Learn to tattoo in Birmingham
At Birmingham Tattoo College, we believe tattooing is more than art – it's a career path. Our team of certified instructors provides comprehensive training that blends technique, creativity, and safety. With state-of-the-art facilities in Birmingham and programs tailored to all levels, we guide our students from their first lines to becoming professional tattoo artists ready to thrive in the industry.
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DiplomaEst. Birmingham
Tattoo training in Birmingham and the UK
Tattoo training in Birmingham, done properly
If you want to learn to tattoo in the UK, the hardest part has always been finding somewhere structured to train. Apprenticeships are scarce and inconsistent, and short online courses leave you without supervised time on real skin. Birmingham Tattoo College was built to fix that, with accredited tattoo courses that treat the craft like a profession.
Our tattoo courses in Birmingham run as small, assessed classes led by working artists. You begin with hygiene, safety and machine theory, move onto lining, shading and colour on artificial skin, then complete supervised tattoos on live models. Every student leaves with a diploma, a hygiene and blood-borne pathogen certificate, and a portfolio to show studios across the UK.
Whether you are a complete beginner, an aspiring fine line artist, or an established beauty professional, there is a route into professional tattooing below.
Inside the college
Learn in a working studio
Our courses run in a licensed, fully equipped studio in the centre of Birmingham. You work on professional machines from day one, supervised by artists who tattoo for a living, in classes small enough that every line you make is watched and corrected.
01 · Courses
Our tattoo courses in Birmingham
Three routes into professional tattooing, from a complete beginner to an experienced beauty professional. All prices include equipment and materials during the course.
Student & tutor work
Recent work from our studio
A glimpse of the styles our tutors work in and what students build toward, from traditional colour to fine line.
02 · Careers
How to become a tattoo artist in the UK
There is no single national licence to become a tattoo artist in the UK, but studios and clients expect real skill and strict hygiene. The route is the same wherever you train in the country.
- Learn the fundamentals. Take a structured tattoo course that covers hygiene, machines, needles and skin before you tattoo.
- Practise on real skin. Build supervised hours on artificial skin and live models under a working tutor.
- Build a portfolio. Assemble a folder of supervised work that shows range and clean technique.
- Meet hygiene standards. Understand cross-contamination control and the local requirements UK studios expect.
- Find a placement or set up. Use your portfolio to secure a studio position, guest spot, or open your own space.
03 · Who it is for
Who our tattoo courses are for
Complete beginners
Never held a machine? The 10-Day Beginner Diploma takes you from zero to tattooing a live model in two weeks.
Beginner diploma
New fine line artists
Want to specialise in the fine line and single-needle style clients ask for most? Start with the 4-Day certificate.
Fine line course
Beauty professionals
Already work in SPMU, microblading or aesthetics? Add fine line tattooing in a focused two-day intensive.
2-day course04 · Why study here
A college, not a crash course
A structured curriculum
Every programme follows an assessed syllabus, from hygiene and safety through to line, shade and colour on real skin.
Small groups
We keep every intake small so a working tutor watches your hands, not a lecture hall. Real bench time, real feedback.
Assessed and certified
You leave with a diploma, a hygiene and blood-borne pathogen certificate, and a portfolio of supervised work.
05 · Questions
Common questions about our tattoo courses
How much does a tattoo course in Birmingham cost?
Our 10-day beginner tattoo course is £1,499. The 4-day fine line course is £849, and the 2-day fine line course for beauty professionals is £699. Every price includes equipment and materials during the course.
How long is the beginner tattoo course?
The beginner course runs for 10 days over two weeks, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Week one covers theory and safety; week two is hands-on tattooing.
Do I need experience or art qualifications?
No experience is needed for the 10-day and 4-day courses. Basic drawing skills help. The 2-day fine line course is only for people who already work in aesthetics or beauty.
Do I tattoo real skin and live models?
Yes. You practise on artificial skin first, then complete a supervised tattoo on a live model under a tutor before you finish.
What qualification do I get?
Students receive a Birmingham Tattoo College diploma or certificate and a certificate in hygiene and blood-borne pathogen awareness, plus a portfolio of supervised work to show studios.
Is the fine line course suitable for microblading or SPMU professionals?
Yes. The 2-day fine line course is designed for aesthetics and beauty professionals (SPMU, microblading, needling, beauty therapy) who want to add fine-line tattooing to their services.
What is the difference between the 4-day and 2-day fine line courses?
The 4-day course is for complete beginners and covers fine line from scratch. The 2-day course is a faster intensive for people who already have hands-on skin and hygiene experience in beauty or aesthetics.
Do you help me find work or set up my own studio?
Yes. Every course includes ongoing student support and studio-startup guidance, from building your portfolio to understanding what a Birmingham studio needs.
What do I need to tattoo legally in the UK?
You must be over 18 and work to strict hygiene and cross-contamination standards, which every course covers in full. In England most tattooists must register with their local council under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, and we guide you on that and on health & safety requirements.
How do I book a place?
Choose a course and date on the booking page and pay securely by card or Klarna. A deposit reserves your place and the balance is due before the course starts.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Deposits are non-refundable. Your deposit covers administration and registering you with our awarding body (CPD), which we are charged for at the time of booking. You can reschedule to a later date for free up to 14 days before your start date. For cancellations or reschedules requested within 14 days of the start date, we reserve the right not to offer a refund or free reschedule.
Reviews
What our students say
5.0 · Google Reviews
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★★★★★
I started the 10-day course never having held a machine and tattooed a live model by the end. The small group meant the tutor actually watched every line I did.
Aoife M.10-Day Beginner Tattoo Course -
★★★★★
The 4-day fine line course was exactly what I wanted. I came out able to hold a clean single-needle line and I've been building a fine-line portfolio since.
Cian D.4-Day Fine Line Course -
★★★★★
I run a microblading studio and the 2-day course let me add fine-line tattoos to my services in a weekend. It assumed I already knew skin and hygiene, which saved so much time.
Niamh R.2-Day Fine Line Course -
★★★★★
Genuinely the most professional training I looked at in Birmingham. Real bench time, real feedback, and the hygiene side was taken seriously from day one. Worth every penny.
Seán O'B.10-Day Beginner Tattoo Course -
★★★★★
Travelled in from Brighton for the beginner diploma and it was completely worth the trip. Small class, patient tutors, and I left with a portfolio I could actually show studios.
Méabh K.10-Day Beginner Tattoo Course -
★★★★★
I'd done an online course before and learned almost nothing. This was the opposite. Hands on machines from the first morning, corrected in real time. I finally feel ready to guest.
Jack F.4-Day Fine Line Course -
★★★★★
The hygiene and blood-borne pathogen side was covered properly, which is exactly what studios asked me about at interview. I walked in with a certificate and a portfolio and got the spot.
Orla C.10-Day Beginner Tattoo Course -
★★★★★
The small group meant I never felt lost or rushed. The tutors are working artists so the feedback is honest and current, not something read off a slide. Best decision I've made for my career.
Darragh L.10-Day Beginner Tattoo Course -
★★★★★
As an SPMU artist the 2-day course was perfect. Focused, no filler, and it respected what I already knew. I was offering fine-line tattoos to my clients the following week.
Saoirse B.2-Day Fine Line Course
Your student portal
Your course, in your pocket
Book a place and you get your own login to the Birmingham Tattoo College app, with your whole training in one place, on any device.
- Track your bookings, dates and joining details
- Pay your balance in full, or spread it with Klarna, any time
- Download your certificates and course materials
- Keep your contact details up to date
- One secure login that works on any device
