As Missouri tattoo artists, apprentices, shop owners, and clients, we’ve seen the damage caused by unchecked apprenticeship practices. Too many licensed practitioners with minimal experience take on unlimited apprentices—sometimes 6+ at once—treating mentorship like a revenue stream rather than a sacred responsibility. This leads to rushed training, inadequate supervision, higher infection risks, poorly skilled artists flooding the market, and long-term harm to our industry’s reputation and sustainability. Missouri’s current rules (RSMo 324.522 and 20 CSR 2267-2.010) require only 300 hours/50 procedures with no minimum mentor experience and no limit on how many apprentices a practitioner can have at one time. This must change now, before another wave of undertrained artists hurts clients and legitimate professionals. We, the undersigned, urge the Missouri General Assembly and the Office of Tattooing, Body Piercing, and Branding to immediately amend 20 CSR 2267-2.010 with these three critical protections: 1. Minimum 5 Years Licensed Experience – A practitioner must hold an active Missouri tattoo license for at least 5 full years before being eligible to mentor any apprentice. 2. Maximum of 3 Apprentices at Once – No licensed practitioner may supervise more than 3 apprentices simultaneously. The Office shall track this via the existing licensing database. Violations result in license suspension or revocation. 3. Minimum 2-Year Apprenticeship – Every apprenticeship must last a minimum of 2 full years (or the documented equivalent in hours) before an apprentice is eligible to apply for licensure. These common-sense reforms will: • Guarantee mentors have real-world mastery before teaching • Prevent “apprentice mills” and ensure each apprentice gets proper attention • Reduce market oversaturation and protect small studios • Elevate public health standards and client safety • Bring Missouri in line with quality-focused states and skilled trades This is not about limiting opportunity—it’s about preserving excellence. True artists know mentorship should be rare, deliberate, and life-changing, not a side hustle. Started by: James Royal Stewart Lewis Licensed Tattoo Artist with 10+ Years Experience