Understanding med spa laws by state can be challenging for medical practitioners planning to start or operate a med spa. Thus, one must learn about the changes that have occurred to the med spa regulations by the state in 2024 to avoid legal implications.
This guide outlines the laws of each state in an attempt to assist you in grasping the laws and legalities of the matter.
Key Takeaways
- It is important to know the rules and regulations of med spa to avoid violating the law.
- There are differences in the provisions of the laws from one state to another.
- This guide outlines med spa laws by state for the year 2024.
- General information about OSHA regulations for medical spas and other legal issues.
- Awareness of med spa Botox laws and other treatments.
Mentioned in This Blog
Federal Regulations
Before delving into state-specific laws, it is crucial to know the general federal rules that govern the functioning of all med spas before discussing state laws. These include adherence to the OSHA regulations for medical spas, which set safety measures for both employees and customers.
State-by-State Med spa Laws 2024
Understanding the specific med spa regulations in each state is essential for compliance and smooth operations. This section provides a detailed overview of new med spa laws by state, highlighting the key requirements and recent updates for 2024.
Alabama
In Alabama, it is required that a med spa be owned by a medical doctor. The state medical board has a clear policy on who is allowed to perform such procedures as administering Botox.
Alaska
Alaska permits non-physician ownership of med spas, but the practice must be supervised by a medical director. Legal consideration for a spa is the documentation of all treatments offered to clients.
Arizona
Arizona regulations allow only physicians or nurse practitioners to own a med spa. Also, the administration of injectables is restricted to these professionals and registered nurses under supervision.
Arkansas
In Arkansas, ownership of a med spa is limited to a medical doctor. New laws by the state of med spas contain new provisions on the supervision of non-physician employees.
California
California is very particular when it comes to the rules that govern med spas; for instance, med spas must be owned by a licensed physician. All treatments must be carried out by a medical practitioner or under their supervision.
Colorado
Colorado allows non-physician ownership but mandates a medical director who is a physician. The state has specific guidelines on the use of Botox and other similar med spa products.
Connecticut
Connecticut state laws require that all med spas must be affiliated with a medical director, and all procedures are to be performed by a medical practitioner.
Delaware
Delaware mandates that those who own med spas be medical doctors. The state also requires the following compliance with OSHA standards for the safety of the clients.
Florida
In Florida, any person can own a med spa if a physician is present to supervise all the medical treatments. Laser treatments and injectables were recently changed by the state.
Georgia
Georgia has legislation stating that only physicians are allowed to own med spas. The state has certain policies on who can carry out cosmetic surgeries, including Botox.
Hawaii
The laws of Hawaii permit non-physician ownership of the med spas with the provision of a medical director. Newer changes in med spa laws by state, as of the writing of this article, encompass higher safety measures.
Idaho
In Idaho, non-physician ownership is allowed, but all treatments must be supervised by a medical director. The state focuses on following the federal OSHA standards.
Illinois
Illinois has provisions that state that med spas must be owned by a licensed physician. The state also regulates the practice of all medical procedures, including Botox, and only qualified medical practitioners are allowed to carry out the procedures.
Indiana
Indiana requires that med spas be owned by a medical doctor. The state has specific policies on the management of all forms of medical care.
Iowa
Iowa has non-physician ownership but requires the presence of a medical director who must be a physician. The state has changed the rules recently, and the new legislation is even more severe concerning medical aesthetics.
Kansas
Kansas has a provision that the ownership of med spa is supposed to be in the hands of a physician. The state has certain guidelines for the monitoring of medical and non-medical personnel.
Kentucky
Kentucky permits non-physician ownership of med spas, but the spa has to be supervised by a qualified medical practitioner. The state has elaborate measures on how injectables should be administered.
Louisiana
Louisiana requires that the ownership of a med spa be done by a medical doctor. The state also has strict laws regarding the distribution of medical treatments and adherence to OSHA guidelines.
Maine
Maine permits non-physician ownership but mandates a medical director. The state has revised its guidelines to add more specific measures on safety and documentation of procedures.
Maryland
Maryland also has some regulations that mandate that any med spa must be owned by a licensed physician. The state requires that all treatments be carried out by or under the direction of a qualified health care worker.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts permits non-physician operations but requires a medical director who is a licensed physician. The state has recently changed the legislation and added some more severe rules concerning medical aesthetics.
Michigan
Michigan also has some requirements for med spas, where the ownership of the spa must be limited to licensed physicians only. The state has specific guidelines that regulate the provision of medical treatments, which include Botox.
Minnesota
Minnesota permits non-physician ownership, but a medical director is necessary. It also has a set of rules as regards the supervision of medical and non-medical personnel.
Mississippi
Mississippi law requires that any med spa must be owned by a licensed physician. The state has elaborate rules on the management of medical interventions.
Missouri
The state of Missouri permits non-physician ownership but requires a medical director to be a licensed doctor. The state has recently modified its rules, amending them to contain more rigid rules regarding medical aesthetics.
Montana
Montana allows non-physician ownership as long as there is a medical director in the clinic. The state focuses on the requirements of federal OSHA standards.
Nebraska
Nebraska has some specific provisions, as the state mandates that med spas must be owned by a licensed physician. The state requires that all medical procedures, including the administration of Botox, be carried out by qualified personnel.
Nevada
Nevada permits non-physician ownership but it needs a medical director. There are set rules on how the state handles injections and other procedures in the facility.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire requires that med spas be owned by a medical doctor or a medical doctor’s assistant. The state has extensive measures regarding the management of medical treatments.
New Jersey
New Jersey has no restrictions on non-physician ownership but requires a medical director with a license. The state has recently amended the laws to incorporate even tighter rules on medical aesthetics.
New Mexico
New Mexico allows non-physician ownership, but there must be a medical director. The state focuses on the requirements of federal OSHA standards.
New York
New York has provisions that state that med spas have to be owned by a licensed physician. The state also regulates that all medical procedures, including Botox, should be conducted by qualified medical personnel.
North Carolina
North Carolina permits non-physician ownership but the facility must be supervised by a medical director. The state has its own rules concerning the observation of medical and non-medical personnel.
North Dakota
North Dakota also requires that med spas be owned by a medical doctor. The state has detailed rules on the provision of medical treatments.
Ohio
Ohio allows non-physician ownership with the mandate of a medical director. The state insists on the implementation of federal OSHA standards.
Oklahoma
Currently, med spas in Oklahoma need to be owned by a licensed physician. The state requires that any medical procedure, including Botox, be done by a healthcare professional.
Oregon
The state of Oregon permits non-physician ownership but requires a medical director who must be licensed. The state has recently changed its laws and introduced new rules and regulations that are more severe for medical aesthetics.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires that med spas be owned by a medical doctor. The state has elaborate guidelines on the provision of medical treatments.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island allows non-physician ownership but the practice must have a medical director. The state focuses on adherence to federal OSHA standards.
South Carolina
South Carolina also mandates that med spas should be owned by a medical doctor. The state has regulations that govern the practice of medicine and any procedures that are related to it, such as Botox injections, must be administered by a qualified medical practitioner.
South Dakota
South Dakota permits non-physician ownership, as long as there is a medical director. The state has guidelines regarding the supervision of medical and non-medical personnel in the facility.
Tennessee
Tennessee requires that med spas be owned by medical doctors. The state has elaborate provisions concerning the management of medical treatments.
Texas
Texas permits non-physician ownership with the condition that there must be a medical director who is a licensed physician. The state has recently changed its laws to make the rules of medical aesthetics even more strict.
Utah
Utah allows non-physician ownership but mandates a medical director. The state also focuses on the federal OSHA standards.
Vermont
Vermont also has provisions that med spas must be owned by a licensed physician. Most procedures, such as Botox, are required to be administered by a qualified medical practitioner as per state laws.
Virginia
Virginia permits non-physician ownership, but it has to be accompanied by a medical director. There are standard procedures in the state concerning the use of injectables and other treatments.
Washington
Washington requires that med spas be owned by a physician so the following part of the statute is not an issue. The state has elaborated measures on the giving of medical treatments.
West Virginia
West Virginia allows non-physician ownership but mandates a medical director. The state focuses on the federal OSHA standards.
Wisconsin
Med spas in Wisconsin must be owned by a physician. The state has laws that require medical procedures, such as Botox, to be carried out by qualified medical personnel.
Wyoming
Wyoming permits non-physician ownership and requires a medical director with a license to practice. The state has recently changed its legislation and introduced more severe rules concerning medical aesthetics.
Find out more about new med spa laws by state.
FAQ
How do I open a medical spa in the USA?
In order to open a medical spa in the USA, one has to adhere to federal laws as well as the laws of the individual states. Some of the federal laws are OSHA regulations for medical spas that provide safety and health requirements to be followed. Rules and regulations also differ from state to state; some states demand that the med spa be owned by a medical doctor and supervised by medical directors.
In which states can an RN own a med spa?
Currently, the laws of some states, such as Alaska and Colorado, allow registered nurses (RNs) to own a med spa with the condition that they are under the supervision of a licensed medical director for all procedures. However, many states limit med spa ownership to licensed physicians only for the proper regulation of the business.
References
- American Med Spa Association. Opening a Med Spa: Laws and Regulations. Available at: https://americanmedspa.org/opening-a-med-spa-laws
- National Medical Spa Association. Med Spa Laws by State. Available at: https://nationalmsa.org/medspa-laws/
- AestheticsPro. 2024 Medspa Licensing and Regulations. Available at: https://www.aestheticspro.com/Blog/2024-Medspa-Licensing-and-Regulations/
- InjectablesEdu. Botox Laws by State. Available at: https://injectablesedu.com/botox-laws/
- Nextech. Med Spa Laws by State. Nextech blog. Available at: https://www.nextech.com/blog/med-spa-laws-by-state