What Is The NMR Medical Tattooing Fellowship?
A Structured Pathway to Specializing in Medical Tattooing
Medical tattooing is a specialty within the tattoo profession. Like any specialty, developing true competency requires more than a single course or weekend workshop. It requires a progressive educational pathway that builds knowledge, develops technical skills, and provides mentorship through real-world experience.
The NMR Medical Tattooing Fellowship was created to provide tattoo artists with that pathway.
Inspired by the educational structure of medical specialty fellowships and the one-on-one tradition of tattoo apprenticeships, this program combines comprehensive online education, live instruction, supervised hands-on training, and continued mentorship into a structured learning experience designed specifically for experienced tattoo artists.
Our goal is simple: to prepare artists to work safely, confidently, and ethically with surgically altered and medically compromised skin.
Why a Fellowship?
In medicine, physicians complete years of foundational education before entering a fellowship to specialize in a particular field. During fellowship, they continue learning under the supervision of experienced specialists, applying their knowledge to real clinical cases while refining judgment and decision-making.
Tattooing has long followed a similar philosophy through the apprenticeship model, where artists learn directly from experienced professionals over time—not simply by watching videos or completing isolated classes.
The NMR Medical Tattooing Fellowship combines these two educational models.
Artists first establish a strong academic foundation before progressing into individualized, hands-on training where technique, critical thinking, and clinical decision-making are developed through direct mentorship.
Medical tattooing deserves the same thoughtful progression because every client presents unique anatomy, surgical history, tissue quality, and healing characteristics that cannot be mastered through technique alone.
Program Structure
The fellowship is designed as a progressive educational pathway.
Phase I – Foundational Education
Before beginning hands-on fellowship training, all participants must complete the required online prerequisite courses.
Medical Tattooing Foundations
Develop a comprehensive understanding of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, compromised skin, cancer treatments, surgical procedures, consultations, medications, contraindications, and ethical practice.
Aseptic Technique for Tattoo Artists
Learn advanced infection prevention, surgical aseptic principles, barrier techniques, sterilization, cross-contamination prevention, and elevated clinical practices designed specifically for medical tattooing.
Coming Soon
Nipple & Areola Design
This advanced course will focus on artistic design principles, nipple composition, realism, color theory, symmetry, and creating natural restorative outcomes.
Completion of the prerequisite coursework ensures every fellow begins hands-on training with a consistent educational foundation and shared understanding of the medical principles that support safe practice.
Phase II – In-Person Fellowship Training
Following completion of the prerequisite education, fellows may continue into the hands-on portion of the program.
Unlike traditional classroom instruction, fellowship training is conducted through individualized mentorship between an experienced medical tattoo artist and a tattoo fellow.
This one-to-one learning environment allows instruction to be tailored to each artist's experience, strengths, and areas for growth.
During fellowship training, artists develop practical experience in:
Medical consultations
Skin assessment
Scar evaluation
Surgical anatomy
Treatment planning
Tattoo application techniques
Clinical workflow
Professional communication
Ethical decision-making
Case review and discussion
Fellows will have the opportunity to train with Nicole Rizzuto as their attending Tattoo Artist.
Phase III – On-Site Studio Fellowship
Education continues beyond the fellowship studio.
To help bridge the transition into independent practice, fellows may participate in On-Site Studio Fellowship Training.
During this phase, I will travel to your studio and work alongside you in your own professional environment, providing guidance while you treat your own clients.
This individualized training allows us to refine:
Client consultations
Studio workflow
Treatment planning
Technique adjustments
Skin assessment
Difficult case management
Clinical decision-making
Professional confidence
The goal is to support artists as they integrate medical tattooing into their own practices while receiving continued mentorship during real client appointments.
Continuing Education
Medical tattooing continues to evolve as reconstructive surgery, oncology treatments, wound care, and tattoo techniques advance.
For this reason, education should not end after fellowship training.
The Medical Tattooing Fellowship will continue to expand its educational offerings through:
Live educational webinars
Case study discussions
Surgical updates
Research reviews
Guest physician presentations
Advanced tattoo techniques
Specialty workshops
New online courses
Our objective is to create a professional learning community that encourages lifelong education and continued growth throughout your career.
A Program Designed to Grow With the Profession
The Medical Tattooing Fellowship is continually evolving.
As the field of medical tattooing advances, new educational resources, fellowship opportunities, specialty courses, and mentorship programs will be added to support artists at every stage of their professional development.
We are committed to building an educational program that grows alongside the profession and reflects the highest standards of medical tattoo education.
Stay Connected
Additional courses, fellowship opportunities, educational webinars, and advanced training modules are currently in development.
Join our newsletter to receive updates on:
Upcoming course releases
Fellowship enrollment dates
Live webinars
Continuing education opportunities
Guest instructors
New educational resources
Program announcements
Be among the first to learn about new opportunities as The NMR Medical Tattooing Fellowship continues to grow.
Our Mission
The Medical Tattooing Fellowship exists to advance medical tattooing through structured education, supervised training, ethical practice, and lifelong learning. By combining the academic foundation of medical specialty training with the mentorship tradition of tattooing, we aim to prepare artists to serve clients with the knowledge, skill, and professional judgment that this specialty deserves.