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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84677</law_id><section_number>54.1-2805</section_number><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</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="28">Funeral Services</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in or hold himself out as engaging in the <span class="dictionary">practice of funeral services</span> or the business of <span class="dictionary">preneed funeral planning</span>, to operate a <span class="dictionary">funeral service establishment</span>, or to act as a <span class="dictionary">funeral director</span> or <span class="dictionary">embalmer</span> or hold himself out as such unless he is licensed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. Engaging in the <span class="dictionary">practice of funeral services</span>, <span class="dictionary">preneed funeral planning</span>, operating a <span class="dictionary">funeral service establishment</span>, or acting as a <span class="dictionary">funeral director</span> or <span class="dictionary">embalmer</span> shall be recognized as that of a health profession. <a id="paragraph-303495" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2805/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">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 <span class="dictionary">embalming</span> while under the immediate supervision of a <span class="dictionary">funeral service licensee</span> or <span class="dictionary">embalmer</span> with an active, unrestricted license issued by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, provided that such <span class="dictionary">embalming</span> occurs in a <span class="dictionary">funeral service establishment</span> licensed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and in accordance with regulations promulgated by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-303496" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2805/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1974, c. 257, &#xA7; 54-260.73:1; 1988, c. 765; 1989, c. 684; 2000, c. 773; 2018, c. 186.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
