Accredited In Person Tattoo Course
Embark on an enthralling journey into the world of tattoo artistry with our all-encompassing In Person Tattoo Course. Ideal for both aspiring artists and enthusiasts keen to sharpen their skills, this course delivers a comprehensive exploration of contemporary tattoo techniques.
Instructor
Gary is the founder and lead instructor of Skinart Academy, with over 23 years of experience in the tattoo, piercing, microblading, and permanent makeup (PMU) industries. He has trained hundreds of students globally, combining hands-on expertise with in-depth theoretical knowledge. Gary is passionate about empowering aspiring artists with world-class training and ongoing mentorship.
CPD Accredited Course
Gain industry recognition with our CPD Accredited tattoo course. Our accreditation demonstrates high-quality training standards and is widely recognized in the EU and many non-EU countries.
Become a Registered Tattoo Artist with the BAQA
Get recognized as a certified professional in the tattoo industry with our BAQA-approved training. We will automatically register you with the BAQA as an accredited tattoo artist.
Earn your certification and start your career with confidence.
Tattoo Equipment
(Optional Equipment Add-On)
You can choose whether to include our high-quality equipment kit during checkout. The kit is yours to keep after completing your in-person training. While attending the course, we will supply all necessary consumables. If you already have your own equipment and prefer not to purchase the kit, please bring your setup with you to the training.
OUR STUDIOS
Gateway Shopping Mall
Established in 2024, this studio represents our continued growth and commitment to innovation in the industry.
Pavilion Shopping Center
Established in 2007, the Pavilion studio stands as a testament to our lasting presence and reputation.
uShaka Marine World
Established in 2001, the uShaka location is our longest-standing studio, soon to undergo an exciting transformation under the Skinart brand.
CHECK OUT THE WORK OF SOME OF OUR STUDENTS

















TATTOO COURSE CURRICULUM
- Introduction to the Fundamentals of Tattooing
- Files and Folders Provided
- An Introduction to Tattoo Art
- Using Themes
- Different Art Styles
- The 12 Most Popular Themes
- Brief History of Tattoos (Parts 1 & 2)
- Licensing Requirements
- Town Planning
- Running a Home Business
- Health and Safety Regulations
- Contact Your Health Department
- About Licensing and Registration
- Public Health Concerns, Including Covid-19
- Designing Tattoos: Overview and Purpose
- Microsoft Image Composer Setup and Usage
- Creating and Simplifying Designs Quickly
- Assignments on Tattoo Design (1, 2, 3)
- Stencil / Trace Methods and Applications
- Rules of Placement
- Applying a Trace on Skin and Practice Materials
- Introduction to Coil and Pen Machines
- Building and Assembling Coil Machines
- Coil Build Discussion, Tips, and Cartridge Conversion
- Maintenance: Quick Tune, Test Run, and Wrapping
- Linework and Technique
- Packing Black, Black Work, Tribal and Mauri
- Soft Shading: Black and Gray Tattoos
- Color Tattoos: Traditional, Watercolor, and Realism
- Special Techniques: Script, Font, Minimalist, and Fur Tattoos
- Understanding the Human Skin and Needle Depth
- Sterilization and Cross Contamination
- Tattoo Aftercare Instructions
- Workstation Cleanup
- Photography and Social Media Skills for Tattoo Artists
- Your First Practical on a Model
- Final Words and Certification
Access
There is no rush to complete the course; you can take as long as you like.
Total Watch Hours
There are over 10 hours of quality video training for you to access.
Duration
4 Days In Person Training
+ Extra Online Training
Certificates
Accredited Tattoo Certificate
Upon completion, you will receive a Tattoo Training Certificate, proving your expertise in professional tattooing.
Accredited BBP Certificate
You will also receive a Accredited Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Certificate, ensuring you are trained in hygiene, safety, and infection control for the industry.
Licensing Process Explained
In South Africa, the licensing process for tattooing, piercing, permanent makeup (PMU), microblading, and tattoo removal varies by local authority but generally involves several key steps. Practitioners must apply for a Special Treatments License from their local council, which requires proving their competence and adherence to strict hygiene standards. This often includes submitting detailed information about their premises and operational procedures, completing a health and safety course, and sometimes passing a specific examination. Additionally, for treatments like PMU and microblading, practitioners may need to show certificates from recognized training courses. The aim of these regulations is to ensure that all procedures are performed safely and to a high standard, protecting both practitioners and clients.
Testimonials
HOW TO GET STARTED
Getting started with our in-person tattoo training is simple and risk-free. Here’s how it works:
- Select Your Option: Choose whether to include the optional equipment kit (with or without equipment) and click Add to Basket.
- Proceed to Checkout: Complete the standard online checkout form. We recommend selecting Direct Deposit (EFT) as your payment method.
- No Immediate Payment Required: At this stage, you won’t need to make any payment. An automated PDF invoice will be emailed to you with all our company and banking information.
- Pay a R5,000 Deposit: To secure your place and begin the online preparation training, simply pay the deposit. The deposit unlocks immediate access to your online pre-course modules.
- Confirm Dates & Venue: We recommend discussing available in-person training dates and venue locations with us to ensure your preferred session is viable.
- Pay the Balance Later: The remaining balance can be paid any time before or on the first day of your in-person training. This ensures you feel safe and confident knowing you only pay the full amount once you arrive and meet us in person.
We’ve structured this process to make it easy, transparent, and secure for all our students.
In Person Training Locations
We provide in-person training in the following areas:
- Hillcrest, KZN
- Boksburg, GP
- Pretoria West, GP
- Kuilsriver, WC
- + More Areas
Please log in to view upcoming in-person dates
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If you are unable to attend in person training we do have a completely online training option also.
Online OptionCONTACT US
If you have any questions, we are more than happy to chat with you! Drop us a message on Message Skinart, and someone from the Skinart team will respond to you personally.
We are passionate about helping people succeed in this industry and would love to answer any questions you may have about our training. Our team is here to guide you every step of the way and welcome you to join one of our courses.
We also offer a wide range of other courses, please make sure to check them out below.











Fernando Patel (verified owner) –
So glad I signed up!
Hao Aguilar (verified owner) –
Loved the hands-on approach!
Nikos Haugland (verified owner) –
So grateful for Garys guidance.
Mpho Rodriguez (verified owner) –
Luningning Iyer (verified owner) –
Ali Luna (verified owner) –
This course made me rethink my entire tattooing approach.
Anika Redcloud (verified owner) –
Santiago Redcloud (verified owner) –
My healed tattoos look so much better now!
Amira Svensson (verified owner) –
Benedicto Katsaros (verified owner) –
Broke everything down step by step.
Benedicto Al-Farsi (verified owner) –
Super easy to follow.
Zev Martinez (verified owner) –
Sophie Zulu (verified owner) –
Tariro Santos (verified owner) –
Fernando Petrov (verified owner) –
Luca Zahra (verified owner) –
Excellent!
Takoda Al-Farsi (verified owner) –
Everything was explained so well.
Takahiro De la Cruz (verified owner) –
Liam Kobayashi (verified owner) –
His passion for tattooing is inspiring!
Ioannis Whitefeather (verified owner) –
Already booked my first paid client!
Olivia Chen (verified owner) –
Breaking everything down step by step was so helpful.
Benedicto Moyo (verified owner) –
Great for building a strong foundation!
Tatiana Chen (verified owner) –
My tattooing skills improved massively!
Astrid Vasquez (verified owner) –
Feeling ready to take my skills to the next level!
Vikram Greenberg (verified owner) –
The examples were super helpful.
Liam Strongbear (verified owner) –
Hadar Haddad (verified owner) –
This course helped me avoid common tattooing mistakes.
Benjamin Mensah (verified owner) –
Andres Chen (verified owner) –
Exceeded my expectations.
Angelica Theodorakis (verified owner) –
Carlos Ngubane (verified owner) –
Fernando Salim (verified owner) –
Ready to take on the world!
Seojun Malik (verified owner) –
The feedback from the instructor gave me so much confidence.
Jose Greenberg (verified owner) –
Best breakdown of tattoo techniques I’ve ever seen!
Yuki Al-Farsi (verified owner) –
Looking back at my old tattoos, I can’t believe the difference!
Carlos Malik (verified owner) –
My dream of becoming a tattoo artist is now a reality!
Hassan Christodoulou (verified owner) –
Diego Tallchief (verified owner) –
The practical sessions helped me refine my shading techniques.
Shira Papadopoulos (verified owner) –
This is only the beginning of my tattooing journey!
Olivia King (verified owner) –
The explanations were simple but so effective.
Yusuf Rossi (verified owner) –
The instructor’s live corrections improved my technique instantly.
Zev Fernandez (verified owner) –
The live demos helped me understand needle depth perfectly.
Xiao Nightwalker (verified owner) –
Can’t wait to start my journey as a tattoo artist!
Liam Eze (verified owner) –
This training helped me understand hand speed and pressure much better.
Cheyenne Mensah (verified owner) –
Really appreciated the detailed explanations during practice.
Luca De la Cruz (verified owner) –
Feeling ready to start tattooing professionally after this course!
Nour Andersen (verified owner) –
Getting hands-on guidance with lining was exactly what I needed.
Anika Ortega (verified owner) –
Leon Nkosi (verified owner) –
Great experience working on practice skins before real models!
Xiao Runningwolf (verified owner) –
Loved the hands-on practice with the tattoo machine!