California scope of practice for med spas
Who may perform which procedures, and under what supervision, by state. Below are the California rules that govern it, each linked to its primary source. Monitoring and reference, not legal advice.
RN / NP scope for injectables in California
A registered nurse may inject Botox/fillers or operate a laser only after a physician, NP, or PA has performed the good-faith exam and issued a patient-specific order, and only within standardized procedures in an organized health care system — not as an independent salon practice.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2725 · verified Jul 26, 2026
Under standardized procedures, an NP (unlike an RN) may be delegated the prior good-faith exam and the ordering of the drug or device. AB 890’s autonomous-NP categories do not carve out or specially authorize aesthetic practice, and an autonomous NP remains bound by the good-faith-exam and CPOM rules.
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2837.103 · verified Jul 26, 2026
Get alerted when California’s rules change
Med Spa Radar watches California and the FDA so you don’t have to — plain-language alerts, and what to do.
Get the free Brief →See all California rules on the California compliance hub →