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

In Kansas, your training hours only count toward a license if you log them in a board-approved program under a Tattoo Artist the state has licensed as a trainer. Teaching yourself, or learning from someone who isn’t approved, doesn’t count. Finding the right Mentor is the whole game, and walking into shops to ask usually gets a 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 tattoo apprenticeship in Overland Park, Kansas?

It’s professional training where you learn tattooing, hygiene and client care directly from an experienced Mentor inside a working tattoo studio. It’s the proven path into the industry, and a serious college alternative.

A tattoo apprenticeship focuses on one thing: making you a job-ready Tattoo Artist. You learn by doing, guided by someone who tattoos for a living.

It’s like learning to swim. Real skill only comes with someone experienced in the water beside you. That’s why tattoo apprenticeships have become a respected alternative to college.

Why should you start a tattoo career now?

Tattooing is a human craft automation can’t replace, the Kansas City area pays well, and the metro’s tattoo scene is active.

The scene is close by. The Divine Intervention Tattoo Convention held its third edition at Kansas City’s historic Union Station in early 2026. For a Tattoo Apprentice, a show at a landmark venue nearby is a chance to see professional work up close.

The pay is worth training for. As of September 2025, Tattoo Artists in nearby Kansas City, KS, earn an average of $48.62 an hour, and the Kansas average is $45.82 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.

Your nearest studio today

Our closest tattoo apprenticeship location to Overland Park is Lucky Gal Tattoo & Piercing in Des Moines, Iowa, about 205 miles north on I-35. It’s a relocation option rather than a commute, but if you’re ready to start now, you can apply to train there. Iowa licenses Tattoo Artists separately from Kansas, so our team will help you plan your hours and licensing for whichever state you’ll work in.

How long does a tattoo apprenticeship take?

Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship takes 18 to 24 months across four phases, which gives you room to complete Kansas’s 1,200 required hours:

• Phase 1, drawing and design: Drawing, line work and shading theory.
• Phase 2, hygiene and safety: Sterilization and the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Phase 3, machine work: Practice on synthetic skin to build muscle memory.
• Phase 4, real clients: Supervised tattooing on real clients, counting toward the 50 completed procedures Kansas requires.

You move forward as you master each skill, not because a semester clock ran out.

Do you need art experience to start?

No. Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship teaches drawing, line work and machine handling from day one.

Many of today’s best Tattoo Artists started as complete beginners. What matters is your willingness to show up, take feedback and put in reps.

Read our guide on mistakes aspiring tattoo apprentices should avoid, and get familiar with the tools every beginner Tattoo Artist should know.

How do you become a tattoo artist, step by step?

Apply once to get matched with a Mentor, build your foundations, log your hours, complete your procedures under supervision, then get licensed.

• Step one: Commit and apply. Fill out an application and get honest about why you want this career.
• Step two: Get matched. We work to pair you 1:1 with a working Tattoo Artist.
• Step three: Learn the fundamentals. Master drawing, line work, shading and machine handling.
• Step four: Practice on synthetic skin. Build muscle memory with your Mentor watching.
• Step five: Tattoo real clients under supervision. Every completed procedure counts toward Kansas’s 50.
• Step six: Get licensed and go pro. Complete your hours, apply to the Kansas Board of Cosmetology and step into your guaranteed job offer.

Once you’re working, use these platforms to help Tattoo Artists build their brand.

What does Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship offer?

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

Here’s what you get:

• Phase-based structure: A clear path that moves you forward as you master each skill.
• Beginner-friendly: No experience required.
• Interest-free payment plans: Spread the cost while you train.
• Licensing support: Help logging your hours and procedures for the Kansas Board of Cosmetology.
• A guaranteed job offer: When you finish, you get a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios.
• “Good Humans” culture: A supportive, family-like community.

This is a career that comes with confidence, built on craftsmanship.

What is the Master Mentorship program?

Master Mentorship is a one-year, in-person intensive where you learn from celebrity and award-winning Master Mentors to master a specific style, grow your career or build a tattoo studio of your own.

You train with our 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 fits beginners who want an intensive experience and experienced Tattoo Artists ready to level up.

How do you get a tattoo license in Kansas?

Kansas licenses every Tattoo Artist through the Kansas Board of Cosmetology, and the rules are built around your tattoo apprenticeship:

• A licensed trainer: Your training must happen in a board-approved program under a Tattoo Artist the board has licensed as a trainer.
• 1,200 hours minimum: You complete at least 1,200 hours before you can apply.
• 50 completed procedures: You submit client records for at least 50 tattoos completed during your tattoo apprenticeship.
• Ongoing education: To renew, you complete five hours of continuing education in infection control and bloodborne pathogens.

Kansas City, MO follows Missouri’s rules, so train under Kansas rules if you’ll work in Overland Park. You’ll also learn aftercare from the American Academy of Dermatology. For other states, see how to get your tattoo license in Texas and how long a tattoo license takes in Colorado.

Ready to become a Tattoo Artist?

In Kansas, your hours only count with an approved Mentor. We’re building our Overland Park Mentor network now, and applying puts you first in line.

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

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