Kentucky scope of practice for med spas

RN / NP scope for injectables in Kentucky

A Kentucky physician assistant may render no medical service at all without a signed, in-effect supervision agreement, and a physician may not supervise one without board approval — failing to obtain that approval is itself unprofessional conduct. The agreement must state the scope of medical services and procedures the supervising physician approves, and the level and method of supervision. Kentucky defines advanced practice registered nursing as the performance of additional acts by registered nurses who have gained advanced clinical knowledge and skills through an accredited education program preparing them for one of the four APRN roles, who are nationally certified as a certified nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife or clinical nurse specialist. Those additional acts, subject to approval of the board, include but are not limited to prescribing treatment, drugs and devices and ordering diagnostic tests. Registered nursing practice is defined separately and includes the administration of medication and treatment as prescribed by a physician, physician assistant, dentist, or advanced practice registered nurse, and as further authorized or limited by the board. An APRN applicant must file a written application with evidence, verified by oath, of an accredited APRN education program, national certification, English proficiency, and a passed jurisprudence examination. Effective July 15, 2026, §311.858 permits nonscheduled legend drugs and devices to the extent approved by the supervising physician. Controlled-substance prescribing and administration require at least one year of licensed PA practice, the signed application and board approval, DEA and state monitoring registration, and supervising-physician approval. Narcotic Schedule II drugs other than hydrocodone combinations are limited to 72 hours without refill; hydrocodone combinations, nonnarcotic Schedule II and Schedule III drugs to 30 days without refill. Schedule IV–V prescriptions and refills may not exceed six months; benzodiazepines and Carisoprodol are limited to 30 days without refill. Authorized PAs must complete the controlled-substance continuing education required for renewal. Independent PA practice remains prohibited.

• A physician shall not supervise a physician assistant without approval of the board. Failure to obtain board approval as a supervising physician or failure to comply with the requirements of KRS 311.840 to 311.862 or related administrative regulations shall be considered unprofessional conduct and shall be subject to disciplinary action by the board.

  Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.854(1) · verified Sep 3, 2026

• A physician assistant shall not render any medical service or procedure unless the required supervision agreement is completed and signed by the supervising physician and physician assistant, and in effect. The supervision agreement shall include the scope of medical services and procedures approved by the supervising physician to be performed by the physician assistant, and the level and method of supervision to be provided by the supervising physician.

  Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.854(3) · verified Sep 3, 2026

• "Advanced practice registered nursing" means the performance of additional acts by registered nurses who have gained advanced clinical knowledge and skills through an accredited education program that prepares the registered nurse for one of the four APRN roles; who are certified by the American Nurses' Association or other nationally established organizations or agencies recognized by the board to certify registered nurses for advanced practice registered nursing as a certified nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist. The additional acts shall, subject to approval of the board, include but not be limited to prescribing treatment, drugs, devices, and ordering diagnostic tests.

  Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.011(8) · verified Sep 3, 2026

• "Registered nursing practice" means the performance of acts requiring substantial specialized knowledge, judgment, and nursing skill based upon the principles of psychological, biological, physical, and social sciences in the application of the nursing process in the administration of medication and treatment as prescribed by a physician, physician assistant, dentist, or advanced practice registered nurse and as further authorized or limited by the board.

  Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.011(6) · verified Sep 3, 2026

• An applicant for licensure to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse shall file with the board a written application for licensure and submit evidence, verified by oath, that the applicant has completed an education program that prepares the registered nurse for one of four APRN roles that has been accredited by a national nursing accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education; is certified by a nationally established organization or agency recognized by the board; is able to understandably speak and write the English language; and has passed the jurisprudence examination approved by the board.

  Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.042(1) · verified Sep 3, 2026

• "Licensed practical nursing practice" means the performance of acts requiring knowledge and skill such as are taught or acquired in approved schools for practical nursing in the observing and caring for the ill, injured, or infirm under the direction of a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, licensed physician, or dentist.

  Ky. Rev. Stat. §314.011(10) · verified Sep 3, 2026

• Effective July 15, 2026, a physician assistant may perform medical services and procedures within the scope described in the supervision agreement and prescribe and administer nonscheduled legend drugs and medical devices to the extent approved by the supervising physician. A PA may not practice medicine or osteopathy independently.

  Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.858(1), (3), (8) · verified Oct 23, 2026

• A board-approved physician assistant may prescribe and administer Schedule II–V controlled substances to the extent approved by the supervising physician and subject to statutory limits. Before prescribing or administering controlled substances the PA needs at least one year of licensed practice, an application signed by the supervising physician, board or executive director approval, a DEA registration certificate, and registration with the state monitoring system and other applicable state controlled-substance regulatory authority. Narcotic Schedule II prescriptions other than hydrocodone combination products are limited to 72 hours without refill; hydrocodone combinations, nonnarcotic Schedule II and Schedule III prescriptions are limited to 30 days without refill. Schedule IV–V prescriptions and refills may not exceed six months, except benzodiazepines and Carisoprodol are limited to 30 days without refill.

  Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.858(4) (controlled-substance authorization and limits) · verified Oct 23, 2026

• For a physician assistant authorized to prescribe and administer Schedule II–V controlled substances, the 100 hours of approved continuing education for biennial license renewal must include at least 7.5 hours relating to controlled-substance diversion, pain management, addiction disorders, the monitoring system, or a combination of two or more of these subjects. SB116 was signed April 10, 2026; the amendments took effect July 15, 2026.

  2026 Ky. Acts ch. 94, §2 (KRS 311.844(3)(b)2) · verified Oct 23, 2026

Recent Kentucky changes

• KY HB885: an Act relating to cosmetology.Mar 27, 2026