Sterilization and the bloodborne pathogens training Washington requires.
• Phase 3, machine work: Depth and consistency on synthetic skin.
• Phase 4, real clients: Supervised tattooing on real clients at a licensed location.

Compare that to a four-year degree and the debt that comes with it. In about two years, you walk away with a hands-on trade.

Do you need experience to become a Tattoo Artist?

No. Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship teaches drawing and machine control from the ground up.

Some of the best Tattoo Artists we’ve trained had never touched a tattoo machine. What they had was hunger, humility and a willingness to put in reps.

“Not creative enough” is a story that costs people careers. Creativity is a muscle you can train.

Before you begin, learn from others who came before you. Our guide on mistakes aspiring tattoo apprentices should avoid can save you months of wasted effort.

How do you become a Tattoo Artist in Spokane step by step?

Apply once to get matched with a Mentor, learn fundamentals and safety, get your bloodborne pathogens certificate, work with real clients under supervision, then get licensed.

• Step one: Make the decision. Stop treating tattooing as a “someday” fantasy.
• Step two: Apply and get matched. One application starts the process of pairing you 1:1 with a working Tattoo Artist.
• Step three: Learn the fundamentals. Master drawing, line work, shading and color.
• Step four: Get safety-certified. Complete bloodborne pathogens training based on the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Step five: Tattoo real clients under supervision. Your Mentor guides every move.
• Step six: Get licensed. Apply for your Washington tattoo artist license, then step into your guaranteed job offer.

Explore the tools every beginner tattoo artist should know.

What are the tattoo licensing rules in Washington?

The Washington State Department of Licensing licenses Tattoo Artists individually. Here’s how that fits your tattoo apprenticeship:

• Your license, your name: You hold your own state tattoo artist license, not one tied to the tattoo studio.
• 18 and certified: You must be at least 18 and hold a current bloodborne pathogens certificate when you apply.
• Licensed locations only: Every place tattooing happens, including events, must hold its own shop, mobile or event license.
• Aftercare matters: You’ll learn to guide clients with the American Academy of Dermatology.

Our licensing support walks you through the application.

Rules shift by state, so if you ever relocate, you will want to understand the process, similar to our guides on how to get your tattoo license in Texas or transferring a tattoo license to California.

Why choose Ink Different Tattoos for your training?

Ink Different matches you 1:1 with a Mentor, trains you in person and gives you a guaranteed job offer when you finish. We’ve trained Tattoo Artists since 2011.

We’re a family of “Good Humans” who believe excellence comes from relationships, repetition and accountability.

Tattooing is one of the few careers a machine cannot replace. A client wants a human hand, a human eye, and a human connection on their skin forever. We explain exactly why in our piece on why tattoo artists are still essential.

What programs does Ink Different offer?

Ink Different offers two paths: the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship for aspiring Tattoo Artists, and Master Mentorship for Tattoo Artists ready to specialize and grow a brand.

The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship

Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship takes 18 to 24 months across four phases, with 1:1 mentorship, licensing support and interest-free payment plans. It’s available in 60+ locations nationwide, and we’re building our Spokane Mentor network now.

• 1:1 mentorship: Each Mentor takes on only two Tattoo Apprentices per tattoo studio.
• Beginner-friendly: No art degree or portfolio required.
• Interest-free payment plans: Spread the cost while you train.
• Licensing support: Help with your bloodborne pathogens certificate and Washington license.

When you finish, you get a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios. This is a career that comes with confidence.

The Master Mentorship

Master Mentorship is a one-year, in-person intensive with award-winning Master Mentors: Al Fliction, Liz Cook, Kyle Dunbar, Boneface, Jordi Pla, Kara Gutierrez, Joey Tattoo, James Vaughn, Big Jaz, Marcel Oliveira, Big Ceeze, BillyJack Gunter, Javi Antunez and Sebastian Murphy. It’s built for mastering a specific style, growing your career and owning a tattoo studio.

Making tattoo training accessible for everyone

Ink Different has Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio and San Diego.

Once you are working, our guide to platforms to help tattoo artists build their brand will help you turn skill into a steady client roster.

Ready to become a Tattoo Artist?

In Washington, your license is yours, but you need a Mentor and a licensed location to earn it. We’re building our Spokane Mentor network now, and applying puts you first in line.

Apply to Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship today. Prefer a softer first step? Book a call or fill out our quick questionnaire for personalized support.