What must the supervising physician actually do, state by state
The same question, answered for 5states from each state’s own law. States disagree on this, which is the point — an answer that is right in one is wrong next door. Every entry below is a statute or board rule we verified, most recently Aug 17, 2026.
Oversight · part of The Practice Perimeter
Arizona
A medical assistant may administer injections and draw specimens only under the “direct supervision” of a physician, PA, or NP — the supervisor present in the same room or office suite.
A.R.S. §32-1456 · verified Jul 26, 2026
The full Arizona answer, with the rest of the section →California
For an elective cosmetic laser or IPL procedure performed by a licensed provider, a trained physician must be “immediately available” — reachable without delay and able to direct throughout the procedure.
Cal. Code Regs. tit. 16, §1364.50 · verified Jul 26, 2026
The full California answer, with the rest of the section →Florida
Formal supervisory relationships, standing orders, and established protocols between a physician and nonphysician practitioners are governed by statute, which also limits how many offices a physician may supervise.
Fla. Stat. §458.348 · verified Jul 26, 2026
The full Florida answer, with the rest of the section →New York
Treatments the Department has adopted as the practice of medicine must be performed by, or under the order of, a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. The supervision required is GENERAL supervision: the supervising physician or nurse practitioner need not be physically present, but must be available to give guidance or to intervene within a reasonable period for the treatment being rendered.
N.Y. State Board for Medicine — Use of Energy Devices Including Lasers as the Practice of Medicine (Mar. 7, 2025) · verified Aug 17, 2026
The full New York answer, with the rest of the section →Texas
The delegating physician must review, approve, or develop a written order for the delegated procedure that identifies the physician, sets patient-screening criteria, describes appropriate care, and provides procedures for handling common complications.
22 TAC §169.27 · verified Jul 26, 2026
The full Texas answer, with the rest of the section →Which states this covers
5 of the 6 states for which we publish statute-cited rules. That is not every state, and nothing above should be read as describing one that is not listed — the answer genuinely differs, so a neighbouring state is not a guide. We monitor all 50 state legislatures plus the FDA and the Federal Register daily; the cited rule set is narrower than the monitoring and is growing on its own timetable.
What we track in every state →Get regulatory changes as they publish
We scan all 50 state legislatures daily, plus the FDA and the Federal Register. Free weekly Brief — what changed, in plain language, with the source.
Free · unsubscribe in one click · we never sell your address
Med Spa Radar is regulatory monitoring and reference, not legal, medical, or compliance advice. Verify against the linked primary source and consult qualified counsel before acting — rules change and turn on your specific facts. Legislative data via LegiScan (CC BY 4.0).