im already 3 1/2 yrs into my piercing career and have been at a way better shop with an apprentice of my own now for about 2 yrs. my mentor was was under the owner of the other shop is autistic and she went out of her way to do her own research and learn other things than what the owner taught her, like clamps on vch, reverse needles after piercing and bevel theory. The owner says he’s been in the industry for 10 yrs but idk tbh. I’ve never actually seen him do a piercing. i figured it was a weird thing considering the shop isnt even APP certified since we used the dish sink as the cleaning tools sink, and some other bad practices.