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HB 186

Estheticians; permanent make-up specialty licensure, licensure by endorsement.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Wren Williams

HB 186 establishes a specialized esthetician license for permanent makeup practitioners and allows licensed practitioners from other states to work in Virginia without full relicensure.

Left in Committee General Laws
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Bill Summary · HB 186

Legislative bill overview

HB 186 would create a specialized licensure pathway for estheticians who perform permanent makeup (also called micropigmentation or cosmetic tattooing) in Virginia. The bill likely establishes specific training, examination, and endorsement requirements to allow estheticians licensed in other states to practice this specialty in Virginia without repeating full licensure.

Why is this important

Permanent makeup is a growing cosmetic service that sits in a regulatory gray area—it shares characteristics with both tattooing and esthetician services. Clear licensure standards protect consumers by ensuring practitioners have proper training in safety, sterility, and infection control while reducing barriers for qualified professionals who want to relocate to Virginia.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of practice overlap: Whether permanent makeup should fall under esthetician licensing, tattooist licensing, or require its own separate category, and how to avoid conflicts with existing tattoo regulations
  • Training standards: Disagreement over what constitutes adequate training hours and qualifications, particularly regarding endorsement of out-of-state applicants
  • Consumer protection vs. occupational licensing: Debate about whether additional licensure requirements genuinely protect public health or primarily restrict market entry and protect existing practitioners' interests

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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