Who may perform the pre-treatment exam in Illinois?
Intake · part of The Practice Perimeter
Short answer
A physician must examine the patient and set treatment before any laser procedure — except before a non-ablative one, where an APRN may examine if a delegation protocol is on file, a trained RN or LPN performs it, and a physician is reachable remotely.
A physician must examine the patient and determine a course of treatment appropriate to the patient prior to any procedure utilizing a laser, although if the established course of treatment requires multiple procedures a subsequent examination is not required before each individual procedure; and an ablative or non-ablative procedure that can potentially disrupt the eye may only be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches and may not be delegated.
68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.336(b), (b)(1) · verified Sep 8, 2026 · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
Related Illinois rules
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
How other states answer this
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