Many of these schools will turn you out in a matter of months. It is an option, but a poor one. There is no way you can learn all you need to know about skin, machines, design selection and infection control in 6 months. Additionally, you will not have the respect of your peers. In this industry, that can be very important.
L anding an apprenticeship can take a lot of persistence.
First, it helps if you have tattoos. A person who is not tattooed and has not lived as a tattooed person does not present a very compelling argument for entering the profession. If you are not tattooed, you can't help a first timer make those very important decisions about selection, size and placement. You are also not showing much of a commitment to the community. A n apprenticeship is rarely, if ever, free.