“What licence do you need to open a medical spa?” is a collaborative post.
What is a medical spa? Is it a medical clinic or a traditional spa?
Typically, a medical spa, or medispa, is a cross between the two. A medical spa tends to offer traditional spa treatments – like massage – along with specialised treatments that may require a medical professional to perform.
Today, the medical spa business is growing fast, and the business model is one that’s garnering a lot of interest from wellness entrepreneurs.
However, to open a medical spa legitimately, there are special licensing requirements. Wondering which licenses you need to open a medical spa or even if you’ll need a license?
Licensing requirements to open a medical spa typically depend on the treatments you provide. For example, you might need traditional facility licenses for safety, but you may also require medical director and staff licensing to perform certain treatments like Botox injections and laser hair removal.
Interested in what else is required to open a medical spa? This article explores all the requirements of medical spas.
General licensing requirements for a med spa
Medical spa business is a combination of traditional day spa and medical clinic. Non-surgical and non-invasive treatments have gained popularity among individuals. Thus, inclination towards medical aesthetics and the acceptance of cosmetic medical procedures have become the key growth drivers of the medical spa market.
Services such as facial treatment, body shaping and contouring, laser treatments, scar revision, tattoo removal, injectable fillers, microneedling, Botox, chemical peels, etc., contribute to generate an average monthly revenue of $121,632 according to the American Med Spa Association.
Treatments offered in a med spa must be operated or administered by licensed healthcare professionals such as MDs, DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), NPs, PAs, and RNs.
The regulations regarding aesthetic treatments and med spa may differ from state to state and can change from time to time.
For now, let’s look at the general spa license requirements.
1. Business license
You’ll need to get a general business license from the local authority where your medical spa is located.
2. Professional license
All the medical professionals employed at your med spa must have the necessary professional license for administering, supervision, or even operating equipment. Check spa license for physicians, nurses, estheticians, etc.
3. Healthcare facility license
Your med spa may need to be registered or licensed as a healthcare facility depending upon your state. Usually, it requires meeting specific health and safety standards.
4. Facility accreditation
Certain medical or healthcare organisations may require additional accreditations or certifications to carry specific procedures or services in your med spa depending upon your state.
5. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration
Authorised person who is engaged in dispensing (prescribing or handling) any controlled substance needs to hold a DEA registration.
6. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance
When it comes to using aesthetic (cosmetic) devices and drugs in your med spa, you may have to comply with the federal agencies like FDA and may be subjected to FDA regulations.
7. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance
One of the key med spa license requirements is to stay compliant with OSHA regulations overlooking workplace safety and health standards.
8. HIPAA compliance
Your med spa will be dealing with sensitive personal patient records. Ensure that you are complying with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to maintain privacy and data security.
9. State-specific regulations
Besides the above-listed checklist for opening a medical spa, research about any additional state-specific regulations governing medical spas and cosmetic procedures that you may have to comply with.
Most difficult licenses to obtain for a medical spa
Ensure that you are getting your hands on all the local, state, and federal licenses even if they are difficult to obtain or time taking.
Let’s look at some of them which are difficult to obtain.
1. Medical license for practitioners
If your services include medical procedures, then you must have a licensed medical professional onboard.
2. State cosmetology license
A state cosmetology license may be required for estheticians or other skin care professionals if your medical spa is offering aesthetic and cosmetic services.
3. Health department permits
Health department permits are a must as medical spas offering various medical treatments and services must meet specific hygiene and safety standards.
4. FDA compliance for medical devices
One of the key licenses in opening a medical spa checklist is getting necessary permits by complying with FDA regulations. It is a must for medical spas using medical devices such as laser machines or other equipment regulated by the FDA.
Common licensing mistakes and how to avoid them
Opening a med spa without the required licenses may result in a $50,000 to $100,000 fine subjected to suspension of your medical license and may even have to shut your business.
Moreover, your med spa business may get into trouble if you fail to renew your license or overlook any mandatory regulation. Stay updated with laws pertaining to medical spa, aesthetics and cosmetic treatments to avoid any legal issues.
Who can open a med spa and where?
Running a med spa business offers lucrative opportunities for MDs (Doctor of Medicine) and DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) when it comes to med spa ownership.
Some states allow NPs (Nurse Practitioners), PAs (Physician Assistant), and RNs (Registered Nurses) to partner with a medical director to co-own and operate a med spa.
The following list may not be exhaustive and may not contain specific or updated information. Thus, we request you to consult your state’s medical board or hire a qualified legal professional for the latest and most accurate regulations regarding med spa ownership.
Do note that RNs can’t own a med spa due to licensing limitations however, they can consider alternative method like owning an already established med spa ownership, partnerships with medical directors, or working with an MSO (Management Service Organization).
| State | NPs (with full practice authority) | PAs (Notes) | RNs |
| Alabama | Yes | ||
| Alaska | Yes | Yes | |
| Arizona | Yes | Must have a designated medical director who is a licensed physician | |
| Colorado | Yes | ||
| Connecticut | Yes | ||
| Delaware | Yes | Yes | |
| Florida | Requires supervision by a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon | Yes | |
| Hawaii | Yes | Needs a licensed medical director | Yes |
| Idaho | Yes | Yes | |
| Iowa | Yes | Must have a supervising physician agreement | |
| Kansas | Yes | ||
| Louisiana | Yes | ||
| Maine | Yes | Must have a licensed physician as a medical director | Yes |
| Maryland | Yes, with a 18-month mentorship with a certified NP or physician | ||
| Massachusetts | Yes | Must have a collaborative practice agreement with a physician | |
| Michigan | Requires supervision and collaborative agreement with a physician | ||
| Minesota | Yes, with a 2,080 hours in a collaborative agreement with a physician or APRN before independent practice | ||
| Mississippi | Needs a licensed medical director | Yes | |
| Missouri | Yes | ||
| Montana | Yes | ||
| Nebraska | Yes, with a collaborative agreement for 2,000 hours of practice before independent practice | Yes | |
| Nevada | Yes | ||
| New Hampshire | Yes | Requires a supervising physician agreement | Yes |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | |
| New York | Yes, with 3,600 practice hours per a written practice agreement and protocols with a collaborating physician | ||
| North Carolina | Must have a supervising physician agreement | ||
| North Dakota | Yes | ||
| Ohio | Yes | ||
| Oklahoma | Requires a supervising physician agreement | Yes | |
| Oregon | Yes | ||
| Rhode Island | Yes | ||
| South Carolina | Needs a licensed medical director | ||
| South Dakota | Yes | ||
| Utah | Must have a supervising physician agreement | Yes | |
| Vermont | Yes | Yes | |
| Virginia | Yes | ||
| Washington | Yes | ||
| Wyoming | Yes | Requires supervision and collaborative agreement with a physician | Yes |
Final thoughts
We hope that with this article it must be clear as to what licenses do you need to open a medical spa. Ensure to get all the expert advice and check legal regulations pertaining to your state before opening a medical spa.
