Online Tattoo Course
Learn to Tattoo the Right Way — From a Licensed Tattoo School
Tattoo Foundations is the online beginner course from Master Tattoo Institute. Build the skills, safety knowledge, and techniques you need before touching a client.
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Tattoo Foundations Was Built for Students Who Are Starting From Zero
This course does not assume prior tattooing experience, art school training, or existing equipment. Every lesson was designed to bring a complete beginner through the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to tattoo safely and with purpose.
- No prior tattooing experience
- No art school background required
- No equipment needed to enroll
- No live class schedule to follow
- No location restrictions — fully online
- No previous training or courses required
Learn Tattooing Through a Structured Online Tattoo Course
Tattooing should not begin with disconnected tutorials, unsafe demonstrations, or equipment purchases students do not understand. Tattoo Foundations gives students an organized learning path created by a real tattoo school.
Random Online Tutorials
- Conflicting information from dozens of different artists
- No safety or sanitation instruction
- No logical order to what you learn or when
- No equipment guidance — just buy what looks popular
- Skipping fundamentals to get to tattoo application too fast
Tattoo Foundations
- Professionally filmed lessons from a licensed school
- Safety and sanitation covered before technique
- Structured curriculum built in the right order
- Clear equipment guidance for beginners
- Guided tattoo application with structured exercises
Before moving into advanced tattoo education, every student needs the right foundation. This course was built to provide it.
Tattoo Safety Education
Learn Tattoo Safety and Sanitation Before Technique
Tattooing involves direct contact with skin, blood, needles, equipment, and surfaces that can create serious risks when handled incorrectly. Tattoo Foundations teaches students how to approach tattooing safely and responsibly before focusing on more advanced techniques.
- Bloodborne pathogen awareness
- Barrier protection setup and use
- Cross-contamination prevention
- Skin preparation techniques
- Proper sharps and waste disposal
- Workspace cleaning and disinfection
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Professional sanitation standards
Included With Tuition
Earn Bloodborne Pathogens Certification With Tattoo Foundations
Bloodborne Pathogens education, testing, and initial certification are included in the cost of Tattoo Foundations. Students learn how bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted, how exposure risks can be reduced, and which safety procedures should be followed in a tattooing environment.
Included With Tuition
- Bloodborne Pathogens education module
- Online BBP knowledge assessment
- Initial Bloodborne Pathogens certification
Annual Renewal Notice
Students who want to keep their Bloodborne Pathogens certification current and remain compliant will need to renew it annually. Annual certification renewal: $50.
Bloodborne Pathogens Certification
Education, testing, and initial certification included in tuition.
Complete Your Online Tattoo Training on Your Schedule
Tattoo Foundations is a professionally filmed video course that students can complete on their own schedule. There are no scheduled live classes required for this program. Students can watch each demonstration carefully, pause the lesson, rewind important sections, and review techniques whenever they need additional practice.
Fully Online
Complete the program from any device, anywhere in the world.
No Live Classes
No scheduled sessions. Study whenever it fits your schedule.
Rewind and Repeat
Pause, rewind, and re-watch any demonstration as many times as needed.
Learn at Your Pace
Progress through modules in order, on your own timeline.
Immediate Access
Start the course right after enrolling — no waiting period.
All Modules Included
Every course module is available from day one of enrollment.
Build the Core Tattoo Skills Every Beginner Needs
Tattoo Safety and Sanitation
Safe setup procedures, barrier protection, cross-contamination prevention, skin preparation, proper disposal, and professional sanitation habits that every tattoo artist must follow.
Tattoo Equipment
Rotary tattoo machines, cartridges, needles, ink, power systems, grips, and how to choose and use beginner-appropriate equipment correctly.
Machine and Hand Control
Develop the control, consistency, and confidence to work deliberately and accurately on practice skin before progressing to more advanced application.
Technical Tattoo Foundations
Line control, shape consistency, line weight, saturation, black packing, and the technical fundamentals that form the base of all tattoo styles.
Guided Tattoo Application
Structured exercises and foundational tattoo projects that build practical skill progressively, from first lines to complete tattoo compositions.
Keep Growing
Take the Next Step With MTI
Tattoo Foundations was designed as the starting point for students who want to pursue tattooing at a higher level. MTI offers additional programs for students who complete this course and want to continue.
Advanced Tattoo Program — Live Stream
Live instructor-led sessions covering advanced techniques for students who have completed foundational training. Real feedback on real work.
Learn MoreHands-On Tattoo Program
On-campus tattoo training at MTI in Michigan. Work with instructors directly and gain supervised tattooing experience.
Learn MoreComplete Tattoo Programs
Combined online and in-person programs for students who want the most comprehensive tattoo education MTI offers.
Learn MoreStudent Work
See What Students Build in Advanced MTI Programs
Student work from advanced MTI programs. Results will vary based on individual effort and progression.
Our School
Tattoo Foundations Is Offered by a Licensed Tattoo School
Master Tattoo Institute is a licensed post-secondary tattoo school in Michigan. The school offers online and in-person tattoo education programs for students at every stage of their training. Tattoo Foundations is one of the online programs offered through the school's established curriculum.
MTI is a Michigan-licensed post-secondary tattoo school. Tattoo Foundations is one of the online programs offered through the school's curriculum.
Program Cost
Tattoo Foundations Tuition
Enroll and get immediate access to the full program. Two payment options are available.
Everything Included With Tuition
- Full online video course — all modules
- Bloodborne Pathogens education module
- BBP knowledge assessment
- Initial Bloodborne Pathogens certification
- 40% Blacksmith Tattoo Supply student discount
- Immediate access upon enrollment
- Study on your own schedule — no live classes
- Access from any device, anywhere
Annual Bloodborne Pathogens certification renewal: $50. Blacksmith discount applies to qualifying products.
Student Perk
Get 40% Off Tattoo Supplies Through Blacksmith
MTI students enrolled in Tattoo Foundations receive a 40% discount code for Blacksmith Tattoo Supply. Blacksmith offers rotary machines, cartridges, inks, practice skins, and everything students need to complete the hands-on exercises in this course.
Exclusive MTI Student Discount
40% Off
Code delivered after enrollment. Valid at Blacksmith Tattoo Supply.
Blacksmith Tattoo Supply discount is provided as a student benefit and applies to qualifying products. Discount code is delivered after enrollment. Terms subject to change.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
No experience is required. Tattoo Foundations was designed for complete beginners who are starting from zero. The course covers everything students need to know before picking up a machine on a client.
No equipment is required to enroll. The course includes guidance on what equipment to buy and when. Students enrolled through MTI receive a 40% discount at Blacksmith Tattoo Supply, which covers all the recommended beginner equipment.
Yes. Tattoo Foundations is entirely online. There are no scheduled live sessions or in-person requirements. Students can complete the program from anywhere on their own schedule.
The course is self-paced with no set completion deadline. The total instructional content is designed to be completed over several weeks, but students can move faster or slower depending on their schedule and how much time they spend practicing between modules.
Bloodborne Pathogens certification demonstrates that a student understands how bloodborne diseases are transmitted and what procedures reduce exposure risk. The education, testing, and initial certification are included in the cost of Tattoo Foundations. Annual renewal is available for $50.
Tattoo Foundations builds foundational skills and knowledge. Whether or not a student is legally permitted to tattoo clients depends on the licensing laws in their state or country. The course is designed to prepare students to pursue further training and meet local licensing requirements — not to replace them.
Tattoo Foundations is available for a one-time payment of $1,000 or a payment plan of 4 payments of $250 each. Both options include full course access from the time of enrollment.
Tattoo Foundations is a skills-based online course, not a state-licensed certificate program. Upon completing the Bloodborne Pathogens module and assessment, students receive a Bloodborne Pathogens certification. Students who want a licensed school certificate should inquire about MTI's in-person programs.
Blacksmith Tattoo Supply is a tattoo equipment supplier that provides rotary machines, cartridges, inks, practice skins, and related supplies. MTI students receive a 40% discount code upon enrollment, which they can use when purchasing beginner equipment.
MTI offers advanced programs including online live stream courses and in-person hands-on training at the Michigan campus. Tattoo Foundations prepares students for those next steps.
Tattoo Foundations is produced by Master Tattoo Institute, a licensed post-secondary tattoo school in Michigan. The course content reflects the school's curriculum and is filmed professionally at MTI's facilities.
Please review MTI's current enrollment terms and refund policy at the time of enrollment. Contact MTI directly with any questions about the refund policy before purchasing.
Enroll Today
Start Building Your Tattoo Foundation
Tattoo Foundations is available now. Enroll and get immediate access to all course modules, the BBP certification program, and your Blacksmith student discount.
Immediate access. Study on your own schedule. No experience required.