Is an exam required before a patient can be treated in California?
Intake · part of The Practice Perimeter
Short answer
Yes — Botox or fillers can't be prescribed or furnished without an appropriate prior exam and a medical indication. The exam need not be synchronous: telehealth, including a self-screening tool or questionnaire, counts if the standard of care is met.
California requires an appropriate good-faith exam before prescriptive drugs or devices are used — and it may not be delegated to an RN.
Drawn from 3 verified rules in this section · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2242(a) · Jul 26, 2026
- Medical Board of California — Medical Spas guidance · Jul 26, 2026
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2242(a) · Sep 8, 2026
Related California rules
Prescribing, dispensing, or furnishing a dangerous drug (such as Botox or fillers) without an appropriate prior examination and a medical indication is unprofessional conduct.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2242(a) · verified Jul 26, 2026 · read at Public.Law — California Codes
Per the Medical Board, the required prior examination may NOT be delegated to a registered nurse — a physician (or an NP or PA under standardized procedures) must perform the good-faith exam and issue a patient-specific order before an RN performs the injection or laser treatment.
Medical Board of California — Medical Spas guidance · verified Jul 26, 2026
How other states answer this
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related California questions
- Can the pre-treatment exam be done by telehealth in California?
- Who may perform the pre-treatment exam in California?
- Must someone be on site while a patient is treated in California?
- Can a med spa in California offer compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide?
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