1. A. Any individual who wants to engage in body-piercing or ear-piercing must obtain a license in compliance with § 54.1-703 of the Code of Virginia and meet the following qualifications:

   1. 1. The applicant must be in good standing as a body-piercer or ear-piercer in every jurisdiction where licensed, certified, or registered. The applicant must provide a copy of any disciplinary action taken in Virginia and all other jurisdictions to the board at the time of application for licensure. This includes monetary penalties, fines, probation, suspensions, revocations, surrender of a license in connection with a disciplinary action, or voluntary termination of a license.

      Upon review of the applicant's prior disciplinary action, the board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant who the board deems unfit or unsuited to engage in body-piercing, ear-piercing, or ear-piercing earlobe only.

   2. 2. The applicant must disclose the applicant's physical address and email address. A post office box may be provided as a secondary address.
   3. 3. The applicant must sign, as part of the application, a statement certifying that the applicant has read and understands the Virginia body-piercing and ear-piercing license laws and this chapter.

   4. 4. In accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, each applicant must disclose all felony convictions in Virginia and all other jurisdictions within 10 years of the date of application.

      The board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.

   5. 5. The applicant must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has passed the respective board-approved examination, administered either by the board or by a designated testing service.

2. B. Eligibility to sit for a board-approved examination.

   1. 1. Training in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Any person completing one of the following programs is eligible to sit for an examination:

      1. a. An approved body-piercing apprenticeship program in a Virginia licensed body-piercing salon; or
      2. b. An approved ear-piercing apprenticeship program in a Virginia licensed body-piercing or ear-piercing salon.

   2. 2. Training outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

      1. a. Any person completing a body-piercing or ear-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 (i) documentation of the successful completion of training or apprenticeship to be eligible for examination and (ii) documentation of completion of board-approved health education to include (a) bloodborne pathogens, sterilization, and aseptic techniques related to body-piercing or ear-piercing, as applicable, and (b) first aid. Applicants who have earned a degree from an institution outside the United States must have the degree translated, authenticated, and evaluated by an education evaluation service if credit is sought for the education. The board, in its discretion, may decline to accept any evaluation submitted by an applicant.

      2. b. Applicants who completed a training or apprenticeship program that is not substantially equivalent to Virginia's training must submit (i) documentation acceptable to the board verifying three years of work experience in any other state or jurisdiction of the United States on a form provided by the board and (ii) documentation of completion of board-approved health education to include (a) bloodborne pathogens, sterilization, and aseptic techniques related to body-piercing or ear-piercing, as applicable, and (b) first aid.

         If fewer than the required hours of body-piercing or ear-piercing training or body-piercing or ear-piercing apprenticeship were completed, an applicant must submit (i) documentation acceptable to the board verifying the completion of a substantially equivalent body-piercing or ear-piercing training or body-piercing or ear-piercing apprenticeship or documentation of three years of work experience in any other state or jurisdiction of the United States on a form provided by the board and (ii) documentation of completion of board-approved health education to include (a) bloodborne disease, sterilization, and aseptic techniques related to body-piercing or ear-piercing,as applicable,; and (b) first aid.

3. C. Any individual who wants to engage in ear-piercing earlobe only, must obtain a license in compliance with § 54.1-703 of the Code of Virginia and meet the following qualifications:

   1. 1. The applicant must be in good standing in Virginia and in all other jurisdictions where licensed, certified, or registered. The applicant must provide a copy of any disciplinary action taken in Virginia and all other jurisdictions to the board at the time of application for licensure. This includes monetary penalties, fines, probation, suspensions, revocations, surrender of a license in connection with a disciplinary action pertaining to services within the respective scope of practice, or voluntary termination of a license.

      Upon review of the applicant's prior disciplinary action, the board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant who it deems unfit or unsuited to engage in ear-piercing earlobe only.

   2. 2. The applicant must disclose the applicant's physical address and email address. A post office box may be provided as a secondary address.
   3. 3. The applicant must sign, as part of the application, a statement certifying that the applicant has read and understands the Virginia body-piercing and ear-piercing license laws and this chapter.

   4. 4. In accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, each applicant must disclose all felony convictions in Virginia and all other jurisdictions within 10 years of the date of application.

      The board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.

   5. 5. The applicant must have completed board-approved health education to include bloodborne disease and first aid and provide verification of training on a mechanized, presterilized ear-piercing system that penetrates the lobe of the ear and aftercare of piercing.

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; Volume 42, Issue 6, eff. December 18, 2025; Volume 42, Issue 13, eff. March 16, 2026.