How To Become A Body Piercer In Australia: Explained

Do you enjoy meeting different people, creative expression, and working in a flexible work environment? Then, a career as a body piercer might be perfect for you.

Body piercers are professionally trained artists who perform a wide range of piercings for artistic or cultural reasons. They possess specialist skills in using piercing equipment to make cuts into people's skin so that they can wear jewellery.

To become a professional body piercing artist, you must have training in working safely with piercing needles and clients' bodies.

Further, complete a body piercer apprenticeship by taking an Infection Prevention for Skin Penetration course. Additionally, complete a professional body piercing and a First Aid course to kickstart a career in this profession.

If you have a passion for body art and want to transform it into a career, you must read this article. Here, you will learn about becoming a body piercer in Australia, piercing courses, apprenticeships, qualifications, responsibilities and skills, and the average salary and job outlook.

1. What Is Body Piercing?

Body piercing is the art of adorning or decorating the body by implanting jewellery into the skin. It is a temporary or permanent body modification for self-expression, spiritual, aesthetic, religious, or cultural reasons. It is suitable for both men and women.

The body piercer uses specialized tools to puncture the skin to insert sub-dermal implants. These implants can be medical-grade gold, titanium, platinum, or steel.

Body piercing is an invasive procedure with some associated health risks, including allergic reactions, excessive scarring, infection, and physical injuries. Following hygienic piercing procedures and careful aftercare can help reduce the possibilities of such risks.

2. Who Is A Body Piercer?

Body piercers are professionally trained artists who use special needles and equipment to insert a piece of jewellery into the skin.

They have specialized skills to perform piercings on nearly any body part. They are knowledgeable of the associated risks of the procedure and follow the best safety and sanitary practices at the workplace.

3. What Piercing Tools Does A Body Piercer Use?

A body piercer uses a wide range of tools for the accurate and efficient accomplishment of the job:

• Hollow medical needle for incision

• Scalpel 

• The indwelling cannula

• A dermal punch

• Piercing guns 

• Cork

• Forceps/clamps

• Needle-receiving tubes made of shatter-resistant plastic, glass, or metal

4. Things To Know When Performing Body Piercing

• In Victoria, it is illegal to perform body piercing on a person below the age of 18 without the consent of their parent or guardian.

• It is also prohibited to perform intimate piercing (nipples, anal region, perineum, and genitalia) 

• Tongue splitting, branding, beading, and scarification are prohibited for people below 18 years.

• Lack of hygiene, including poorly performed procedures, can result in viral infections (hepatitis B and C and HIV,) bacterial infections, nerve damage, and additional scarring.

5. Common Types Of Body Piercings

Body piercers engage in a variety of body modifications that include:

• Ear piercing

• Facial piercing (cheek, nostril, eyebrow, septum, and nose bridge)

• Oral piercing (tongue, upper lips, and bottom lips)

• Body Piercing (the bridge between eyes, navel, collarbone areas, and other body parts)

6. Pros And Cons Of Being A Body Piercer

Pros

• Improves your communication skills

• You gain emotional fulfilment by serving people

• Instils confidence

• An opportunity to interact with different types of people

• Flexible hours

• No limit to earning potential

• Comfortable and hygienic work environment

Cons

• Stressful

• It involves a high possibility of transmitting bloodborne viruses 

7. What Does A Body Piercer Do?

The daily duties of a body piercer include the following:

• Use disinfectant antibacterial sprays to clean and sterilize equipment and work areas in the studio

• Understand client's needs and expectations and ensure that they get fulfilled

• Discuss with the client on the right type and size of the jewellery and the place to insert it

• Explain the entire body piercing procedure, from the jewellery selection to aftercare.

• Clean and disinfect body parts for piercing 

• Mark the site on the skin to insert the jewellery

• Use needles, piercing guns, and other specialized piercing equipment to create an opening on the marked skin surface

• Properly and safely insert chosen jewellery on the client's body in a controlled indoor environment.

• Follow the health and safety protocols, infection prevention, and control guidelines for their industry

• Educate clients on cleaning instructions and post-piercing care to avoid infection

• Recommend aftercare products

• Update health records of clients

• Stay up to date with the recent developments in health and safety procedures

• Perform administrative tasks such as answering phone calls and fixing appointments

8. Body Piercing Skills For Success

A body piercer requires a combination of technical and soft skills to achieve perfection in his work:

The following soft skills are most sought after in this profession:

• Enjoy interacting with customers of all backgrounds and types 

• Steady hands to create precise and consistent drawings

• Artistic talent 

• Precision

• Excellent vision

• Hand-eye coordination

• Patience 

• Good interpersonal skills

• Customer Service skills

• Attention to detail

• Empathetic and Understanding

• Good personal appearance

• Able to maintain hygiene workplace

• Good Visualizing abilities for the proper selection of jewellery that compliments a customer's style

• Able to put clients at ease before, during, and after procedures

• Like staying up-to-date with the latest safety and health procedures

• Able to work safely 

• Practical and Clear verbal communication skills

• Multilingual

Technical Skills

• Good understanding of materials 

• Knowledge of applicable safety standards and protocols

• Knowledge of marking and piercing placement 

• Able to operate, maintain and reprocess callipers, gauge wheels, needles, autoclave, etc. 

• Knowledge of ultrasound and anodizing process

• Know how to examine, clean, measure, package, tag, sterilize and stock new jewellery

• Knowledge of skin preparation, jewellery insertion, safe disposal, cross-contamination prevention, aftercare, and troubleshooting 

• Knowledge of standard body piercing techniques such as smooth, clamped, receiver tube, and freehand

• Aftercare troubleshooting

9. Qualification To Become A Body Piercer In Australia

The government regularly inspects body piercing studios for compliance with legal standards. Thus, a body piercer needs to know best practices and safety standards to start working in this job.

Here are the general qualifications to work as a body piercer in Australia:

• Above 18 years

• Gain extensive work experience through training under the supervision of an established artist. Complete a body piercing certification as HLTINF005 Infection Prevention for Skin Penetration course.

• Additionally, consider completing nationally accredited training to develop the fundamental technical knowledge and soft skills.

• A formal qualification in visual art, drawing, or design at TAFE colleges and other RTO can improve your employment prospects.

• Prior work experience in a related field and past references are beneficial.

10. Steps To Become A Body Piercer In Australia

Follow this step-wise guide to becoming a professional body piercer in Australia:

Step 1: Research The Industry

Before you enter this career, get a good understanding of body piercing. Reading online piercing articles and videos and attending piercing seminars and trade magazines on piercing will help.

Before you take the piercing training, it is beneficial to familiarize yourself with the terminology, tools, equipment, and procedures used in body piercing.

Step 2: Get Trained

Most employers require body piercers to complete and maintain specific health certifications to work in this role. After gaining a basic understanding, consider completing body piercing courses at TAFE to learn the trade on the job.

The Infection Prevention course teaches equipment sterilization, client care, and dealing with body fluids and blood. The training also helps refine your interpersonal and communication skills. 

Additionally, consider completing a few more health and safety courses before applying for jobs. They will improve your job chances for the role and prove useful when practising body piercing in a studio.

• First-aid training

• Bloodborne pathogens training 

• Personal Protective Equipment training 

• Exposure Control plans

Step 3: Expand Your Skillset

You can consider online professional courses in body piercing to advance your learning and skills.

Trainees will get extensive and supervised hands-on training from experienced professionals on staff in a structured environment. This is the best way to learn the trade of the job.

Step 4: Look For Job Opportunities

Create a work portfolio and update your resume with all the relevant skills and qualifications.

Start networking with local piercing studios and apply for body piercing jobs online and offline. Also, check for job openings in the piercing studio where you took the training.

11. Body Piercing Courses In Australia

Are you passionate about making a career in piercing? The following piercing courses will instil the confidence to get your foot in this exciting and lucrative piercing industry.

Introduction To Body Piercing

This body piercing online course in Australia teaches students the technique to pierce the upper body, which includes the nose, navel, and ear cartilage and insert jewellery. 

This 20-hour course focuses on relevant skin penetration principles, sterilization procedures, infection control, and aftercare procedures.

Body Art Training Australia

Do you want to know how to become a body piercer in Victoria? Body Art Training Australia is a reputed training institute that offers the following nationally accredited courses in Melbourne.

• Upper body Piercing course 

• Professional Body Piercing Bundle course (Body piercing, Micro dermal Implants, and Infection control)

The institute also provides non-accredited short courses on body piercing, such as:

• Micro dermal Implants

• Intensive Body Piercing

• Advanced Body Piercing

• Master Body Piercing

Eze Training

For those who plan to start their body piercing business, Eze Training brings a range of courses to help them realize their dream.

• Certificate IV for Small Business

• Professional Body Piercing

• Infection Control for Body Art

The course helps students gain technical competency and improve communication and confidence to become competent and professional body piercing artists.

Body Art and Tattoo Businesses - Infection Prevention and Control

The course discusses the infection prevention and control guidelines essential to work in this industry. 

It equips students with targeted specialist technical skills for infection control and prevention.

Specialist Body Piercing and Tattooing

This 1 -week's program overviews infection control regulations for skin penetration services. This government-funded body piercing course also gives an advanced understanding of body piercing, products, and services.

When completing this body piercing apprenticeship in Australia, students learn how to choose the right jewellery and discuss and advise clients on piercing sites' risk factors. Further, they learn how to recommend products and services that suit their needs.

Along with teaching an array of simple to complex body piercings, the course educates students on post-service self-care procedures.

Infection Prevention For Skin Penetration

Do you want to know how to become a body piercer in QLD? You can consider completing this course through TAFE or Beauty Therapy Training Australia. 

The course provides you with the essential skills to work in areas of body piercing, laser technology, tattooing, tattoo removal, and more.

The online body piercing course focuses on infection control practices, supervising and maintaining cleanliness, risk control, compliance with state requirements, personal protection, and sterilization.

12. Working Conditions For Body Piercers

Body piercers mostly set up their studio or salon and are self-employed. Considering the higher risks of infection, they perform piercing in a hygienic and well-managed environment that follows strict cleaning processes and safety standards.

Body Piercers typically work standard office hours of 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday in part-time or full-time shifts. However, the number of work hours can vary based on geographic area and employer.

They may require working late evenings or weekends to accommodate clients' demands. With 57% of workers working full-time, you can find several part-time work opportunities in this profession. Full-time workers spend around 44 hours a week at work.

The average age of the workforce in this profession is 31 years. Out of the total working population, 42% constitute females.

13. Where Do Body Piercers Work In Australia?

Body artists work in the Arts and Recreation and Retail Trade sector. They work in a wide range of work settings throughout Australia, such as:

• Body piercing studios

• Parlours

• Clinics

• Shops

• Salons

After gaining experience, most body piercers also establish their studio to provide body piercing services.

The most common job titles for body piercers include:

• Body piercing practitioner

• Body piercing artist

• Body piercer

• Body artist

• Specialist body piercer

14. Job Prospects For A Body Piercer In Australia

Body piercings have become a fashion statement for people of all age groups in Australia. More and more people are considering it as a means of self-expression.

Due to the cultural and artistic piercing traditions, there has been an enormous demand for skilled body piercers over the past couple of decades. 

According to the National Job Outlook website, the thriving body piercing industry is expected to see a consistent demand in the coming five years.

15. How Much Does A Body Piercer Earn In Australia?

The salary of a body piercer depends on the following:

• Stage of the career 

• Years of experience in the industry

• Level of training 

• Time of the year (summer months/festive occasions are the busiest time of the year)

• Type of employment (employed in a studio or running your studio) 

• Work location

• Reputation

Body piercing is a profitable career where experienced artists charge up to 40$ per piercing, and some even charge hourly. The average salary of a Piercer is $51,854 per year in Australia, or the hourly equivalent of AU$21.23.

Let's see how their salary varies with experience:

• Early career Body Piercers (1 to 4 years of experience) earn AU$19.69 

• Mid-career Body Piercer (5 to 9 years of experience) earns AU$21.38

Liverpool, NSW, is the highest-paying city for piercers, with an average earning of $52,441 per year.

16. Conclusion

The growing craze for body piercings has made it a popular and lucrative business in Australia. However, if you plan to pursue this career, you must know that it can be challenging at the initial stages of your career.

Your skill level, dedication, and unwavering passion determine whether someone enjoys the piercing experience. Professional courses are the best ways to get skilled and confident in performing the job efficiently. 

Follow the above steps to take your passion to the next level and become a professional body piercer.

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