Frequently Asked Questions

The "Big" Questions

The most important questions about learning to tattoo online, answered.

Can you really learn to tattoo from an online course?

Yes, and thousands of our students already have!

The traditional belief that you can only learn tattooing through a shop apprenticeship is outdated. Ben Fisher created Tattoo Method Pro to allow anyone to learn to tattoo without the gatekeeping of apprenticeships, structured, step-by-step e-learning courses with over 200 lessons covering everything from machine setup to advanced tattooing techniques.

Our courses aren't like watching random YouTube tutorials in no particular order - they're a proven curriculum designed to take you from complete beginner to professional standard.

I have no artistic ability whatsoever. Is this course still for me?

Absolutely! You don't need to be a natural-born artist; tattooing is a skill, and like any skill, it can be learnt with the right guidance and practice.

Our courses start from the basics and include drawing fundamentals specific to tattoo design.

Remember: Some of the best tattoo artists working today didn't consider themselves "artistic" before they started - what matters most when learning to tattoo is your willingness to put in the work and follow the process.

How is this different from just watching free YouTube tutorials?

There's a huge difference between our courses and self taught learning across platforms like YouTube.

Free YouTube content is scattered, inconsistent, and often taught with no structure. This was you can spend hundreds of hours jumping between videos, learning things in the wrong order, and picking up bad habits, all while still not feeling confident enough to pick up a machine.

Our courses are structured so that each lesson builds on the last, with practice exercises, demonstrations, and a clear progression path to build your skills.

How long will it take before I can tattoo real people?

Our courses are self-paced, so whether you've got two hours a day or ten, you can work through it at a speed that suits your life. The key word is practice when learning to tattoo the more reps you put in on practice skin, the faster you'll progress.

All students are tattooing on practice skin after learning the foundation theory, and you may feel confident enough to do your first real tattoo within a few months of consistent practice but we recommend that students do not rush the process!

Please note: We recommend that you do not tattoo yourself or others while you are taking the course. As a training provider we have an ethical responsibility to ensure our students are following best practice, and tattooing yourself or other before you are ready has professional and legal impacts which can hinder your career as a tattooist.

I don't live in the UK. Is the course relevant to me?

Yes, our courses are relevant regardless of where you live. We have ensured that our course content focuses on skills and techniques rather than country specific legislaiton so it can be used around the world.

Tattooing is a universal skill, and the techniques and business principles taught in our courses apply no matter where you are, and we have successful students across the world. The only thing which varies across the world is licensing and hygiene regulations, so we always recommend checking with your local council, or other local authority, what the requirements are for tattoo licencing in your area.

What if I just want to tattoo as a hobby, not as a career?

Our courses work just as well for hobbyists as it does for career-changers, you'll still earn to tattoo properly and safely regardless of your end goal.

Plenty of students take the course in order to learn tattooing as a hobby - learning the craft for their own enjoyment, or add to learn a fun new skill, and as such we welcome all students to our courses!

Can you really learn to tattoo from an online course?

Yes, and thousands of our students already have!

The traditional belief that you can only learn tattooing through a shop apprenticeship is outdated. Ben Fisher created Tattoo Method Pro to allow anyone to learn to tattoo without the gatekeeping of apprenticeships, structured, step-by-step e-learning courses with over 200 lessons covering everything from machine setup to advanced tattooing techniques.

Our courses aren't like watching random YouTube tutorials in no particular order - they're a proven curriculum designed to take you from complete beginner to professional standard.

I have no artistic ability whatsoever. Is this course still for me?

Absolutely! You don't need to be a natural-born artist; tattooing is a skill, and like any skill, it can be learnt with the right guidance and practice.

Our courses start from the basics and include drawing fundamentals specific to tattoo design.

Remember: Some of the best tattoo artists working today didn't consider themselves "artistic" before they started - what matters most when learning to tattoo is your willingness to put in the work and follow the process.

How is this different from just watching free YouTube tutorials?

There's a huge difference between our courses and self taught learning across platforms like YouTube.

Free YouTube content is scattered, inconsistent, and often taught with no structure. This was you can spend hundreds of hours jumping between videos, learning things in the wrong order, and picking up bad habits, all while still not feeling confident enough to pick up a machine.

Our courses are structured so that each lesson builds on the last, with practice exercises, demonstrations, and a clear progression path to build your skills.

How long will it take before I can tattoo real people?

Our courses are self-paced, so whether you've got two hours a day or ten, you can work through it at a speed that suits your life. The key word is practice when learning to tattoo the more reps you put in on practice skin, the faster you'll progress.

All students are tattooing on practice skin after learning the foundation theory, and you may feel confident enough to do your first real tattoo within a few months of consistent practice but we recommend that students do not rush the process!

Please note: We recommend that you do not tattoo yourself or others while you are taking the course. As a training provider we have an ethical responsibility to ensure our students are following best practice, and tattooing yourself or other before you are ready has professional and legal impacts which can hinder your career as a tattooist.

I don't live in the UK. Is the course relevant to me?

Yes, our courses are relevant regardless of where you live. We have ensured that our course content focuses on skills and techniques rather than country specific legislaiton so it can be used around the world.

Tattooing is a universal skill, and the techniques and business principles taught in our courses apply no matter where you are, and we have successful students across the world. The only thing which varies across the world is licensing and hygiene regulations, so we always recommend checking with your local council, or other local authority, what the requirements are for tattoo licencing in your area.

What if I just want to tattoo as a hobby, not as a career?

Our courses work just as well for hobbyists as it does for career-changers, you'll still earn to tattoo properly and safely regardless of your end goal.

Plenty of students take the course in order to learn tattooing as a hobby - learning the craft for their own enjoyment, or add to learn a fun new skill, and as such we welcome all students to our courses!

Why Tattoo Method Pro rather than a traditional apprenticeship?

Our courses are a great alternative for traditional apprenticeships, or can be used as further support for current apprentices.

What about getting a traditional apprenticeship instead?

If you can get a genuine apprenticeship with a reputable artist who will invest proper time in your development: we say "Brilliant, go for it!".

The reality is, that most people can't. Studios receive hundreds of requests and take on very few apprentices, and many apprenticeships involve months or years of unpaid work with minimal actual teaching. You might spend your days mopping floors and doing coffee runs rather than learning to tattoo.

Our courses give you the same foundational knowledge that most apprenticeships provide, in a structured way for self guided learning. As a student, you can use the course alongside an apprenticeship to accelerate your learning.

If you can get a genuine apprenticeship with a reputable artist who will invest proper time in your development: we say "Brilliant, go for it!".

The reality is, that most people can't. Studios receive hundreds of requests and take on very few apprentices, and many apprenticeships involve months or years of unpaid work with minimal actual teaching. You might spend your days mopping floors and doing coffee runs rather than learning to tattoo.

Our courses give you the same foundational knowledge that most apprenticeships provide, in a structured way for self guided learning. As a student, you can use the course alongside an apprenticeship to accelerate your learning.

Is it legal to tattoo without an apprenticeship?

In many countries, there's no legal requirement to have completed an apprenticeship before tattooing professionally.

In most cases, you will need proper hygiene knowledge, an inspection of your studio, and a licence or registration alongside the right training in tattooing.

However the guidance around licence and registration can vary depending on where you are in the world, so we always recommend checking with your local council, or other local authority, what the requirements are for tattoo licencing in your area.

I'm worried the tattoo industry won't take me seriously if I'm self-taught.

Here's the truth: the industry judges you on the quality of your work, not on your CV.

No client asks to see your apprenticeship certificate before sitting in your chair, instead they look at your portfolio. Tattoo Method Pro founder Ben Fisher taught himself to tattoo with no formal apprenticeship, and from there built a studio with a months-long waiting list and clients flying in from around the world.

The best approach is to focus on producing consistently brilliant work, and the industry will respect you for it.

I'm in my 30s/40s/50s — am I too old to start?

Not even close, there is no age limit on learning to tattoo. Our students include everyone from people who are just starting out choosing their careers, and retirees in their 60s looking to switch things up!

Some students find that starting their tattoo journey later in life brings with them the maturity, life experience, and a strong work ethic that younger artists can sometimes lack.

What style of tattooing does your courses teach?

We have a range of courses which cover different styles of tattooing.

For example: Fundamentals of Tattooing teaches the foundation skills that underpin every tattoo style. Line work, shading, needle depth, machine setup, skin theory, stencil application, and more. These are universal skills that apply whether you want to specialise in realism, traditional, Japanese, fine line, blackwork, or anything else. Once you've mastered the fundamentals, you can take your work in whatever direction inspires you.

Our Tattoo Method Pro course takes students through 15 different styles of tattooing to ensure a broad range of styles are tried while learning, and support students in developing their individual style. As an artist Ben Fisher's is an industry expert in black & grey realism, and in this long course you'll get detailed guidance on this style.

Is it legal to tattoo without an apprenticeship?

In many countries, there's no legal requirement to have completed an apprenticeship before tattooing professionally.

In most cases, you will need proper hygiene knowledge, an inspection of your studio, and a licence or registration alongside the right training in tattooing.

However the guidance around licence and registration can vary depending on where you are in the world, so we always recommend checking with your local council, or other local authority, what the requirements are for tattoo licencing in your area.

I'm worried the tattoo industry won't take me seriously if I'm self-taught.

Here's the truth: the industry judges you on the quality of your work, not on your CV.

No client asks to see your apprenticeship certificate before sitting in your chair, instead they look at your portfolio. Tattoo Method Pro founder Ben Fisher taught himself to tattoo with no formal apprenticeship, and from there built a studio with a months-long waiting list and clients flying in from around the world.

The best approach is to focus on producing consistently brilliant work, and the industry will respect you for it.

I'm in my 30s/40s/50s — am I too old to start?

Not even close, there is no age limit on learning to tattoo. Our students include everyone from people who are just starting out choosing their careers, and retirees in their 60s looking to switch things up!

Some students find that starting their tattoo journey later in life brings with them the maturity, life experience, and a strong work ethic that younger artists can sometimes lack.

What style of tattooing does your courses teach?

We have a range of courses which cover different styles of tattooing.

For example: Fundamentals of Tattooing teaches the foundation skills that underpin every tattoo style. Line work, shading, needle depth, machine setup, skin theory, stencil application, and more. These are universal skills that apply whether you want to specialise in realism, traditional, Japanese, fine line, blackwork, or anything else. Once you've mastered the fundamentals, you can take your work in whatever direction inspires you.

Our Tattoo Method Pro course takes students through 15 different styles of tattooing to ensure a broad range of styles are tried while learning, and support students in developing their individual style. As an artist Ben Fisher's is an industry expert in black & grey realism, and in this long course you'll get detailed guidance on this style.

What do I need to learn to tattoo?

It can be hard to know what you need to start learning, find common questions answered below.

What equipment do I need, and how much will it cost?

Our courses include a full list of all equipment you will need to complete the lessons.

A solid starter kit including a tattoo machine, power supply, needles, ink, and practice skin can usually be put together for a few hundred pounds. You don't need the most expensive gear to start, but focus on buying quality materials wherever you can.

What is the time commitment, and I do this alongside my full-time job?

100%. Our courses are completely self-paced, with most students working through the lessons in evenings and weekends around their existing commitments.

There's no live schedule, no deadlines, and no pressure. You log in when you can, pick up where you left off, and progress at your own speed.

Will your courses teach me how to actually run a tattoo business?

Yes, and this is one of the things that sets our courses apart from other online tattooing courses.

Ben Fisher learned the hard way that being a great artist means nothing if nobody knows you exist. The Tattoo Method Pro course covers the business side of tattooing, towards the end of the course, creating an experience that turns first-time clients into lifelong customers. It's not just about tattooing — it's about building a sustainable career.

What equipment do I need, and how much will it cost?

Our courses include a full list of all equipment you will need to complete the lessons.

A solid starter kit including a tattoo machine, power supply, needles, ink, and practice skin can usually be put together for a few hundred pounds. You don't need the most expensive gear to start, but focus on buying quality materials wherever you can.

What is the time commitment, and I do this alongside my full-time job?

100%. Our courses are completely self-paced, with most students working through the lessons in evenings and weekends around their existing commitments.

There's no live schedule, no deadlines, and no pressure. You log in when you can, pick up where you left off, and progress at your own speed.

Will your courses teach me how to actually run a tattoo business?

Yes, and this is one of the things that sets our courses apart from other online tattooing courses.

Ben Fisher learned the hard way that being a great artist means nothing if nobody knows you exist. The Tattoo Method Pro course covers the business side of tattooing, towards the end of the course, creating an experience that turns first-time clients into lifelong customers. It's not just about tattooing — it's about building a sustainable career.

General FAQs

Information about anything else!

What if I buy the course and it's not for me? Is there a refund?

You are entitled to a statutory 14 day cooling off period after purchase, but we want our to feel completely confident in their decision when purchasing a course from Tattoo Method Pro, so if you work through the course and genuinely feel it hasn't delivered what was promised, get in touch with our support team by emailing [email protected] and we'll sort it out.

We're not in the business of taking people's money and leaving them disappointed. Ben Fisher built these courses to change lives, and if it's not the right fit, we'll have an honest conversation about it.

How much access do I get? Is it a subscription or a one-off payment?

For the Fundamentals of Tattooing: One payment, lifetime access. For the Tattoo Method Pro course, we offer options to pay in a lump sum for immediate lifetime access, or to split the price of the course over 12 months for lifetime access when fully paid. No monthly fees, no hidden charges, no content locked behind extra paywalls.

Once you're on any of our courses, that includes any future updates or new content added to the course. You can revisit lessons as many times as you need, at your own pace, forever.

Do I get any support, or am I on my own once I've paid?

You're not on your own, the Tattoo Method Pro team is here Monday to Friday to answer any questions you have as you're working through the course.

We also have two student Facebook communities where you can ask questions, share your progress, get feedback on your work, and connect with other students at every stage of the journey.