PLEASE HELP board of cosmetology licensing

if anyone could help me out i would realy appreciate it....i was recently offered an apprenticeship with a well respected shop in my area. ive been looking for quiet some time, so i of course accepted. while talking to my future boss a couple things came up that i was hoping to get some insight on. here in kansas the tattoo industry is regulated by the board of cosmetology. my trainer informed me that before i could begin my formal apprenticeship i would need to be "blessed" or approved by the board of cosmetology. this requires sending a birth certificate, high school diploma and driver license. no problem there, i have all 3, but thats what brings up my questions... 1. does the BOC (board of cosm) do a complete background check on everyone applying for a license in kansas?..... i know im running the risk of sounding like a career criminal here, but i assure everyone, nothing violent. when i was 19 i was caught and convicted of possession of marijuana in california. i know, how horrible haha. it was a felony, but it is something i can have exponged from my record right now (providing i pay the state of CA the 1,500$ i still owe in one lump sum). i dont want to be denied by the board of cosm, and possibly have the opprotunity of a lifetime dissapear. but money is tight for me so i would like to avoid paying the 1500 all at once and stay on my payment plan if in fact there is no background check to be worried about. most of us have made mistakes before, just hoping this one dosent come back and bite me in the ass...any and all feedback is welcome and greatly appreciated, thanks!

The BOC has been trying to get there greedy little mitts on the right to license tattoo artist in a number of states for a while now. More than most people realize. As someone who has dated numerous cosmetologist and watched the way they handle there schooling, testing, and license process....i can say that it is an absolute horrible thing, without question. I cant offer any input on your situation friend, but i hope it works out for you. It may sound bitter or close minded, but those people just want to be in control of tattoo licenses so they can hit you with fees and bullshit, and charge you out the ass to go to a certified BOC tattoo school when they finally get things thier way. They will stick 30 people in a classroom for 6 months with one "instuctor"...then tell you congrats your a tattooist! 5 out of 5 people i know(all years apart and from different BOC schools) had the same thing to say about the BOC and how things went for them personally, and everyone of them said that when they got out of school and went to go work, they realized they hadnt learned a fuckin thing about thier trade. Its just one more group of assholes trying to make a buck off tattooing, and claiming that there are trying to do something good and noble. If i was less peaceful, i would hope they all fucking choke.

As a piercer, a licensed cosmetologist, and someone who has worked in an environment with tattooists. I can see only a benefit from this, most cosmetologist whine, bitch and complain the entire time that they are in school to the time that they either pass of fail their state board exams. The reason I see this as a benefit is because the student will learn about proper sanitation and disinfection of their implements used on their clients, it will be prof for the consumer that you know how to keep it clean. The licence does not mean that your a good tattooist it just increases the likelihood that the client wont walk away with the "hiv" or something, it will also teach the tattooist to protect themselves from it as well. This would give the licensed tattooist and I think that the piercer should also be included in this as well, an advantage making each procedure a quality experience. Don't be a Nancy this will only good thing for you. The real problem is cut rate tattooists and piercers, $15 piercings and $50 Tattoos that's whats really got to stop!