Part II. Entry
18VAC41-60-20. General requirements.
A. Any individual wishing to engage in body piercing shall obtain a license in compliance with § 54.1-703 of the Code of Virginia and meet the following qualifications:
1. The applicant shall be in good standing as a body piercer in every jurisdiction where licensed, certified, or registered. The applicant shall disclose to the board at the time of application for licensure any disciplinary action taken in Virginia or any other jurisdiction in connection with the applicant's practice as a body piercer. This disclosure includes monetary penalties, fines, suspensions, revocations, surrender of a license in connection with a disciplinary action, or voluntary termination of a license. The applicant shall disclose to the board at the time of application for licensure if the applicant has been previously licensed in Virginia as a body piercer.
Upon review of the applicant's prior disciplinary action, the board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant wherein the board deems the applicant is unfit or unsuited to engage in body piercing and body piercing ear only. The board will decide each case by taking into account the totality of the circumstances. Any plea of nolo contendere or comparable plea shall be considered a disciplinary action for the purposes of this subdivision. The applicant shall provide a certified copy of a final order, decree, or case decision by a court, regulatory agency, or board with the lawful authority to issue such order, decree, or case decision, and such copy shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such disciplinary action.
2. The applicant shall disclose the applicant's physical address. A post office box is not acceptable.
3. The applicant shall sign, as part of the application, a statement certifying that the applicant has read and understands the Virginia body-piercing license laws and this chapter.
4. In accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, each applicant shall disclose the following information regarding criminal convictions in Virginia and all other jurisdictions:
a. All misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, non-marijuana drug distribution, or physical injury within two years of the date of the application; and
b. All felony convictions within 20 years of the date of application.
Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subdivision. The record of a conviction received from a court shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of a conviction or finding of guilt. The board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.
5. The applicant shall provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has passed the board-approved examination, administered either by the board or by a designated testing service.
B. Eligibility to sit for board-approved body-piercer examination.
1. Training in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Any person completing an approved body-piercing apprenticeship program in a Virginia licensed body-piercing salon shall be eligible to sit for the examination.
2. Training outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia, but within the United States or jurisdiction of the United States. Any person completing a body-piercing training or apprenticeship program that is substantially equivalent to the Virginia program but is outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia must submit to the board documentation of the successful completion of training or apprenticeship to be eligible for examination. If less than required hours of body-piercing training or body-piercing apprenticeship was completed, an applicant must submit (i) documentation acceptable to the board verifying the completion of a substantially equivalent body-piercing training or body-piercing apprenticeship or documentation of three years of work experience within the preceding five years as a body piercer and (ii) documentation of completion of a minimum of five hours of health education to include (a) bloodborne disease, sterilization, and aseptic techniques related to body piercing; (b) first aid; and (c) CPR that is acceptable to the board in order to be eligible for examination.
C. In order to receive a license as a body piercer ear only, an applicant must meet the following qualifications:
1. The applicant shall have completed a minimum of three hours of health education to include bloodborne disease and first aid that is acceptable to the board and provide verification of training on a mechanized, presterilized ear-piercing system that penetrates the outer perimeter or lobe of the ear or both and aftercare of piercing.
2. The applicant shall be in good standing in every jurisdiction where licensed, certified, or registered. The applicant shall disclose to the board at the time of application for licensure any disciplinary action taken in another jurisdiction in connection with the applicant's licensed, certified, or registered practice. The applicant shall disclose to the board at the time of application for licensure whether he has been previously licensed in Virginia in any profession regulated by the board.
3. The applicant shall disclose the applicant's physical address. A post office box is not acceptable.
4. The applicant shall sign, as part of the application, a statement certifying that the applicant has read and understands the Virginia body-piercing license laws and the board's body-piercing regulations.
5. In accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, each applicant shall disclose the following information regarding criminal convictions in Virginia and all other jurisdictions:
a. All misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, non-marijuana drug distribution, or physical injury within two years of the date of the application; and
b. All felony convictions within 20 years of the date of application.
Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subdivision. The record of a conviction received from a court shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of a conviction or finding of guilt. The board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2007; amended Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 2023.
18VAC41-60-30. License by endorsement.
Upon proper application to the board, any person currently licensed to practice as a body piercer in any other state or jurisdiction of the United States and who has completed a training or apprenticeship program and an examination that is substantially equivalent to that required by this chapter may be issued a body piercer license without an examination. The applicant must also meet the requirements set forth in 18VAC41-60-20 A 1 through A 4.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2007; amended Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 2023.
18VAC41-60-40. Examination requirements and fees.
A. Applicants for initial licensure shall pass an examination approved by the board. The examinations may be administered by the board or by a designated testing service.
B. Any candidate failing to appear as scheduled for examination shall forfeit the examination fee.
C. The applicant shall follow all procedures established by the board with regard to conduct at the examination. Such procedures shall include any written instructions communicated prior to the examination date and any instructions communicated at the site, either written or oral, on the date of the examination. Failure to comply with all procedures established by the board and the testing service with regard to conduct at the examination may be grounds for denial of application.
D. Any applicant who does not pass a reexamination within one year of the initial examination date shall be required to submit a new application.
E. The fee for examination or reexamination is subject to contracted charges to the board by an outside vendor. These contracts are competitively negotiated and bargained for in compliance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). Fees may be adjusted and charged to the candidate in accordance with these contracts. The fee shall not exceed $225 per candidate.
F. Any candidate failing to apply for initial licensure within five years of passing the written examination shall be required to retake the examination. Records of examinations shall be maintained for a maximum of five years.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2007; amended Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 2023.
18VAC41-60-50. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2007; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 2023.
18VAC41-60-60. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2007; repealed Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 2023.
18VAC41-60-70. General requirements for a body-piercing apprenticeship sponsor.
A. Upon filing an application with the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, any person meeting the qualifications set forth in this section may be eligible to sponsor a body-piercing apprentice if the person:
1. Holds a current Virginia body-piercing license;
2. Provides documentation of legally practicing body piercing for at least five years; and
3. Provides documentation indicating that he is in good standing in all jurisdictions where the practice of body piercing is regulated.
B. Apprenticeship sponsors shall be required to maintain a body-piercer license.
C. Apprenticeship sponsors shall ensure compliance with the 1500-hour Body-Piercing Apprenticeship Program and Body-Piercing Apprenticeship Standards.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2007.
18VAC41-60-80. Salon license.
A. Any firm wishing to operate a body-piercing salon or body-piercing ear only salon shall obtain a salon license in compliance with § 54.1-704.1 of the Code of Virginia and shall meet the following qualifications in order to receive a license:
1. The applicant and all members of the responsible management shall be in good standing as a licensed salon in Virginia and all other jurisdictions where licensed. The applicant and all members of the responsible management shall disclose to the board at the time of application for licensure any disciplinary action taken in Virginia and all other jurisdictions in connection with the applicant's operation of any body-piercing salon or body-piercing ear only salon or practice of the profession. This disclosure includes monetary penalties, fines, suspensions, revocations, surrender of a license in connection with a disciplinary action, or voluntary termination of a license. The applicant shall disclose to the board at the time of application for licensure if the applicant or any member of the responsible management has been previously licensed in Virginia as a body-piercing salon or body-piercing ear only salon.
Upon review of the applicant's and all members of the responsible management's prior disciplinary action, the board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant wherein it deems the applicant is unfit or unsuited to engage in the operation of a body-piercing salon or body-piercing ear only salon. The board will decide each case by taking into account the totality of the circumstances. Any plea of nolo contendere or comparable plea shall be considered a disciplinary action for the purposes of this subdivision. The applicant shall provide a certified copy of a final order, decree, or case decision by a court, regulatory agency, or board with the lawful authority to issue such order, decree, or case decision, and such copy shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such disciplinary action.
2. The applicant shall disclose his physical address. A post office box is not acceptable.
3. The applicant shall sign, as part of the application, a statement certifying that the applicant has read and understands the Virginia body-piercing license laws and this chapter.
4. In accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, each applicant shall disclose the following information about the firm and all members of the responsible management regarding criminal convictions in Virginia and all other jurisdictions:
a. All misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, non-marijuana drug distribution, or physical injury within two years of the date of the application; and
b. All felony convictions within 20 years of the date of application.
Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subsection. The record of a conviction received from a court shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of a conviction or finding of guilt. The board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.
5. The applicant shall disclose the firm's responsible management.
B. A body-piercing salon license or body-piercing ear only salon license shall not be transferable and shall bear the same name and address of the business entity. Any changes in the name or address of the salon shall be reported to the board in writing within 30 days of such changes. New responsible management shall be responsible for applying for a new license within 30 days of the changes.
C. Whenever the legal business entity holding the license is dissolved or altered to form a new business entity, the original license becomes void and shall be returned to the board within 30 days of the change. Additionally, the firm shall apply for a new license within 30 days of the change in the business entity. Such changes include:
1. Death of a sole proprietor;
2. Death or withdrawal of a general partner in a general partnership or the managing partner in a limited partnership; and
3. Conversion, formation, or dissolution of a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, or any other business entity recognized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
D. Any change in the officers of a corporation, managers of a limited liability company, or officers or directors of an association shall be reported to the board in writing within 30 days of the change.
E. Any firm wishing to operate a body-piercing salon in a temporary location must have a body-piercing salon license issued by the board.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2007; amended Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 22, eff. September 1, 2023.