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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>65511</law_id><section_number>54.1-2806</section_number><catch_line>Refusal, suspension, or revocation of license, registration, or courtesy card</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>54.1-2807.1</reference></referred_to_by><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> As used in this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">license</span>&#x201D; shall include any <span class="dictionary">license</span>, registration, or courtesy card issued by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-238168" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may refuse to admit a candidate to any examination, refuse to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a <span class="dictionary">license</span> to any applicant and may suspend a <span class="dictionary">license</span> for a stated period or indefinitely, or revoke any <span class="dictionary">license</span> or censure or reprimand any licensee or place him on <span class="dictionary">probation</span> for such time as it may designate for any of the following causes: <a id="paragraph-238169" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> <span class="dictionary">Conviction</span> of any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or any <span class="dictionary">crime</span> involving <span class="dictionary">moral turpitude</span>; <a id="paragraph-238170" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Unprofessional conduct that is likely to defraud or to deceive the public or clients; <a id="paragraph-238171" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Misrepresentation or <span class="dictionary">fraud</span> in the conduct of the funeral service profession, or in obtaining or renewing a <span class="dictionary">license</span>; <a id="paragraph-238172" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> False or misleading advertising or <span class="dictionary">solicitation</span>; <a id="paragraph-238173" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> <span class="dictionary">Solicitation</span> <span class="dictionary">at-need</span> or any <span class="dictionary">preneed</span> <span class="dictionary">solicitation</span> using <span class="dictionary">in-person communication</span> by the licensee, his agents, assistants or employees; however, general advertising and <span class="dictionary">preneed</span> <span class="dictionary">solicitation</span>, other than <span class="dictionary">in-person communication</span>, shall be allowed; <a id="paragraph-238174" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Employment by the licensee of persons known as &#x201C;cappers&#x201D; or &#x201C;steerers,&#x201D; or &#x201C;solicitors,&#x201D; or other such persons to obtain the services of a holder of a <span class="dictionary">license</span> for the practice of funeral service; <a id="paragraph-238175" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Employment directly or indirectly of any agent, employee or other person, on part or full time, or on a commission, for the purpose of calling upon individuals or institutions by whose influence dead human bodies may be turned over to a particular funeral establishment; <a id="paragraph-238176" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Direct or indirect payment or offer of payment of a commission to others by the licensee, his agents, or employees for the purpose of securing business; <a id="paragraph-238177" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Use of alcohol or drugs to the extent that such use renders him unsafe to practice his licensed activity; <a id="paragraph-238178" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to practice within the funeral service profession; <a id="paragraph-238179" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Using profane, indecent, or obscene language within the immediate <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> of the family or relatives of a deceased, whose body has not yet been interred or otherwise disposed of; <a id="paragraph-238180" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> <span class="dictionary">Solicitation</span> or acceptance by a licensee of any commission or bonus or rebate in consideration of recommending or causing a dead human body to be disposed of in any <span class="dictionary">crematory</span>, mausoleum, or cemetery; <a id="paragraph-238181" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B13" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> Violation of any <span class="dictionary">statute</span>, <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, or regulation affecting the handling, <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, care, or transportation of dead human bodies; <a id="paragraph-238182" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B14" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">14.</span> Refusing to surrender promptly the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a dead human body upon the express <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the person lawfully entitled to <span class="dictionary">custody</span>; <a id="paragraph-238183" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B14"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B15" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">15.</span> Knowingly making any false statement on a certificate of death; <a id="paragraph-238184" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B15"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B16" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">16.</span> Violation of any provisions of Chapter 7 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/32.1-249/">32.1-249</a> et seq.) of Title 32.1; <a id="paragraph-238185" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B16"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B17" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">17.</span> Failure to comply with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Itemized statement and general price list of funeral expenses to be furnished" href="/54.1-2812/">54.1-2812</a>, and to keep on file an itemized statement of funeral expenses in accordance with <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regulations; <a id="paragraph-238186" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B17"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B18" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">18.</span> Knowingly disposing of parts of human remains, including viscera, that are received with the body by the funeral establishment, in a manner different from that used for final <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of the body, unless the persons authorizing the method of final <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> give written permission that the body parts may be disposed of in a manner different from that used to dispose of the body; <a id="paragraph-238187" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B18"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B19" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">19.</span> Violating or failing to comply with Federal Trade Commission rules regulating funeral industry practices; <a id="paragraph-238188" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B19"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B20" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">20.</span> Violating or cooperating with others to violate any provision of Chapter 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Regulations of professions and occupations" href="/54.1-100/">54.1-100</a> et seq.), Chapter 24 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="General powers and duties of health regulatory boards" href="/54.1-2400/">54.1-2400</a> et seq.), this chapter, or the regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of <span class="dictionary">Funeral Directors</span> and <span class="dictionary">Embalmers</span> or the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Health; <a id="paragraph-238189" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B20"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B21" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">21.</span> Failure to comply with the reporting requirements as set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Funeral service interns" href="/54.1-2817/">54.1-2817</a> for registered <span class="dictionary">funeral service interns</span>; <a id="paragraph-238190" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B21"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B22" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">22.</span> Failure to provide proper and adequate supervision and training instruction to registered <span class="dictionary">funeral service interns</span> as required by regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>; <a id="paragraph-238191" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B22"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B23" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">23.</span> Violating any <span class="dictionary">statute</span> or regulation of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> regarding the confidentiality of information pertaining to the deceased or the family of the deceased or permitting access to the body in a manner that is contrary to the lawful instructions of the next-of-kin of the deceased; <a id="paragraph-238192" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B23"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B24" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">24.</span> Failure to include, as part of the general price list for funeral services, a <span class="dictionary">disclosure statement</span> notifying the <span class="dictionary">next of kin</span> that certain funeral services may be provided off-premises by other funeral service providers; <a id="paragraph-238193" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B24"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B25" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">25.</span> Disciplinary action against a <span class="dictionary">license</span>, certificate, or registration issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or territory or <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the United States; <a id="paragraph-238194" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B25"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B26" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">26.</span> Failure to ensure that a dead human body is maintained in refrigeration at no more than approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit or embalmed if it is to be stored for more than 48 hours prior to <span class="dictionary">disposition</span>. A dead human body shall be maintained in refrigeration and shall not be embalmed in the absence of express permission by a <span class="dictionary">next of kin</span> of the deceased or a <span class="dictionary">court order</span>; and <a id="paragraph-238195" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B26"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B27" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">27.</span> Mental or physical incapacity to practice his profession with safety to the public. <a id="paragraph-238196" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2806/#B27"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 54-260.50, 54-260.59; 1956, c. 220; 1972, c. 797, &#xA7; 54-260.74; 1979, c. 720; 1981, c. 258; 1986, c. 91; 1988, c. 765; 1989, c. 684; 1990, c. 363; 1996, c. 142; 2003, c. 505; 2006, c. 56; 2010, c. 324; 2015, c. 534; 2020, c. 885.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
