Virginia Law

Part V. Apprenticeship Programs

18VAC41-60-150. Applicants for board approval.

A. Any person desiring to enroll in the body-piercing or ear-piercing apprenticeship program must be required to provide documentation of satisfactory completion of a minimum of five hours of board-approved health education to include bloodborne disease, sterilization, and aseptic techniques related to body-piercing or ear-piercing, and first aid and CPR.

B. Any body-piercer or ear-piercer desiring approval to perform the duties of an apprenticeship sponsor and offer the board's body-piercing or ear-piercing apprenticeship program shall meet the requirements in 18VAC41-60-70.

C. All body-piercing apprenticeship training must be conducted in a body-piercing salon that has met the requirements of 18VAC41-60-80. All ear-piercing apprenticeship training must be conducted in a body-piercing or ear-piercing salon that has met the requirements of 18VAC41-60-80.

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 42, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2025.

18VAC41-60-160. Body-piercing apprenticeship curriculum requirements.

Body-piercing apprenticeship curriculum requirements are set out in this section:

1. Microbiology:

a. Microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, fungi;

b. Transmission cycle of infectious diseases; and

c. Characteristics of antimicrobial agents.

2. Immunization;

a. Types of immunizations;

b. Hepatitis A—G transmission and immunization;

c. HIV/AIDS;

d. Tetanus, streptococcal, zoonotic, tuberculosis, pneumococcal, and influenza;

e. Measles, mumps, and rubella;

f. Vaccines and immunization; and

g. General preventative measures to be taken to protect the body piercer and client.

3. Sanitation and disinfection:

a. Definition of terms:

(1) Sterilization;

(2) Disinfection and disinfectant;

(3) Sterilizer or sterilant;

(4) Antiseptic;

(5) Germicide;

(6) Decontamination; and

(7) Sanitation;

b. The use of steam sterilization equipment and techniques;

c. The use of chemical agents, antiseptics, disinfectants, and fumigants;

d. The use of sanitation equipment;

e. Pre-service sanitation procedure; and

f. Post-service sanitation procedure.

4. Safety:

a. Proper needle handling and disposal;

b. How to avoid overexposure to chemicals;

c. The use of Material Safety Data Sheets;

d. Blood spill procedures;

e. Equipment and instrument storage; and

f. First aid and CPR.

5. Blood borne pathogen standards:

a. OSHA and CDC blood borne pathogen standards;

b. Control Plan for blood borne pathogens;

c. Exposure Control Plan for Body Piercers;

d. Overview of compliance requirements; and

e. Disorders and when not to service a client.

6. Professional standards:

a. History of body piercing;

b. Ethics;

c. Recordkeeping:

(1) Client health history;

(2) Consent forms; and

(3) HIPAA Standards (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Privacy Rule);

d. Preparing station, making appointments, salon ethics:

(1) Maintaining professional appearance, notifying clients of schedule changes; and

(2) Promoting services of the salon and establishing clientele;

e. Salon management:

(1) Licensing requirements; and

(2) Taxes; and

f. Supplies:

(1) Usages;

(2) Ordering; and

(3) Storage.

7. Body piercing:

a. Client consultation;

b. Client health information;

c. Client disclosure form;

d. Client preparation;

e. Sanitation and safety precautions;

f. Implement selection and use;

g. Proper use of equipment;

h. Material selection and use;

i. Grade of jewelry; and

j. Metals to use.

8. Body-piercing procedures:

a. Ear lobe;

b. Helix—ear;

c. Concha—ear;

d. Tragus—ear;

e. Tongue;

f. Navel;

g. Eyebrow;

h. Lip;

i. Septum;

j. Nostril;

k. Male nipple;

l. Female nipple;

m. Monroe (face cheek);

n. Prince Albert (male genitalia);

o. Frenum (male genitalia);

p. Clitorial hoods (female genitalia); and

q. Labias (female genitalia).

9. Virginia body-piercing laws and regulations.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2007.

18VAC41-60-165. Ear-piercing apprenticeship curriculum requirements.

Ear-piercing apprenticeship curriculum requirements are set out in this section:

1. Microbiology:

a. Microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, and fungi;

b. Transmission cycle of infectious diseases; and

c. Characteristics of antimicrobial agents.

2. Immunization:

a. Types of immunizations;

b. Hepatitis A through G transmission and immunization;

c. HIV or AIDS;

d. Tetanus, streptococcal, zoonotic, tuberculosis, pneumococcal, and influenza;

e. Measles, mumps, and rubella;

f. Vaccines and immunization; and

g. General preventative measures to be taken to protect the ear-piercer and client.

3. Sanitation and disinfection:

a. Definition of terms:

(1) Sterilization;

(2) Disinfection and disinfectant;

(3) Sterilizer or sterilant;

(4) Antiseptic;

(5) Germicide;

(6) Decontamination; and

(7) Sanitation;

b. The use of steam sterilization equipment and techniques;

c. The use of chemical agents, antiseptics, disinfectants, and fumigants;

d. The use of sanitation equipment;

e. Pre-service sanitation procedure; and

f. Post-service sanitation procedure.

4. Safety:

a. Proper needle handling and disposal;

b. How to avoid overexposure to chemicals;

c. The use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS);

d. Blood spill procedures;

e. Equipment and instrument storage; and

f. First aid and CPR.

5. Bloodborne pathogen standards:

a. OSHA and CDC bloodborne pathogen standards;

b. Control Plan for bloodborne pathogens;

c. Exposure Control Plan for Ear-Piercers;

d. Overview of compliance requirements; and

e. Disorders and when not to service a client.

6. Professional standards:

a. History of ear-piercing;

b. Ethics;

c. Recordkeeping:

(1) Client health history;

(2) Consent forms; and

(3) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Privacy Rule (HIPAA) Standards;

d. Preparing station, making appointments, salon ethics:

(1) Maintaining professional appearance, notifying clients of schedule changes; and

(2) Promoting services of the salon and establishing clientele;

e. Salon management:

(1) Licensing requirements; and

(2) Taxes;

f. Supplies:

(1) Usages;

(2) Ordering; and

(3) Storage.

7. Ear-piercing:

a. Client consultation;

b. Client health information;

c. Client disclosure form;

d. Client preparation;

e. Sanitation and safety precautions;

f. Implement selection and use;

g. Proper use of equipment;

h. Material selection and use;

i. Grade of jewelry; and

j. Metals to use.

8. Ear-piercing procedures:

a. Ear lobe;

b. Helix - ear;

c. Concha - ear; and

d. Tragus - ear.

9. Virginia body-piercing laws and regulations.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2025.

18VAC41-60-170. Body-piercing hours of instruction and performances.

A. Curriculum requirements specified in 18VAC41-60-160 shall be taught over a minimum of 1,500 hours as follows:

1. 350 hours shall be devoted to theory pertaining to subdivisions 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 of 18VAC41-60-160;

2. 150 hours shall be devoted to theory pertaining to subdivision 3 of 18VAC41-60-160; and

3. The remaining 1,000 hours shall be devoted to practical training and the following performances pertaining to subdivision 7 of 18VAC41-60-160:

B. An approved body-piercing apprenticeship program may conduct an assessment of an apprentice's competence in the theory and practical requirements for body piercing and, based on the assessment, give a maximum of 500 hours of credit towards the requirements in subdivisions A 1 and A 3 of this section. No credit shall be allowed for the 150 hours required in subdivision A 2 of this section.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2007.

18VAC41-60-175. Ear-piercing hours of instruction and performances.

A. Curriculum requirements specified in 18VAC41-60-165 must be taught over a minimum of 500 hours as follows:

1. 150 hours must be devoted to theory pertaining to subdivisions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 9 of 18VAC41-60-165;

2. 50 hours must be devoted to theory pertaining to subdivision 3 of 18VAC41-60-165; and

3. The remaining 300 hours must be devoted to practical training and the following performances pertaining to subdivision 7 and 8 of 18VAC41-60-165:

B. An approved ear-piercing apprenticeship program may conduct an assessment of an apprentice's competence in the theory and practical requirements for ear-piercing and, based on the assessment, give a maximum of 225 hours of credit toward the requirements in subdivisions A 1 and A 3 of this section. No credit shall be allowed for the 50 hours required in subdivision A 2 of this section.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2025.