APPRENTICESHIP

AT CERTIFIED TATTOO STUDIOS

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Must be 21

  • Must have a valid ID

  • Must be able to commit over 40 hours per week 

  • Must have reliable transportation 

  • Must let go of your ego

ACCEPTANCE TO PROGRAM

We are looking for applicants with that perfect balance of grit and humility.  We want applicants who understand the value of putting in a hard day's work, practicing with purpose, and who embody a sense of quiet confidence coupled with a willingness to learn and always be open to feedback.  Our community of artists is protective of the special culture we have built at Certified. We want applicants who can seamlessly join our team through hard work and dedication to the craft.   

Because we are the best, our selection process is competitive, and that’s because we only want applicants who understand the demands of the program and the profession and are ready to put in the hard work to achieve heights even if they will be surprised they can meet.  Our selection process is rigorous and exclusive, so we ensure only those passionate about tattooing make it.  It’s only through the everyday application and accountability to our core values that we empower ourselves to be the best version of who we are every day; we ultimately want applicants who are inspired, ambitious, and strive for excellence in all that they do.  

At Certified, we are proud of who we are and what we have to offer. Different than every other program out there, Certified Tattoo Academy applicants that are accepted into the program are awarded a “full-ride scholarship,” compliments of Founder and CEO Nando Mondragon, who is committed to his vision so much so that he believes that his investment in the Academy is an investment in the future of tattooing.  Further, making it through our rigorous process not only writes you a ticket into the BEST Tattoo Academy on the planet but making it through our program means that upon graduation,  you have a golden ticket as a resident artist for the BEST Tattoo company in the world.  

APPLY NOW!

After you fill out this form below you will receive an email with the final and most important step of this process!

Learn More

Founder and CEO of Certified Tattoo Studios and Certified Tattoo Academy (CTA), Nando Mondragon, states it best, “The tattoo industry is stuck in the past, clinging onto myths and perpetuating harmful behaviors.  At Certified Tattoo, we’re not recreating the industry. We’re creating a new one where people are welcome, artists are happy, and everyone feels better about it.  It’s not gratuitous disruption…it’s to make a better world for artists, students, and most importantly, clients.”  In the Certified Tattoo Academy, there is no room for entitlement because our core values are centered around creating a new world of tattooing; the only option is to give it your all and do whatever it takes to be the best. 

At Certified Tattoo Studios, we place INTEGRITY, CRAFT, COLLABORATION, CONSISTENCY, COMMUNITY, and EMPATHY above all else, in order to ensure a positive and professional experience where everyone thrives.

  • Originally founded in 2006 by Nando Mondragon, Certified Tattoo Studios has made its mark as Colorado's premier tattoo destination. Similarly, the Certified Tattoo Academy (CTA) has a renowned reputation that is generating chatter across the globe. CTA is an independent apprenticeship program dedicated to delivering advanced and high-quality educational experiences in tattoo design and application to a diverse group of dedicated aspiring artists. CTA provides its apprentices with an opportunity to prepare themselves to compete at a high level upon graduation, with innovative and rigorous hands-on educational opportunities in the field of tattooing. Through the guidance of CTA’s Master Artist faculty, students engage in theoretical aspects, as well as practical and creative applications in tattoo procedure, while all the while being a part of Certified Tattoo Studios’ innovative and inspiring culture and community.