Does a med spa in Kentucky need a medical director?
Oversight · part of The Practice Perimeter
⛔ KENTUCKY'S COSMETOLOGY CHAPTER DRAWS THE MED SPA LINE ITSELF, IN ONE SENTENCE. No person shall engage in the practice of cosmetology, esthetic practices or nail technology FOR OTHER THAN COSMETIC PURPOSES, nor engage in them FOR THE TREATMENT OF PHYSICAL OR MENTAL AILMENTS — and the chapter does not apply to persons authorized by Kentucky law to practice medicine, nursing and the other named professions who perform incidental practices of cosmetology in the normal course of their own profession. The esthetic-practices definition then contemplates the medical setting expressly: it includes providing PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE ESTHETIC SKIN CARE, either referred by or SUPERVISED BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, unless the acts are performed incident to treatment of an illness or a disease. On the medical side the practice of medicine is defined as the diagnosis, treatment or correction of any and all human conditions, ailments, diseases, injuries or infirmities BY ANY AND ALL MEANS, METHODS, DEVICES, OR INSTRUMENTALITIES; and employing an unlicensed person as a practitioner of medicine, or otherwise aiding, assisting or abetting the unlawful practice of medicine or any other healing art, is a ground for discipline.
Drawn from 7 verified rules in this section · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
- Ky. Rev. Stat. §317A.020(1) · Sep 3, 2026
- Ky. Rev. Stat. §317A.020(1) · Sep 3, 2026
- Ky. Rev. Stat. §317A.010(7)(e) · Sep 3, 2026
- Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.550(10) · Sep 3, 2026
- Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.595(11) · Sep 3, 2026
- Ky. Rev. Stat. §317A.010(4) · Sep 3, 2026
- Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.011(13) (“Nursing assistance” defined) · Sep 8, 2026
The rest of what Kentucky says on this
Every other rule we have verified under physician supervision & delegation, each linked to its primary source.
No person shall engage in the practice of cosmetology, esthetic practices, or nail technology for other than cosmetic purposes nor shall any person engage in the practice of cosmetology, esthetic practices, or nail technology for the treatment of physical or mental ailments. This chapter does not apply to persons authorized by the law of this state to practice medicine, podiatry, optometry, dentistry, chiropractic, nursing, or embalming who perform incidental practices of cosmetology, esthetic practices, and nail technology in the normal course of the practice of their profession.
Ky. Rev. Stat. §317A.020(1) · verified Sep 3, 2026
"Esthetic practices" means one or more of the following acts: providing preoperative and postoperative esthetic skin care, either referred by or supervised by a medical professional, unless these acts are performed incident to treatment of an illness or a disease; work as a student in a board-approved school; or work performed by a licensed massage therapist.
Ky. Rev. Stat. §317A.010(7)(e) · verified Sep 3, 2026
The "practice of medicine or osteopathy" means the diagnosis, treatment, or correction of any and all human conditions, ailments, diseases, injuries, or infirmities by any and all means, methods, devices, or instrumentalities.
Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.550(10) · verified Sep 3, 2026
The board may deny, probate, suspend or revoke a license where the licensee has employed, as a practitioner of medicine or osteopathy in the practice of his or her profession in the Commonwealth, any person not duly licensed or otherwise aided, assisted, or abetted the unlawful practice of medicine or osteopathy or any other healing art.
Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.595(11) · verified Sep 3, 2026
"Cosmetology" means the practice of hair styling, esthetics, and nail technology. The practice of cosmetology does not include acts performed incident to treatment of an illness or a disease.
Ky. Rev. Stat. §317A.010(4) · verified Sep 3, 2026
Nursing assistance means the performance of delegated nursing acts by unlicensed nursing personnel for compensation under supervision of a nurse.
Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.011(13) (“Nursing assistance” defined) · verified Sep 8, 2026
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← All Kentucky rules and changes · MedSpaRadar 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).