{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-2805.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-2805.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-2805.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-2805.html"}],"law_id":84677,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84677,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2805","catch_line":"Engaging in the practice of funeral services or the business of preneed funeral planning or acting as a funeral director or embalmer without a license","history":"1974, c. 257, \u00a7 54-260.73:1; 1988, c. 765; 1989, c. 684; 2000, c. 773; 2018, c. 186.","full_text":"A\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person to engage in or hold himself out as engaging in the practice of funeral services or the business of preneed funeral planning, to operate a funeral service establishment, or to act as a funeral director or embalmer or hold himself out as such unless he is licensed by the Board. Engaging in the practice of funeral services, preneed funeral planning, operating a funeral service establishment, or acting as a funeral director or embalmer shall be recognized as that of a health profession.B\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, a person who is duly enrolled in a mortuary education program in the Commonwealth may assist in embalming while under the immediate supervision of a funeral service licensee or embalmer with an active, unrestricted license issued by the Board, provided that such embalming occurs in a funeral service establishment licensed by the Board and in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":303495,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in or hold himself out as engaging in the practice of funeral services or the business of preneed funeral planning, to operate a funeral service establishment, or to act as a funeral director or embalmer or hold himself out as such unless he is licensed by the Board. Engaging in the practice of funeral services, preneed funeral planning, operating a funeral service establishment, or acting as a funeral director or embalmer shall be recognized as that of a health profession.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":303496,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, a person who is duly enrolled in a mortuary education program in the Commonwealth may assist in embalming while under the immediate supervision of a funeral service licensee or embalmer with an active, unrestricted license issued by the Board, provided that such embalming occurs in a funeral service establishment licensed by the Board and in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14000,"edition_id":1,"name":"Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13923,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:34","permalink":{"id":241755,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14000,"identifier":"1","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1","url":"\/54.1\/III\/28\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13923,"edition_id":1,"name":"Funeral Services","identifier":"28","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:19","permalink":{"id":241753,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13923,"identifier":"28","token":"54.1\/III\/28","url":"\/54.1\/III\/28\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":76263,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2800","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-2800\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2800","metadata":false},{"id":56302,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2801","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-2801\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2801","metadata":false},{"id":60746,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2802","catch_line":"Board; appointment; terms; vacancies; meetings; quorum","url":"\/54.1-2802\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2802","metadata":false},{"id":73998,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2803","catch_line":"Specific powers and duties of Board","url":"\/54.1-2803\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2803","metadata":false},{"id":64045,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2804","catch_line":"Licensing authority","url":"\/54.1-2804\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2804","metadata":false},{"id":84677,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2805","catch_line":"Engaging in the practice of funeral services or the business of preneed funeral planning or acting as a funeral director or embalmer without a license","url":"\/54.1-2805\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2805","metadata":false},{"id":65511,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2806","catch_line":"Refusal, suspension, or revocation of license, registration, or courtesy card","url":"\/54.1-2806\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2806","metadata":false},{"id":73758,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807","catch_line":"Other prohibited activities","url":"\/54.1-2807\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807","metadata":false},{"id":57356,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807.01","catch_line":"When next of kin disagree","url":"\/54.1-2807.01\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807.01","metadata":false},{"id":75008,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807.02","catch_line":"Absence of next of kin","url":"\/54.1-2807.02\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807.02","metadata":false},{"id":79482,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807.03","catch_line":"Proof of next of kin status","url":"\/54.1-2807.03\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807.03","metadata":false},{"id":72647,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807.1","catch_line":"Confidentiality of information on infectious diseases","url":"\/54.1-2807.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807.1","metadata":false},{"id":55082,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2808","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-2808\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2808","metadata":false},{"id":79091,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2808.1","catch_line":"Disposition of cremains","url":"\/54.1-2808.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2808.1","metadata":false},{"id":59456,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2808.2","catch_line":"Identification of unclaimed cremains of veterans and eligible dependents","url":"\/54.1-2808.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2808.2","metadata":false},{"id":74092,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2808.3","catch_line":"Acceptance of third-party-provided caskets","url":"\/54.1-2808.3\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2808.3","metadata":false},{"id":81802,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2809","catch_line":"Penalties","url":"\/54.1-2809\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2809","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":64045,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2804","catch_line":"Licensing authority","url":"\/54.1-2804\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2804","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":65511,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2806","catch_line":"Refusal, suspension, or revocation of license, registration, or courtesy card","url":"\/54.1-2806\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2806","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2805\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 257 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapter 765; in 1989, chapter 684; in 2000, chapter 773<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 186<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":241777,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84677,"identifier":"54.1-2805","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2805","url":"\/54.1-2805\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2805\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2805","dublin_core":{"Title":"Engaging in the practice of funeral services or the business of preneed funeral planning or acting as a funeral director or embalmer without a license","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2805","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in or hold himself out as engaging in the practice of funeral services<\/span> or the business of preneed funeral planning<\/span>, to operate a funeral service establishment<\/span>, or to act as a funeral director<\/span> or embalmer<\/span> or hold himself out as such unless he is licensed by the Board<\/span>. Engaging in the practice of funeral services<\/span>, preneed funeral planning<\/span>, operating a funeral service establishment<\/span>, or acting as a funeral director<\/span> or embalmer<\/span> shall be recognized as that of a health profession. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, a person who is duly enrolled in a mortuary education program in the Commonwealth may assist in embalming<\/span> while under the immediate supervision of a funeral service licensee<\/span> or embalmer<\/span> with an active, unrestricted license issued by the Board<\/span>, provided that such embalming<\/span> occurs in a funeral service establishment<\/span> licensed by the Board<\/span> and in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nENGAGING IN THE PRACTICE OF FUNERAL SERVICES OR THE BUSINESS OF PRENEED FUNERAL\nPLANNING OR ACTING AS A FUNERAL DIRECTOR OR EMBALMER WITHOUT A LICENSE (\u00a7\n54.1-2805)\n\nA. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in or hold himself out as\nengaging in the practice of funeral services or the business of preneed funeral\nplanning, to operate a funeral service establishment, or to act as a funeral\ndirector or embalmer or hold himself out as such unless he is licensed by the\nBoard. Engaging in the practice of funeral services, preneed funeral planning,\noperating a funeral service establishment, or acting as a funeral director or\nembalmer shall be recognized as that of a health profession.\n\nB. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, a person who is duly enrolled\nin a mortuary education program in the Commonwealth may assist in embalming\nwhile under the immediate supervision of a funeral service licensee or embalmer\nwith an active, unrestricted license issued by the Board, provided that such\nembalming occurs in a funeral service establishment licensed by the Board and in\naccordance with regulations promulgated by the Board.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 257, \u00a7 54-260.73:1; 1988, c. 765; 1989, c. 684; 2000, c. 773;\n2018, c. 186.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}