Virginia Law

The right of every person to engage in any lawful profession, trade, or occupation of his choice is clearly protected by both the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth cannot abridge such rights except as a reasonable exercise of its police powers when (i) it is clearly found that such abridgment is necessary for the protection or preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and (ii) any such abridgment is no greater than necessary to protect or preserve the public health, safety, and welfare.

No regulation shall be imposed upon any profession or occupation except for the exclusive purpose of protecting the public interest when:

1. The unregulated practice of the profession or occupation can harm or endanger the health, safety or welfare of the public, and the potential for harm is recognizable and not remote or dependent upon tenuous argument;

2. The practice of the profession or occupation has inherent qualities peculiar to it that distinguish it from ordinary work and labor;

3. The practice of the profession or occupation requires specialized skill or training and the public needs, and will benefit by, assurances of initial and continuing professional and occupational ability; and

4. The public is not effectively protected by other means.

No regulation of a profession or occupation shall conflict with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of Virginia, the laws of the United States, or the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Periodically and at least annually, all agencies regulating a profession or occupation shall review such regulations to ensure that no conflict exists.

1979, c. 408, § 54-1.17; 1988, c. 765; 2016, c. 467.

The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, formerly known as the Department of Commerce, is continued, and wherever "Department of Commerce" is used in this Code, it shall mean the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. The Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation, formerly known as the Board of Commerce, is continued, and wherever "Board of Commerce" is used in this Code, it shall mean the Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation.

1993, c. 499.

A copy of examinations given by regulatory and advisory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the Department of Health Professions authorized to conduct examinations of applicants for admission to practice or pursue any profession, vocation, trade, calling, or art shall be kept on file at the office of the secretary of each board. A copy of the examination shall be placed on file within ten days after it is administered, and shall be preserved for at least one year as a public record accessible to any person desiring to examine it during usual business hours. After the expiration of one year from the time the examination is filed, the secretary of the respective board may withdraw and destroy the examination. However, this section shall not be construed or interpreted in a manner to require the filing or release of examinations or other information which would result in compromising the validity or security of future examinations conducted by regulatory or advisory boards of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or the Department of Health Professions. In the event any provision of this section results in a conflict with the provisions of § 54.1-108, the provisions of § 54.1-108 shall prevail.

Code 1950, § 54-1; 1952, c. 227; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 94; 1960, c. 10; 1962, c. 13; 1970, c. 623; 1973, c. 284; 1985, c. 448; 1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 499.

Whenever in this title any regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or the Department of Health Professions is required to send any mail or notice by certified mail and such mail or notice is sent certified mail, return receipt requested, then any subsequent, identical mail or notice that is sent by any such regulatory board may be sent by regular mail.

2011, c. 566.

A. It shall be unlawful:

1. For any person to procure, or assist another to procure, through theft, fraud or other illegal means, a certificate, license or permit, from any state board, or other body charged by law with the responsibility of examining persons desiring to engage in a regulated business or profession;

2. For any person, other than a member or officer of the board or body, to procure or have in his possession prior to the beginning of an examination, without written authority of a member or officer of the board or body, any question intended to be used by the board or body conducting the examination, or to receive or furnish to any person taking the examination, prior to or during the examination, any written or printed material purporting to be answers to, or aid in answering such questions;

3. For any person to attempt to procure, through theft, fraud or other illegal means, any questions intended to be used by the board or body conducting the examination, or the answers to the questions;

4. For any person to use, disclose or release any questions intended to be used by the board or body conducting the examination, or to release the answers to the questions, beyond the scope specifically authorized by the board or body; or

5. To promise or offer any valuable or other consideration to a person having access to the questions or answers as an inducement to procure for delivery to the promisor, or any other person, a copy or copies of any questions or answers.

If an examination is divided into separate parts, each of the parts shall be deemed an examination for the purposes of this section.

B. Any person violating the provisions of subsection A shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Code 1950, §§ 54-1.1, 54-1.2; 1988, c. 765; 2012, c. 416.

A. The regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the Department of Health Professions may promulgate regulations specifying additional training or conditions for individuals seeking certification or licensure, or for the renewal of certificates or licenses.

B. The regulatory boards may enter into agreements with other jurisdictions for the recognition of certificates and licenses issued by other jurisdictions.

C. The regulatory boards are authorized to promulgate regulations recognizing licenses or certificates issued by other states, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States as full or partial fulfillment of qualifications for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth.

1979, c. 408, § 54-1.28; 1983, c. 569; 1988, c. 765; 1990, c. 194; 1993, c. 499.

The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the Department of Health Professions may suspend the license, certificate, registration, permit, or authority it has issued any person who submits a check, money draft, or similar instrument for payment of a fee required by statute or regulation that is not honored by the bank or financial institution named. The suspension shall become effective 10 days following delivery by certified mail of written notice of the dishonor and the impending suspension to such person's address. However, such suspension shall only be reported as a suspension and shall not be considered or described as a disciplinary action by the board issuing such suspension. Upon notification of suspension, the person may reinstate the license, certificate, registration, permit, or authority upon payment of the fee and penalties required under statute or regulation. Suspension under this provision shall be exempt from the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

1980, c. 433, § 54-1.2:1; 1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 499; 2017, c. 423; 2024, c. 18.

The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the Department of Health Professions, and the Board of Accountancy shall not be authorized to suspend or revoke the license, certificate, registration, permit, or authority it has issued to any person who is in default or delinquent in the payment of a federal-guaranteed or state-guaranteed educational loan or work-conditional scholarship solely on the basis of such default or delinquency.

2018, cc. 170, 381.

An affirmative vote of a majority of those serving on a board who are qualified to vote or those serving on a panel of a health regulatory board convened pursuant to § 54.1-2400 shall be required for any action to suspend or revoke a license, certification, registration, permit, or multistate licensure privilege to practice nursing or to impose a sanction on a licensee. However, an affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum of the regulatory board shall be sufficient for summary suspension pursuant to specific statutory authority.

1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 659; 2004, c. 49; 2017, c. 423.

A. No person who is licensed or certified by the Boards of/for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology; Counseling; Dentistry; Medicine; Nursing; Optometry; Opticians; Pharmacy; Hearing Aid Specialists; Psychology; or Social Work or who holds a multistate licensure privilege to practice nursing issued by the Board of Nursing who renders at any site any health care services within the limits of his license, certification or licensure privilege, voluntarily and without compensation, to any patient of any clinic which is organized in whole or in part for the delivery of health care services without charge or any clinic for the indigent and uninsured that is organized for the delivery of primary health care services as a federally qualified health center designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall be liable for any civil damages for any act or omission resulting from the rendering of such services unless the act or omission was the result of his gross negligence or willful misconduct. Additionally, no person who administers, organizes, arranges, or promotes such services shall be liable to patients of clinics described in this section for any civil damages for any act or omission resulting from the rendering of such services unless the act or omission was the result of his or the clinic's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

For purposes of this section, any commissioned or contract medical officers or dentists serving on active duty in the United States armed services and assigned to duty as practicing commissioned or contract medical officers or dentists at any military hospital or medical facility owned and operated by the United States government shall be deemed to be licensed pursuant to this title.

B. For the purposes of Article 5 (§ 2.2-1832 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of Title 2.2, any person rendering such health care services who (i) is registered with the Division of Risk Management and (ii) has no legal or financial interest in the clinic from which the patient is referred shall be deemed an agent of the Commonwealth and to be acting in an authorized governmental capacity with respect to delivery of such health care services. The premium for coverage of such person under the Risk Management Plan shall be paid by the Department of Health.

C. For the purposes of this section and Article 5 (§ 2.2-1832 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of Title 2.2, "delivery of health care services without charge" shall be deemed to include the delivery of dental, medical or other health services when a reasonable minimum fee is charged to cover administrative costs.

1983, c. 25, § 54-1.2:2; 1988, c. 765; 1989, c. 159; 1992, cc. 414, 706; 1995, cc. 509, 531; 1996, c. 748; 1999, c. 834; 2000, cc. 473, 618, 632; 2004, c. 49; 2010, c. 353; 2017, cc. 57, 415.

The Board of Medicine shall provide to its licensees a full description of the protection from civil liability established pursuant to § 54.1-106. Such description shall explain the coverage available under the Division of Risk Management pursuant to subsection B of § 54.1-106.

2005, c. 134.

All members of regulatory boards shall be citizens of the United States and residents of Virginia. Members shall be appointed by the Governor and may be removed by him as provided in subsection A of § 2.2-108. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of terms shall be filled for the unexpired term. Members shall hold office after expiration of their terms until their successors are duly appointed and have qualified. Appointment to fill an unexpired term shall not be considered a full term. All members of regulatory boards appointed by the Governor for terms commencing on or after July 1, 1988, shall be appointed for terms of four years. No member shall serve more than two successive full terms on any regulatory board.

A "citizen member" of a regulatory board shall be a person who (i) is not by training or experience a practitioner of the profession or occupation regulated by the board, (ii) is not the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of such a practitioner, and (iii) has no direct or indirect financial interest, except as a consumer, in the practice of the profession or occupation regulated by the board.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to the Board for Branch Pilots.

1981, c. 447, § 54-1.18:1; 1988, cc. 42, 765.

Official records of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or the Department of Health Professions or any board named in this title shall be subject to the disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.), except for the following:

1. Examination questions, papers, booklets, and answer sheets, which may be disclosed at the discretion of the board administering or causing to be administered such examinations.

2. Applications for admission to examinations or for licensure, certification, registration, or permitting and the scoring records maintained by any board or by the Departments on individuals or applicants. However, this material may be (i) made available during normal working hours for copying by the subject individual or applicant at his expense at the office of the Department or board that possesses the material or (ii) upon the request of the subject individual or applicant and at his expense, mailed or emailed to such individual or applicant at the address or email address on file with the applicable board or Department.

3. Records of active investigations being conducted by the Departments or any board.

1979, c. 408, § 54-1.41; 1982, c. 207; 1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 499; 2017, c. 423; 2023, cc. 249, 250.

Any person who has been aggrieved by any action of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Department of Health Professions, Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation, Board of Health Professions, any regulatory board within the Departments or any panel of a health regulatory board convened pursuant to § 54.1-2400 shall be entitled to a review of such action. Appeals from such actions shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

1979, c. 408, § 54-1.19; 1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 659; 1993, c. 499.

A. Every hearing in a contested case shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). When a hearing officer presides, the regulatory board shall determine whether the hearing officer is to hear the case alone or with a panel of a health regulatory board convened pursuant to § 54.1-2400 or whether the board is to hear the case with the hearing officer.

B. A board member shall disqualify himself and withdraw from any case in which he cannot accord fair and impartial consideration. Any party may request the disqualification of any board member by stating with particularity the grounds upon which it is claimed that fair and impartial consideration cannot be accorded. The remaining members of the board or panel shall determine whether the individual should be disqualified.

1979, c. 408, § 54-1.37; 1986, c. 615; 1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 659.

A. It is unlawful for any person, partnership, corporation, or other entity to engage in any of the following acts:

1. Practicing a profession or occupation without holding a valid license as required by statute or regulation.

2. Making use of any designation provided by statute or regulation to denote a standard of professional or occupational competence without being duly certified or licensed.

3. Making use of any titles, words, letters, or abbreviations which may reasonably be confused with a designation provided by statute or regulation to denote a standard of professional or occupational competence without being duly certified or licensed.

4. Performing any act or function which is restricted by statute or regulation to persons holding a professional or occupational license or certification, without being duly certified or licensed.

5. Failing to register as a practitioner of a profession or occupation as required by statute or regulation.

6. Materially misrepresenting facts in an application for licensure, certification, or registration.

7. Willfully refusing to furnish a regulatory board information or records required or requested pursuant to statute or regulation.

8. Violating any statute or regulation governing the practice of any profession or occupation regulated pursuant to this title.

9. Refusing to process a request, tendered in accordance with the regulations of the relevant health regulatory board or applicable statutory law, for patient records or prescription dispensing records after the closing of a business or professional practice or the transfer of ownership of a business or professional practice.

B. Any person who willfully engages in any unlawful act enumerated in this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The third or any subsequent conviction for violating this section during a 36-month period constitutes a Class 6 felony. In addition, any person convicted of any unlawful act enumerated in subdivisions A 1 through 8, for conduct that is within the purview of any regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, may be ordered by the court to pay restitution in accordance with §§ 19.2-305 through 19.2-305.4.

C. The Director of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, or his designee, may issue a notice to any person violating the provisions of subdivisions A 1 through 5 or A 8 to cease and desist such activity.

D. In addition to the criminal penalties provided for in subsection B, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or the Department of Health Professions, without compliance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.), shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of subsection A and may institute proceedings in equity to enjoin any person, partnership, corporation or any other entity from engaging in any unlawful act enumerated in this section and to recover a civil penalty of at least $200 but not more than $5,000 per violation, with each unlawful act constituting a separate violation; but in no event shall the civil penalties against any one person, partnership, corporation or other entity exceed $25,000 per year. Such proceedings shall be brought in the name of the Commonwealth by the appropriate Department in the circuit court or general district court of the city or county in which the unlawful act occurred or in which the defendant resides.

E. This section shall not be construed to prohibit or prevent the owner of patient records from (i) retaining copies of his patient records or prescription dispensing records after the closing of a business or professional practice or the transfer of ownership of a business or professional practice or (ii) charging a reasonable fee, in accordance with subsections B2, B3, B4, and B6 of § 8.01-413 or subsection J of § 32.1-127.1:03, for copies of patient records, as applicable under the circumstances.

F. Nothing in this section, nor §§ 13.1-543, 13.1-1102, 54.1-2902, and 54.1-2929, shall be construed to prohibit or prevent any entity of a type listed in § 13.1-542.1 or 13.1-1101.1, which employs or contracts with an individual licensed by a health regulatory board, from (i) practicing or engaging in the practice of a profession or occupation for which such individual is licensed, (ii) providing or rendering professional services related thereto through the licensed individual, or (iii) having a legitimate interest in enforcing the terms of employment or its contract with the licensed individual.

G. This section shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to all persons holding a multistate licensure privilege to practice nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

1979, c. 408, § 54-1.20; 1988, c. 765; 1993, cc. 129, 499; 1998, c. 470; 2001, c. 544; 2003, cc. 753, 762; 2004, c. 49; 2005, cc. 398, 642, 697; 2008, c. 358; 2017, c. 457; 2019, cc. 481, 517.

Copies of all records, documents and other papers of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the Department of Health Professions and their regulatory boards which bear the official seal and which are duly certified and authenticated in writing on the face of such documents to be true copies by the custodian thereof and by the person to whom the custodian reports shall be received as evidence with like effect as the original records, documents or other papers in all courts of the Commonwealth.

1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 499.

A. Following the close of any biennium, when the account for any regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation maintained under § 54.1-308 shows that unspent and unencumbered revenue exceeds $100,000 or 20 percent of the total expenses allocated to the regulatory board for the past biennium, whichever is greater, the regulatory board shall (i) distribute all such excess revenue to current regulants and (ii) reduce the fees levied by it for certification, licensure, registration, or permit and renewal thereof so that the fees are sufficient but not excessive to cover expenses.

B. Following the close of any biennium, when the account for any regulatory board within the Department of Health Professions maintained under § 54.1-2505 shows expenses allocated to it for the past biennium to be more than 10 percent greater or less than moneys collected on behalf of the regulatory board, it shall revise the fees levied by it for certification, licensure, registration, or permit and renewal thereof so that the fees are sufficient but not excessive to cover expenses.

C. Nongeneral funds generated by fees collected on behalf of the health regulatory boards and accounted for and deposited into a special fund by the Director of the Department of Health Professions shall be held exclusively to cover the expenses of the health regulatory boards, the Health Practitioners' Monitoring Program, and the Department and Board of Health Professions and shall not be transferred to any agency other than the Department of Health Professions, except as provided in §§ 54.1-3011.1 and 54.1-3011.2.

1981, c. 558, § 54-1.28:1; 1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 499; 2006, c. 631; 2009, c. 472; 2017, c. 423; 2019, cc. 517, 697.

The Board of Bar Examiners, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and the Department of Health Professions shall submit biennial reports to the Governor and General Assembly on or before November 1 of each even-numbered year. The biennial report shall contain at a minimum the following information for the Board of Bar Examiners and for each board within the two Departments: (i) a summary of the board's fiscal affairs, (ii) a description of the board's activities, (iii) statistical information regarding the administrative hearings and decisions of the board, (iv) a general summary of all complaints received against licensees and the procedures used to resolve the complaints, and (v) a description of any action taken by the board designed to increase public awareness of board operations and to facilitate public participation. The Department of Health Professions shall include, in those portions of its report relating to the Board of Medicine, a compilation of the data required by § 54.1-2910.1.

1985, c. 537, § 54-1.2:3; 1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 499; 1998, c. 744; 2004, c. 650.

Expired.

A. Every applicant for a license, certificate, registration or other authorization to engage in a business, trade, profession or occupation issued by the Commonwealth pursuant to this title, and every applicant for renewal thereof, shall provide on the application either his social security number or control number issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to § 46.2-342. An initial application or renewal application which does not include either identifying number shall not be considered or acted upon by the issuing entity, and no refund of any fees paid with the application shall be granted.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, a health regulatory board of the Department of Health Professions may issue a temporary license or authorization to practice, effective for not longer than 90 days, to an otherwise qualified applicant for a license, certificate or registration who is a foreign national and cannot provide a social security number or control number at the time of application.

1997, cc. 794, 898; 2003, c. 803.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, any license, permit, certificate, or other document, however styled or denominated, that is related to the practice of any business, profession, or calling and issued under this title to any citizen of the Commonwealth shall be held not to have expired during the period of such person's service outside the United States, in the armed services of the United States or as a member of the diplomatic service of the United States, appointed under the Foreign Service Act of 1946, serving outside the United States and 60 days thereafter. However, no extension granted under this section shall exceed five years from the date of expiration of the document. The provisions of this section shall apply to the spouse of a member of the armed services of the United States if the spouse accompanies the member during periods of service outside of the United States.

For the purposes of this section "service in the armed services of the United States" includes active duty service with the regular Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard or other reserve component.

2004, c. 975; 2011, cc. 342, 357.

A. Except as provided in this section, the regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, the Department of Health Professions, or any board named in this title shall accept the military training, education, or experience of a service member honorably discharged from active military service in the armed forces of the United States, to the extent that such training, education, or experience is substantially equivalent to the requirements established by law and regulations of the respective board for the issuance of any license, permit, certificate, or other document, however styled or denominated, required for the practice of any business, profession, or occupation in the Commonwealth. To the extent that the service member's military training, education, or experience, or portion thereof, is not deemed substantially equivalent, the respective board shall credit whatever portion of the military training, education, or experience that is substantially equivalent toward meeting the requirements for the issuance of the license, permit, certificate, or other document.

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the Board of Medicine in the regulation of the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine. Nor shall this subsection apply to the Board of Dentistry in the regulation of dentists or oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

B. The Board of Medicine may accept a service member's military training, education, or experience as an intern or resident in an approved facility to satisfy the requirement of one year of satisfactory postgraduate training as an intern or resident in a hospital or health care facility, provided the applicant for licensure (i) has been honorably discharged from active military service in the armed forces of the United States, (ii) is a graduate of a Board-approved institution, (iii) has successfully completed all required examinations for licensure, and (iv) applies for licensure within six months of discharge from active military service.

C. The Board of Dentistry may accept the military training, education, or experience of a service member provided the applicant for licensure (i) has been honorably discharged from active military service in the armed forces of the United States, (ii) has been in continuous clinical practice for four of the six years immediately preceding the application for licensure, (iii) holds a diploma or certificate of a dental program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, and (iv) has successfully completed all required examinations for licensure. Active patient care in the Dental Corps of the United States armed forces, voluntary practice in a public health clinic, or practice in an intern or residency program may be accepted by the Board to satisfy requirements for licensure.

D. Any regulatory board may require the service member to provide such documentation of his training, education, or experience as deemed necessary by the board to determine substantial equivalency.

E. As used in this section, "active military service" means federally funded military duty as (i) a member of the armed forces of the United States on active duty pursuant to Title 10 of the United States Code or (ii) a member of the Virginia National Guard on active duty pursuant to either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code.

2012, c. 524.

A. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary and unless an applicant is found by the board to have engaged in any act that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action, a regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or the Department of Health Professions or any other board named in this title shall expedite the issuance of a license, permit, certificate, or other document, however styled or denominated, required for the practice of any business, profession, or occupation in the Commonwealth to an applicant whose application has been deemed complete by the board and (i) who holds the same or similar license, permit, certificate, or other document required for the practice of any business, profession, or occupation issued by another jurisdiction; (ii) whose spouse is (a) on federal active duty orders pursuant to Title 10 of the United States Code or (b) a veteran, as that term is defined in § 2.2-2000.1, who has left active-duty service within one year of the submission of an application to a board; and (iii) who accompanies the applicant's spouse to the Commonwealth or an adjoining state or the District of Columbia, if, in the opinion of the board, the requirements for the issuance of the license, permit, certificate, or other document in such other jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to those required in the Commonwealth. A board may waive any requirement relating to experience if the board determines that the documentation provided by the applicant supports such a waiver.

B. If a board is unable to (i) complete the review of the documentation provided by the applicant or (ii) make a final determination regarding substantial equivalency within 20 days of the receipt of a completed application, the board shall issue a temporary license, permit, or certificate, provided the applicant otherwise meets the qualifications set out in subsection A. Any temporary license, permit, or certification issued pursuant to this subsection shall be limited for a period not to exceed 12 months and shall authorize the applicant to engage in the profession or occupation while the board completes its review of the documentation provided by the applicant or the applicant completes any specific requirements that may be required in Virginia that were not required in the jurisdiction in which the applicant holds the license, permit, or certificate.

C. The provisions of this section shall apply regardless of whether a regulatory board has entered into a reciprocal agreement with the other jurisdiction pursuant to subsection B of § 54.1-103.

D. Any regulatory board may require the applicant to provide documentation it deems necessary to make a determination of substantial equivalency.

2012, c. 604; 2014, c. 602; 2016, c. 33; 2020, cc. 28, 35.