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WHAT IS THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PIERCERS?

 

 

The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) is an international health and safety organization. It is a nonprofit voluntary alliance dedicated to the dissemination of information about body piercing. Governed by a voluntary elected Board of Directors, the APP is a united group of piercing professionals that freely shares information to help fellow members, piercers, health care professionals, legislators, health inspectors, and the general public get the best and most up-to-date information about body piercing

 

THE APP

  • Provides a professional association for piercers

  • Encourages piercers to meet and/or exceed the APP set standards and provides an avenue to show the public that this standard is being met.

  • Provides piercers, legislators, and the public with support and assistance in drafting appropriate legislation in the industry.

  • Provides piercing technique, business, and health education classes at our Annual Conference for piercers, health inspectors, and others related to the industry.

  • Provides educational and informational materials, including consumer-oriented brochures and our Health and Safety Procedure Manual for piercers.

    • (See: Publications, Products, and Educational Services).

  • Attends and is involved in health related conferences.

  • Provides information and professional opinions to the media, when requested and in response to erroneous information and articles about body piercing.

  • Presents lectures to students, health care professionals, and other related groups.

  • Publishes The Point, a quarterly newsletter dedicated to piercing related news and information for individuals in the industry.

  • Does not police the piercing industry or piercers. The APP will respond to and resolve complaints against its members, in addition to those falsely claiming membership.

  • Does not license or certify piercers. Members do receive a certificate of membership which must be renewed every year. Attendees of APP classes receive a seminar certificate.

  • Does not allow piercings performed at its annual conference, nor does it teach people how to pierce. The APP provides supplemental education to piercers and has a number of Corporate Sponsors who provide basic piercing education.

  • Does not dictate the piercing technique(s) its Members use, what aftercare they suggest, or what specific piercings they may choose to perform.

  • Specifically addresses the practice of body piercing.

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS MEMBERS & PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS MEMBERS AT LARGE:

  • Are body piercers.

  • Uphold a set of safety and hygiene standards that are equal to, or more stringent than those established by state or local governments.

  • Have at least one year of piercing experience.

  • Have knowledge of appropriate sterilization and cross-contamination prevention through blood-borne pathogens training, required annually for membership.

  • Must work in a studio that meets rigorous standards of environmental criteria for health, safety and sanitation.

  • Undergo training and certification in CPR, and blood-borne pathogens and first aid certification; which must be renewed according to membership requirements.

  • Must send in monthly spore tests results for their studio’s autoclave (sterilizer).

  • Must answer an extensive questionnaire and sign a health and safety agreement.

 

I am a professional business member of the APP as well as a part of the membership committee . Mantis is the ONLY shop with an APP member in Westmoreland County and one of only 3 in Western Pennsylvania.

 

Attaining membership is held in very high regard in the piercing community and is generally considered a high point in a piercing career. I also attend the yearly week long conference in Las Vegas to learn the most current techniques and safety practices as well as current jewelry trends.

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