BLACK SUN IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED The Following information on apprenticeships is for reference purposes only.

OUR APPRENTICES: Contact info upon request. Joanne Kern, Living Colour, Ottawa, Canada (1996) Sonya V., Halifax, Canada (1998) Aurelie L. (1999) Robert Bell, Montreal, Canada, (2002) James Wheeler, Thunder Bay, (2005) Patrick Pacholik (2008) Partial Apprenticeship (complete theory- based apprenticeship) IMPOSTORS? Many others have claimed to have been trained at BLACK SUN. Only the people listed here have received full apprenticeships. CONTACT US for further information on any of our apprentices or anyone claiming to be trained at BLACK SUN.

Training is one on one with BLACK SUN staff and includes basic piercing techniques, aftercare, natural remedies, contraindications, problem assessment, supply resourcing, jewelry theory + materials, skin theory, relevant internal anatomy, sterilization + disinfection, sterilization systems operation and management, procedural hygiene protocols, "people skills", planning your business, Health Canada guidelines, APP guidelines, tooling, and more. We are proud of our successful apprentices and will do our best to see that you get as much as possible out of your time with us.

Minimum requirements for apprenticeship acceptance: 18 years of age, letter or statement of intent (why you want to be a piercer, what you plan to do when training is complete), references (personal and professional), longstanding interest in piercing, willingness to deal with all types of people, willingness to learn and perform all types of piercing including genital, good communication skills in English, willingness to pierce yourself/be pierced at least once as part of the learning process, and signed contract stipulating the following: You will not work as a piercer in the province of Quebec for 10 years unless employed by BLACK SUN; you will not teach piercing to anyone for 10 years; you will not publish, transmit, or otherwise impart knowledge aquired at BLACK SUN except in the clear and limited context of a piercer/client relationship, for a period of 10 years from the date of apprenticeship completion. You have no rights to franchise, commercial use of the BLACK SUN name, or use of BLACK SUN printed materials such as aftercare sheets. You will be provided with a certificate of apprenticeship and letter of recommendation upon completion of training.

Assets to your apprenticeship acceptance: Any of the following criteria will improve your chances of acceptance but ARE NOT REQUIRED:

• Schooling or job experience in any field related to medicine/dentistry/veterinary/ natural medicine.

• Personal research into body modification/piercing such as history/anthropology, APP/Health Canada/OSHA standards, jewelry standards, etc.

• First aid training.

• Bilingual (French/English)

• A good general knowledge of piercing basics from various sources like books, magazines, internet, etc. This knowledge can be as simple as what people are getting pierced, jewelry styles, what you think looks good, what heals well and what does not. This knowledge will then be developed, corrected, refined, and built on, during your time at BLACK SUN. The more you know when you begin your training, the more you will get out of your time with us.

INCLUDED in your apprenticeship are all disposable, hands-on training supplies like needles, gauze, gloves, etc., use of practice tools, use of practice jewelry, internet time, paper basics, printing of relevant materials, use of all facilities during normal hours.

NOT INCLUDED ARE: food, lodging, books(optional), videos(opt), magazines(opt), your own tools, equipment, piercing jewelry, and items you may need to document your own training/practice like camera, film, notes, computer disks, etc.