May an esthetician or laser technician perform microneedling in Montana?
Oversight · part of The Practice Perimeter
Short answer
The cited rules do not settle this — esthetics is defined open-endedly as "skin care of the body," and no cited rule names microneedling or sets a penetration depth for estheticians; the cosmetology chapter also creates no laser technician license.
In Response 6, which addresses cosmetic treatments like “microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels”, the Board states that “A licensee with the proper training can perform microdermabrasion and chemical peels.” It also states that “Any procedure that compromises the germinative or basal layers of the skin are prohibited for individuals licensed by the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.”
Mont. Bd. of Barbers & Cosmetologists, Med Spa FAQ (Jan. 2024), Question 6 / Response 6 · verified Sep 20, 2026 · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
Related Montana rules
"Esthetics" means skin care of the body, including but not limited to hot compresses or the use of safety-approved electrical appliances or chemical compounds formulated for professional application only and the temporary removal of superfluous hair by means of lotions, creams, or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances on another person.
Mont. Code Ann. § 37-31-101(14) · verified Sep 8, 2026
"Practice of medicine" means the diagnosis, treatment, or correction of or the attempt to or the holding of oneself out as being able to diagnose, treat, or correct human conditions, ailments, diseases, injuries, or infirmities, whether physical or mental, by any means, methods, devices, or instrumentalities, including electronic and technological means such as telemedicine. If a person who does not possess a license to practice medicine in this state under this chapter and who is not exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter performs acts constituting the practice of medicine, the person is practicing medicine in violation of this chapter.
Mont. Code Ann. § 37-3-102(11) · verified Sep 8, 2026
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Related Montana questions
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- Who may operate a cosmetic laser in Montana?
- Can a medical assistant give injections in Montana?
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← All Montana rules and changes · MedSpaRadar is regulatory monitoring and reference: it summarizes public laws, regulations and agency actions and links each to its source. It is not legal, medical, or compliance advice, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. A summary can lag its source or leave out detail, and monitoring itself can be interrupted — so an absence of alerts means nothing reached you, not that nothing happened. Read the cited source, check its effective date, and confirm any change to your operations or clinical practice with qualified health-law counsel and your medical director. Legislative data via LegiScan (CC BY 4.0).