Why relocate to North Hollywood for a tattoo apprenticeship?

North Hollywood is a strong choice because it puts you inside Los Angeles. You get a large, diverse client base and a deep pool of working Tattoo Artists.

The NoHo Arts District is packed with theaters, galleries, and creative businesses. Training around other working creatives keeps you motivated and plugged into a professional scene. You learn how a real tattoo studio runs, not just how to tattoo.

Getting around is also easier than in much of LA. The North Hollywood Metro station connects two lines. The Metro B Line runs toward Hollywood and Downtown LA. The Metro G Line runs across the Valley.

Ink Different Tattoos offers its Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship right here in North Hollywood. You train at Thirty One Tattoos (Instagram) under Mentor Gabe Motta. It’s one of our 60+ tattoo apprenticeship locations nationwide.

What should you expect when moving for tattoo training?

Expect a new city, a new routine, and a lot of hands-on practice. Progress comes from showing up consistently more than from raw talent.

Your first weeks focus on the basics: drawing, line work, hygiene, and how a tattoo studio runs day to day. You practice on synthetic skin long before you tattoo a live client. Each phase builds on the one before it.

You’ll also build relationships that matter. The Mentors and Tattoo Artists around you become your first professional network. They give you feedback, answer your questions, and can vouch for your work later on.

How do you prepare to relocate for an apprenticeship?

Prepare by handling the practical side early. That means housing, a budget, a sketchbook, and a clear plan for leaving your current job.

Here’s a simple order to follow.

• Step 1: Apply first. Fill out Ink Different’s questionnaire to see if the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is the right fit before you pack anything.
• Step 2: Set your budget. Plan for rent, transportation, supplies, and everyday costs in Los Angeles. Save enough to cover your first three months.
• Step 3: Find housing near North Hollywood. A short commute to the tattoo studio makes it easier to arrive early and stay late.
• Step 4: Keep drawing. You don’t need a portfolio to apply, but regular sketching gives your Mentor a starting point on day one.
• Step 5: Learn your tools. Review the tools every beginner Tattoo Artist should know so the basics feel familiar when you walk in.
• Step 6: Plan your exit. Give notice at your current job and settle any loose ends so you can focus once training starts.

Pro Tip: Visit North Hollywood before you sign a lease. Walk the neighborhood with Discover Los Angeles’ NoHo Arts District guide. Then test your commute to the tattoo studio at the times you’d actually travel.

What does it cost to live near North Hollywood?

Living near North Hollywood costs more than living in many smaller cities. Plan a budget that covers rent ($1,500 to $2,500 or more per month), transportation, and training supplies.

Many people cut costs by sharing a place with roommates or living along the Metro G Line, a short ride from North Hollywood. Ink Different also offers interest-free payment plans, so you can spread out the cost of your training.

It helps to think of it like paying for college. The difference is that you’re paying for a hands-on skill, without years of student debt.

Sorting out your budget early keeps money stress from pulling your focus away from training.

How do you get a tattoo license in California?

To tattoo legally in North Hollywood, you register as a body art practitioner with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. You also complete county-approved bloodborne pathogen training and follow California’s body art safety rules. Ink Different guides you through each step.

California sets statewide body art standards through the Safe Body Art Act, and county health departments enforce them. In LA County, your registration also requires proof of hepatitis B vaccination or a signed declination form.

The OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard shapes the hygiene training you’ll learn during your tattoo apprenticeship. You’ll practice sterilization, infection control, and client safety steps that protect you and every client.

Moving from another state? You’ll still need to register with the county where you work. Read our guide to tattoo license requirements in California so you know what to expect before you arrive.

What is the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship?

The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is Ink Different’s four-phase tattoo apprenticeship, which runs 18 to 24 months. It takes beginners from their first drawings to job-ready skills, with licensing support along the way.

You train in a working tattoo studio under a professional Tattoo Artist. In North Hollywood, that’s Gabe Motta at Thirty One Tattoos.

• Phase 1 (Art and Design Principles): Drawing fundamentals, line work, design, and safety basics.
• Phase 2 (Machine Mastery and Practice Tattooing): Machine handling, practice on synthetic skin, hygiene, and client consultation.
• Phase 3 (Supervised Tattoos): Tattooing real clients under direct Mentor supervision.
• Phase 4 (Junior Artist Externship): Working with your own clients, building your portfolio, preparing for licensing, and starting to earn an income.

When you finish, you have job-ready skills, licensing support, and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios. It’s also a career that automation can’t take over. Read why Tattoo Artists are still essential in an AI-driven world.

It’s also a real college alternative, giving you a hands-on skill and a professional network instead of student debt. Learn more about how tattoo apprenticeships are gaining ground as a solid alternative to college.

What is the Master Mentorship program?

The Master Mentorship is Ink Different’s one-year, in-person intensive. It’s for beginners and experienced Tattoo Artists who want to master a style, grow their business, and build skills faster.

You train directly with Master Mentors including Al Fliction, Liz Cook, Kyle Dunbar, Boneface, and Jordi Pla. Each one brings their own specialty and industry connections.

The focus is on mastering a specific style, such as realism, blackwork, or Japanese, and growing your career. If owning a tattoo studio is your goal, it covers that too.

Is tattoo training accessible if English is not your first language?

Yes. Ink Different has Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego. That way, you can train in the language you’re most comfortable with.

If you’re moving to Southern California and prefer Spanish, Orange County and San Diego are both within driving distance of North Hollywood.

It’s all part of our “Good Humans” culture. You join a supportive community where you’re treated as a person, not a number. Your Mentors and fellow apprentices want to see you succeed.

Ready to become a Tattoo Artist?

Relocating to North Hollywood for a tattoo apprenticeship is a big move. It also puts you in a real tattoo studio, learning from a Mentor who works in the industry every day.

At Thirty One Tattoos, you train under Gabe Motta through Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship. You get hands-on training, licensing support, and interest-free payment plans. When you finish, you also get a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios.

Each Mentor works with a small number of apprentices, so spots are limited.

Ready to take the next step? Apply now to the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship. Not sure yet? Fill out our quick questionnaire to see if it’s the right fit for you.