South Carolina H 5245: Electrology and Electrologists

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5245 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 24, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5245

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

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.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

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

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

Article 13

Electrology and Electrologists

 Section 
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.

 Section 
40-47-2110. As 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.

 Section 
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.

 Section 
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