Electrology and Electrologists

2025-2026 Bill 5245: Electrology and Electrologists - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5245
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Calhoon
Document Path: LC-0650WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on February 24, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
Summary: Electrology and Electrologists
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

2/24/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 57
)

2/24/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
(
House Journal-page 57
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
02/24/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE
"ELECTROLOGY PRACTICE ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 13 TO CHAPTER 47, TITLE 40 SO AS
TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE AND TEACHING OF ELECTROLOGY, TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS,
TO ESTABLISH THE ELECTROLOGY LICENSURE COMMITTEE UNDER THE STATE BOARD OF
COSMETOLOGY, TO PROVIDE FOR LICENSURE OF ELECTROLOGISTS AND ELECTROLOGY
INSTRUCTORS, TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND CONDUCT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR
ENFORCEMENT, DISCIPLINE, AND PENALTIES.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
This act may be cited as the "Electrology Practice Act."

S
ECTION 2.
C
hapter 47, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:

A
rticle 13

E
lectrology and Electrologists

S
ection
40-47-2100
. The purposes of this article are to ensure minimum standards of
competency, protect the public from misrepresentation of status and
qualifications by persons who hold themselves out to be "licensed
electrologists" or "licensed electrology instructors," and provide the public
with safe care by the mandatory licensing of electrologists and electrology
instructors.

S
ection
40-47-2110
.
A
s used in this article:

(
1)
"Board "means the Board of Medical Examiners of South Carolina.

(
2)
"Committee" means the Electrology Licensure Committee.

(
3)
"Electrologist" means an individual who practices electrology.

(
4)
"Electrology" means the art and practice relating to the removal of hair from
the normal skin of the human body by application of an electric current to the
hair papilla by means of a needle or needles so as to cause growth inactivity
of the hair papilla and thus permanently remove the hair.

(
5)
"Electrology instructor" means an individual who practices electrology and
teaches an electrology education program.

(
6)
"License" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the
board to practice:

(
a)
electrology; or

(
b)
electrology and teach an electrology education program.

(
7)
"Licensed electrologist" means an electrologist who is licensed pursuant to
this article to practice electrology.

(
8)
"Licensed electrology instructor" means an electrologist licensed pursuant to
this article to practice electrology and teach an electrology education
program.

S
ection
40-47-2120
.
(
A) A person may not
practice, attempt to practice, or offer to practice electrology, or teach,
attempt to teach, or offer to teach an electrology education program in this
State unless licensed pursuant to this article or practicing electrology as a
student in an approved clinical electrology education program.

(
B)
A person may not represent to the public by title, description of services,
methods, procedures, or otherwise that the person is authorized to practice
electrology or to teach an electrology education program in this State unless
licensed pursuant to this article.

(
C)
A person who violates a provision of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not
more than fifty thousand dollars, pursuant to Section
40-1-200
.

S
ection
40-47-2130
.
(
A)(1) There is
created the Electrology Licensure Committee, an advisory committee under the
auspices of the board. The committee shall consist of five members appointed
by the Governor and who are residents of the State, including:

(
a)
three electrologists who have actively been engaged in the practice of
electrology for at least three years and are licensed by the committee;

(
b)
one physician licensed by the State; and

(
c)
a public member who has not practiced electrology, who is not in training to
become an electrologist, who does not participate in the electrology field, and
who is not immediately related to anyone who has practiced electrology, trained
to become an electrologist, or participates in the electrology field.

(
2)
In nominating the three initial electrologist members of the board, the
Governor must accept nominations for appointment from the South Carolina
Association of Electrologists. If the Governor does not approve the
recommendations, the association may provide the Governor with another list of
nominees. The Governor may select a nominee from the second list provided, if
any, or appoint another suitable candidate of the Governor's choice.

(
B)
(
1) A member is appointed for a term
of three years and may serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.

(
2)
(
a) Of the members initially
appointed:

(
i) one of the electrologist members
shall serve a term of one year;

(
ii) the public member and a second
electrologist member shall serve a term of two years; and

(
iii) the physician member and a
third electrologist member shall serve a term of three years.

(
b)
The terms of all initial appointments shall commence within thirty days after
the effective date of this act.

(
3)
A member may serve not more than two consecutive full terms.

(
C)
A vacancy must be filled by the Governor to serve the remainder of an unexpired
term and until his successor is appointed and qualified.

(
D)
The Governor or the board may remove a committee member for gross neglect of
duty, incompetence, or unprofessional conduct. A member subject to disciplinary
proceedings is disqualified from all committee business until the charges are
resolved.

(
E)
A member of the committee is entitled to per diem, subsistence, and mileage as
provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions.

(
F)
The committee may employ a staff and have a physician licensed by this State
available as a consultant.

(
G)
The committee shall elect, from among its members, a chairman, a secretary, a
treasurer, and other officers that the committee considers appropriate. The
committee shall determine the manner of election of officers and their terms of
office.

(
H)
The committee annually shall hold at least two meetings to conduct its
business, and shall adopt rules governing the calling, holding, and conducting
of regular and special meetings. A majority of the members shall constitute a
quorum.

S
ection
40-47-2140
.
I
n addition to the powers and duties
set forth elsewhere in this article, the committee shall:

(
1)
adopt standards for the practice of electrology and for electrology
instruction, and recommend procedures related to licensing to the board to be
promulgated by the board in regulation;

(
2)
keep records of its proceedings;

(
3)
keep a list of all currently licensed electrologists and licensed electrology
instructors;

(
4)
submit an annual report to the board on duties performed, actions taken, and
recommendations made;

(
5)
recommend continuing education requirements to be promulgated in regulation;

(
6)
conduct investigations and hearings under the auspices of the board concerning
an alleged violation of this article, and make findings and recommendations to
the board for penalties and sanctions for the violation, which the board may
adopt;

(
7)
incur necessary expenses in conducting its business and that relate to the
referral of an alleged violation of the criminal provisions of this article;

(
8)
review, at its discretion, advertising by licensed electrologists or licensed
electrology instructors; and

(
9)
conduct or cause to be conducted inspections of electrology offices for
compliance with provisions of this article and regulations promulgated pursuant
to this article and the Centers for Disease Control.

S
ection
40-47-2150
.
(
A) The committee
shall recommend to the board regulations to establish reasonable fees for the
issuance and renewal of licenses, for examination of applicants and licensees,
inspection of their offices, and for its other services, and the board shall
promulgate these regulations upon its approval. These fees must be sufficient,
but not excessive, to cover expenses for carrying out the operations of the
committee. The committee shall receive and account for all monies under a
provision of this article and shall pay all monies collected to the board for
deposit with the State Treasurer as provided for by law. Except as provided
temporarily in subsection (B), no fee may be charged pursuant to this section.

(
B)
The committee initially may by rule establish the fees provided in subsection
(A) which only may be in effect for a period of eighteen months after the
effective date of this act, during which time the board must promulgate
regulations to permanently provide for the fees. The temporary fees provided in
this subsection expire when these regulations take effect.

S
ection
40-47-2160
.
T
o apply for a license as an
electrologist, an applicant must:

(
1)
be at least eighteen years of age;

(
2)
be a high school graduate or have completed equivalent education;

(
3)
either:

(
a)
have successfully completed an electrology education program in this State
approved by the committee and taught by a licensed electrology instructor that
includes six hundred hours of instruction in the theory and clinical practice
of electrology, or another amount of time as provided for in regulation, and
meets the requirements for content recommended by the committee and established
by the board; or

(
b)
have successfully completed an electrology education program in another state
that is approved by the committee as being substantially equal in content and
hours to that required of schools in this State;

(
4)
submit to the committee an application on a form prescribed by the committee;

(
5)
pay to the committee an application fee and an office inspection fee;

(
6)
pay for and pass a written examination pursuant to Section
40-47-2180
or be
exempt from examination pursuant to Section
40-47-2180
or Section
40-47-2190
;

(
7)
agree to initial and subsequent onsite inspections of the facilities used in
electrology;

(
8)
agree to comply with infection-control standards for the practice of
electrology as established by the Centers for Disease Control or other
organization specified in the rules and regulations including, but not limited
to, independent sterilization testing; and

(
9)
meet other requirements as provided for in regulation.

S
ection
40-47-2170
.
T
o apply for a license as an
electrology instructor, an applicant must:

(
1)
be a licensed electrologist;

(
2)
have practiced electrology actively for at least four years before applying;

(
3)
submit to the committee an application on a form prescribed by the committee;

(
4)
pay to the committee an application and school inspection fee;

(
5)
agree to initial and subsequent onsite inspections of the facilities used in
electrology instruction;

(
6)
agree to comply with infection-control standards for the practice of
electrology as established by the Centers for Disease Control or other
organization specified in the rules and regulations including, but not limited
to, independent sterilization testing; and

(
7)
meet other requirements as provided in regulation.

S
ection
40-47-2180
.
(
A) An applicant
shall pay for and pass the International Board of Electrologist Certification
examination or other similar examination approved by the committee,
administered pursuant to regulation.

(
B)
The committee shall administer or coordinate administration of examinations to
applicants at least once a year at the times and places that the committee
determines. The committee may provide for reexaminations to applicants who fail
all or part of the examination at the times and places that the committee
determines. The committee shall have the final decision in determining the
subjects, scope, form, and passing score for examinations required pursuant to
this article. An examination must include a section on the theory of
electrology, a section on the clinical practice of electrology and a section on
proper sterilization and infection-control techniques.

(
C)
An applicant may retake an examination or a failed section of an examination
after paying the committee a reexamination fee, as provided for in regulation.
An applicant who fails two reexaminations only may retake the examination if
he:

(
1)
retakes the entire examination;

(
2)
pays the full examination fee; and

(
3)
completes additional training as required by the committee.

(
D)
The committee shall waive the examination for an applicant who is licensed to
practice electrology in another state if the applicant provides evidence
acceptable to the committee that he:

(
1)
meets the qualifications otherwise required by this article;

(
2)
became licensed in the other state after passing in that or another state an
examination that is substantially equal to the examination for which the
applicant is seeking the waiver; and

(
3)
became licensed in the other state after meeting requirements that are
substantially equal to the requirements of this article.

(
E)
The committee shall waive the examination for an applicant who presents
evidence of having passed the American Electrology Association Certified
Professional Electrology examination.

(
F)
Unless authorized by the committee, the public member may not participate in an
activity related to examinations required pursuant to this article.

S
ection
40-47-2190
.
(
A) The committee
shall, after an applicant meets additional requirements of subsection (B),
waive the licensing requirements pursuant to Section
40-47-2160
(3) and (6), if
the applicant applies for licensure within one hundred eighty days after the
effective date of this act and has been actively engaged in the practice of
electrology in this State during the three years immediately preceding the date
of application. For purposes of this section, "actively engaged in the practice
of electrology" means that an applicant has performed electrology on a regular
basis for compensation, which the applicant can substantiate by providing
evidence of paid advertising, tax returns, or other written records of
compensation, affidavits from clients or business owners who can attest to the
applicant practicing electrology for compensation, or other evidence acceptable
to the committee. The applicant shall provide this evidence to the committee
with a notarized affidavit certifying its authenticity.

(
B)
The committee may require an applicant seeking exemption from education and
examination requirements under this section to undertake additional instruction
in infection-control standards for the practice of electrology, as established
by the Centers for Disease Control or other organization as provided in
regulation, if the applicant is unable to provide evidence of adequate prior
instruction. This additional instruction must be determined by the committee
and must be taken from an approved instructor.

S
ection
40-47-2200
.
(
A) The board, upon
the recommendation of the committee, shall issue a license to an applicant who
meets the requirements of this article, pays applicable license and inspection
fees, and receives a satisfactory inspection of his electrology facility. The
committee shall include on each license a designation as an electrologist
license or an electrology instructor license.

(
B)
A licensed electrologist only may use the title "licensed electrologist" and
the abbreviation "L.E." A licensed electrology instructor also may use the
title "licensed electrology instructor" and the abbreviation "L.E.I." In
addition, a licensee may use the title "Certified Professional Electrologist"
and the abbreviation "C.P.E." if the licensee has an unexpired certificate for
this designation from the International Board of Electrology Certification of
the American Electrology Association.

(
C)
A licensee only may practice electrology in a permanent establishment, referred
to in this article as an office. The board shall, with input from the
committee, promulgate regulations concerning sanitation standards, equipment,
supplies, and facilities to be used and maintained in an office. An office is
subject to random and periodic inspections during business hours by members of
the committee or its agents or assistants.

(
D)
A licensed electrologist shall notify the committee in writing no later than
ten business days after a change of address or opening of a new office.

(
E)
A licensed electrologist shall display the license in a conspicuous place in
the office.

S
ection
40-47-2210
.
(
A) A license issued
pursuant to this article for an electrologist or electrology instructor is
valid for two years and must be renewed biennially. At least one month before
the license expires, the committee shall send to the licensee, by first class
mail to the last known address provided by the licensee, a renewal notice that
states:

(
1)
the date on which the current license expires:

(
2)
the date by which the renewal application must be received by the committee for
the renewal to be issued and mailed before the license expires; and

(
3)
the amount of the renewal fee as provided for in the rules.

(
B)
The board, upon the recommendation of the committee, shall renew the license of
a licensee who submits a renewal application on a form prescribed by the
committee, pays the renewal fee, submits satisfactory evidence of compliance
with continuing education requirements pursuant to Section
40-47-2200
, has
complied with all sterilization-testing requirements and has received
satisfactory facility inspections, if any, all as provided for in regulation.

(
C)
Any person who has failed to renew a license for more than ninety days after
expiration may have it reinstated by applying to the committee for
reinstatement on a form approved by the committee, furnishing a statement of
the reason for failure to apply for renewal prior to the deadline, and paying
the required fee. Beyond ninety days, the committee may require the applicant
to provide evidence of competency, including repeating any or all of the
requirements of Section
40-47-2160
.

(
D)
A licensee is solely responsible for notifying the committee of any change of
address for correspondence.

S
ection
40-47-2220
.
(
A) The committee
shall recommend to the board for promulgation in regulation the number of hours
and subject matter of continuing education required as a condition of license
renewal. The committee may offer continuing education to the licensees under this
article or may approve programs offered at other institutions or by other
electrologists.

(
B)
Upon request, the committee may grant approval to a continuing education
program or course upon finding that the program or course offers a worthwhile
educational experience for licensed electrologists.

(
C)
Upon application for license renewal, each licensee shall provide the committee
with records or transcripts of the approved educational course work completed,
including the subject matter and the number of hours of each course.

S
ection
40-47-2230
.
(
A) Upon written
request by a licensee for inactive status, the committee shall place the
licensee's name on the inactive list. While on the inactive list, the person is
subject to renewal requirements and may not practice electrology in this State.

(
B)
(
1) A person on inactive status who
seeks to return to active status shall submit to the committee a:

(
a)
reactivation application on a form furnished by the committee; and

(
b)
reactivation fee.

(
2)
If the period of inactivity has exceeded two years, the committee may require
the applicant to provide evidence of competency, including repeating any
requirements of Section
40-47-2160
, before returning the applicant to active
status. A person whose license has lapsed or expired for a period of five years
or more must take and pass the examination for licensure before the license can
be reactivated.

S
ection
40-47-2240
.
(
A) A licensed
electrologist or licensed electrology instructor may voluntarily surrender a
license by expressing this voluntary surrender in writing to the committee and
returning the license to the committee. If the license is lost, the individual
shall submit a notarized statement to that effect to the committee.

(
B)
A licensed electrologist or licensed electrology instructor may not surrender
his license and the license may not lapse by operation of law while the
licensee is under investigation or while charges are pending against the
licensee, unless the committee agrees to accept the surrender of a license.
However, the committee may set conditions on its agreement with the licensed
electrologist or licensed electrology instructor under investigation or against
whom charges are pending to accept surrender of the license.

S
ection
40-47-2250
.
(
A) Regarding
electrology education programs, the committee also shall:

(
1)
recommend standards by which a program may be approved for the board to
promulgate in regulation;

(
2)
survey and evaluate proposed programs;

(
3)
evaluate the need for a program in the geographical area in which the program
will be located;

(
4)
keep a list of institutions that currently offer electrology education programs
that are approved by the committee pursuant to this section; and

(
5)
encourage schools of higher learning to establish programs in the theory and
practice of electrology.

(
B)
Before an institution may operate an electrology education program in this
State, the committee must approve the program. The institution first shall
submit evidence to the committee that the institution is prepared to:

(
1)
meet the standards provided in subsection (A)(1); and

(
2)
carry out an education program of at least six hundred combined instructional
hours or another amount of time as provided for in regulation, in the:

(
a)
theory of electrology, pursuant to the provisions of Section
40-47-2160
; and

(
b)
clinical practice of electrology, pursuant to the provisions of Section
40-47-2160
.

(
C)
The committee periodically may evaluate electrology programs in this State. If
an institution that offers an approved electrology education program violates a
standard provided in subsection (A)(1), the committee shall give the
institution specific written notice of the violation.

(
D)
The committee may remove an institution from a list of institutions that offer
approved electrology education programs, subject to the hearing provisions of
Section
40-47-2280
if the institution:

(
1)
is guilty of fraud or deceit in obtaining or attempting to obtain approval;

(
2)
acts in a manner inconsistent with generally accepted standards for the
practice of electrology;

(
3)
advertises in a manner that the board determines violates this article;

(
4)
violates the standards provided in this article and does not correct the
violation in a reasonable time after notice is given; or

(
5)
no longer operates a program that qualifies for approval under this article.

(
E)
An action taken pursuant to this section must comply with the notice and
hearing provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act.

(
F)
Nothing in this article shall prevent a cosmetology school licensed pursuant to
Chapter 13, Title 40 from submitting an electrology education program to the
committee for approval.

S
ection
40-47-2260
.
(
A) Subject to the
hearing provisions of Section
40-47-2280
, the board, upon the recommendation of
the committee, may deny a license or renewal of a license to an applicant or
licensee, reprimand a licensee, place a licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke
a license if the applicant or licensee:

(
1)
fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain or renew a license
for the applicant or licensee or for another;

(
2)
fraudulently or deceptively uses a license;

(
3)
as part of the practice of electrology, knowingly acts beyond the scope of the
practice of electrology, as provided in this article;

(
4)
is grossly negligent in practicing electrology or in teaching an electrology
education program;

(
5)
acts in a manner inconsistent with generally accepted standards for the
practice of electrology;

(
6)
is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or to a crime
involving moral turpitude, whether or not an appeal or other proceeding is
pending to have the conviction or plea set aside;

(
7)
is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of another state or
country, or is convicted or disciplined by a court of another state or country
for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to this
article;

(
8)
provides professional services while under the influence of alcohol or uses a
narcotic or controlled substance, as defined in Section
44-53-110
, or another
drug that is in excess of therapeutic amounts or without valid medical
indication;

(
9)
practices electrology with an unauthorized person or supervises or aids an
unauthorized person in the practice of electrology;

(
10)
wilfully makes or files a false report or record in the practice of
electrology;

(
11)
wilfully fails to file or record a report as required by law; wilfully impedes
or obstructs the filing or recording of the report or induces another to fail
to file or record the report;

(
12)
submits a false statement to collect a fee;

(
13)
violates a provision of this article;

(
14)
uses or promotes or causes the use of misleading, deceiving, or untruthful
advertising matter, promotional literature, or testimonial, or advertising that
violates a provision of this article;

(
15)
is professionally, physically, or mentally incompetent;

(
16)
promotes the sale of devices, appliances, or goods to a patient so as to
exploit the patient for financial gain;

(
17)
behaves immorally in the practice of electrology;

(
18)
commits an act of unprofessional conduct in the practice of electrology;

(
19)
does not comply with infection-control standards for the practice of
electrology as established by the Centers for Disease Control or another agency
mandated by the committee in regulation, including, but not limited to, failure
to submit to independent sterilization testing; or

(
20)
fails to remedy a violation of a regulation noted as a result of an office
inspection.

(
B)
If a license is suspended or revoked for a period of more than one year, the
board, upon the recommendation of the committee, may reinstate the license
after one year.

S
ection
40-47-2270
.
(
A) If after a
hearing pursuant to Section
40-47-1795
, the committee finds that there are
grounds pursuant to Section
40-47-1785
to suspend or revoke a license, an
individual whose license is being revoked or suspended shall return the license
to the committee. If the license is lost, the individual shall submit a
notarized statement to that effect to the committee.

(
B)
If after a hearing pursuant to Section
40-47-2280
, the committee finds that
there are grounds pursuant to Section
40-47-2260
to suspend or revoke a
license, the board, upon recommendation of the committee, may impose a penalty
instead of suspending the license or in addition to suspending or revoking the
license.

(
C)
The board, upon the recommendation of the committee, shall promulgate
regulations to set standards for the imposition of penalties under this
section.

(
D)
The committee shall use a penalty collected pursuant to this section to
reimburse its costs for enforcing the terms of this article and the rules
promulgated pursuant to this article, and shall provide any excess to the board
for deposit with the State Treasurer as provided for by law.

S
ection
40-47-2280
.
(
A) Before taking an
action pursuant to Section
40-47-2250
,
40-47-2260
, or
40-47-2270
, the committee
shall give the person against whom the action is contemplated an opportunity
for a hearing before the committee.

(
B)
The committee shall give notice in writing at least thirty days before the
hearing and hold the hearing pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.

(
C)
The person may be represented at the hearing by counsel.

(
D)
The board, upon request of the committee, shall issue subpoenas, and the
committee shall administer oaths in connection with a proceeding under this
section.

(
E)
If after due notice the person against whom the action is contemplated fails or
refuses to appear, the committee may hear and determine the matter in the
person's absence.

S
ection
40-47-2290
. A person aggrieved by a final decision of the board, upon the
recommendation of the committee, in a contested case, as defined in the
Administrative Procedures Act, may appeal the decision in accordance with the
Administrative Procedures Act.

S
ECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on February 24, 2026 at 1:34 PM