Firefighter Tattoo Policy

The hiring decisions are not made by you or your friends who share your views on tattoos. They are made by panels of career officers and administrators who have their own perspectives — and you cannot control, change, or counter what visible tattoos communicate to those panels before you've spoken a single word.

Tattoos are a statement. You got inked to tell the world something about yourself — to make a statement or be different. Yep, you did. Just like hair choices, piercings, and clothing, visible body art signals something to everyone who sees it. The question is what it signals to the people deciding whether to hire you.

Many departments have strict no-visible-tattoo policies. At one written exam, numerous candidates arrived in shorts and t-shirts due to heat. Tattoos were visible on arms and legs throughout the room — and some of those candidates were already disqualified before the exam began.

Even if a tattoo is not visible in a suit, there will be an agility test and a medical exam where every inch of your body will be seen. Background and psychological questionnaires will likely ask directly whether you have any tattoos. The candidate with the scorpion tattoo looked into removal before his interview — the cost was $2,000. He used mortician's wax to cover it in the meantime. If you are serious about getting hired, address the issue before it addresses you.