CAPT Standards
- Tattoo Artists should provide proof of up to date completion for courses on bloodborne pathogens, and basic first aid and be licensed in accordance with state law.
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Tattooing should take place in an actual tattoo establishment (permitted business by town), in a clean area reserved exclusively for tattooing.
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Disposable gloves should be worn at all times during the tattoo, and changed at regular intervals. Proper glove removal procedures can be found from the Centers for Disease Control at: www.CDC.gov
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Tattoo recipients are to be instructed on safe practices during the tattoo, to prevent cross contamination within the tattoo shop.
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Proper hand washing techniques should be followed (at least but not limited to) before and after each tattoo. Proper hand washing guide can be found from the World health organization at: www.WHO.int
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All surfaces and furniture used during the tattoo should be of made a nonporous material and easily cleanable with surface sanitizer. Surfaces should be protected with an appropriate barrier and sanitized after every tattoo.
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Area cleaning Sanitizer should consist of medical/hospital/surgical grade disinfectant, which acts as a bactericidal, fungicidal, virucidal and tuberculocidal.
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All reusable tattoo tubes and grips should be cleaned free of ink residue in a seperate designated clean space, and sterilized in an autoclave with up to date spore test results.
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Single use disposable needles, needle cartridges, needle tubes and grips should be disposed of properly after each tattoo.
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All used/opened needles are to be placed into approved sharps disposal containers, and collected by a medical waste removal service.
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Tattoo recipients shall be provided with verbal and written instructions for care of their tattoo.
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Proper release forms must be completed by every tattoo client, with photo identification as proof of age. If a minor (16 and 17 years of age) the guardian must be present with photo identification and birth certificate linking minor to guardian.
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Experienced Apprentice Instructors to hold at least a 5 year minimum of experience.
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Limited number of Apprentices, two documented apprentices to one licensed tattooer. Apprentice must have documented 2000 hours, and prof of a Minimum Suggested Curriculum and In Shop Training.
*CAPT endorses the professional discretion of the tattooer in the use of any additional personal protective equipment as is deemed necessary on an individual basis for any particular tattoo. Use of additional protective equipment does not constitute a precedent for required continued use on subsequent tattoos.