Is an exam required before a patient can be treated in Illinois?
Intake · part of The Practice Perimeter
The physician has to see the patient and set a course of treatment before anything happens — with one carve-out, new in 2025, that lets a non-ablative laser proceed on an APRN examination and a physician at the end of a phone.
68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.336(b) · verified Aug 17, 2026 · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
The rest of what Illinois says on this
Every other rule we have verified under good-faith examination, each linked to its primary source.
The physician must examine the patient and determine a course of treatment appropriate to that patient before any procedure. A repeat examination is not required for each of several procedures carried out under an already established treatment plan.
68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.336(b) · verified Aug 17, 2026
Effective January 1, 2025, an on-site physician examination before a non-ablative laser procedure is not required where four conditions are met: the facility follows a physician delegation protocol available to the Department on request; the examination is performed by an advanced practice registered nurse; the procedure is delegated by a physician and performed by an RN or LPN with documented training in each system; and a physician is available remotely by telephone or other electronic means to respond promptly to questions or complications.
225 ILCS 60/54.2(e) · verified Aug 17, 2026
Ablative and non-ablative procedures that affect the eyes may be performed only by a physician — this is the one category Illinois does not permit to be delegated to anyone.
68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.336(b) · verified Aug 17, 2026
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← All Illinois rules and changes · 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).