Pittsfield amends body art regulations

In 2000 when the Commonwealth lifted the ban of body art, it handed down a list of model regulations on body art to the various Massachusetts boards of health.  In 2009 the Pittsfield Health Department passed these regulations.

But the regulations were passed with the intention of going back to amend them later, said Pittsfield Heath Director Jim Wilusz.

The current regulations require a body artist to take a college level anatomy and physiology class, a course that runs 15 weeks and costs close to $1000. But Wilusz has worked with Berkshire Community College to create an alternate course, called “Life Sciences for Body Art.” The proposed course would last for four nights; each night would have a 90 minute class and cost significantly less.

In addition, body artists will be required to take two 50-minute classes every five years as part of a continuing education program.

The amendments will allow body artists to attain a master practitioner title if they pass the body art class and have 10 years experience. Master practitioners can teach apprentices in body art to give them experience while they wait for the next session of the body art class to begin.

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