Montana scope of practice for med spas

RN / NP scope for injectables in Montana

The cited nursing provisions define practice and its conditions. Professional nursing includes the administration of medications and treatments prescribed by physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, and the other prescribers the statute lists, and practical nursing is the same administration under the supervision of a registered nurse or a physician, naturopathic physician, physician assistant, optometrist, dentist, osteopath, or podiatrist authorized by state law to prescribe medications and treatments; the chapter confers no authority to practice medicine. An APRN is a registered nurse who has completed the board-specified education for a role, practices on board approval of a certificate in that role, and, under the Board of Nursing’s rules, practices only in the role and population focus in which the APRN has current national certification, independently and/or collaboratively, including establishing medical diagnoses and treating patients, and prescribes legend and controlled substances only after the Board grants prescriptive authority. Certified nurse practitioner practice is defined as independent and/or collaborative management of primary or acute care. Performing procedures beyond the authorized scope, delegating contrary to the nursing laws, and failing to supervise are unprofessional conduct for a nurse. A physician assistant must be licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners and practice within the PA’s competency; a PA with fewer than 8,000 hours of postgraduate clinical experience commits unprofessional conduct by practicing without a collaborative agreement, and chart review frequency is set at the practice level in that agreement.

• (1) The APRN licensed in Montana may only practice in the role and population focus in which the APRN has current national certification. APRN practice is an independent and/or collaborative practice and may include: (a) establishing medical and nursing diagnoses, treating, and managing patients with acute and chronic illnesses and diseases; and (b) providing initial, ongoing, and comprehensive care, including: (i) physical examinations, health assessments, and/or other screening activities; (ii) prescribing legend and controlled substances when prescriptive authority is successfully applied for and obtained; (iii) ordering durable medical equipment, diagnostic treatments and therapeutic modalities, laboratory imaging and diagnostic tests, and supportive services, including, but not limited to, home healthcare, hospice, and physical and occupational therapy; (iv) receiving and interpreting results of laboratory, imaging, and/or diagnostic studies; (v) working with clients to promote their understanding of and compliance with therapeutic regimens; (vi) providing instruction and counseling to individuals, families, and groups in the areas of health promotion, disease prevention, and maintenance, including involving such persons in planning for their health care; and (vii) working in collaboration with other health care providers and agencies to provide and, where appropriate, coordinate services to individuals and families.

  Mont. Admin. R. 24.159.1406(1) · verified Oct 2, 2026

• The term also includes administration, teaching, counseling, supervision, delegation, and evaluation of nursing practice and the administration of medications and treatments prescribed by physicians, naturopathic physicians, physician assistants, optometrists, advanced practice registered nurses, dentists, osteopaths, or podiatrists authorized by state law to prescribe medications and treatments. Each registered nurse is directly accountable and responsible to the consumer for the quality of nursing care rendered.

  Mont. Code Ann. § 37-8-102(9) · verified Sep 8, 2026

• Only an APRN granted prescriptive authority by the board may prescribe, procure, administer, and dispense legend and controlled substances pursuant to applicable state and federal laws and within the APRN's role and population focus. (2) Prescriptive authority permits the APRN to receive, sign for, record, and distribute pharmaceutical samples to patients in accordance with applicable state and federal Drug Enforcement Administration laws, regulations, and guidelines in accordance with 37-2-104 , MCA. (3) All APRNs who hold an unencumbered license and meet the qualifications for prescriptive authority within ARM 24.159.1463 may hold prescriptive authority.

  Mont. Admin. R. 24.159.1461 · verified Sep 8, 2026

• Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) practice means the independent and/or collaborative management of primary and/or acute health care of individuals, families, and communities across settings. The CNP is certified in acute or primary care and in the population focus of adult/geriatric, pediatric, neonatal, family/individual health across the lifespan, women's/gender-related, and/or psychiatric/mental health.

  Mont. Admin. R. 24.159.1470(1) · verified Oct 2, 2026

• "Advanced practice registered nurse" means a registered professional nurse who has completed educational requirements related to the nurse's specific practice role, in addition to basic nursing education, as specified by the board pursuant to 37-8-202 .

  Mont. Code Ann. § 37-8-102(1) · verified Sep 8, 2026

• A person licensed under this chapter who holds a certificate in a field of advanced practice registered nursing may practice in the specified field of advanced practice registered nursing on approval by the board of an amendment to the person's license granting a certificate in a field of advanced practice registered nursing. The board shall grant a certificate in a field of advanced practice registered nursing to a person who submits written verification of certification by a board-approved national certifying body appropriate to the specific field of advanced practice registered nursing and who meets any other qualification requirements that the board prescribes.

  Mont. Code Ann. § 37-8-409 · verified Sep 8, 2026

• "Practice of practical nursing" means the performance of services requiring basic knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, psychological, and sociological sciences and of nursing procedures. The practice of practical nursing uses standardized procedures in the observation and care of the ill, injured, and infirm, in the maintenance of health, in action to safeguard life and health, and in the administration of medications and treatments prescribed by a physician, naturopathic physician, physician assistant, optometrist, advanced practice registered nurse, dentist, osteopath, or podiatrist authorized by state law to prescribe medications and treatments. These services are performed under the supervision of a registered nurse or a physician, naturopathic physician, physician assistant, optometrist, dentist, osteopath, or podiatrist authorized by state law to prescribe medications and treatments.

  Mont. Code Ann. § 37-8-102(8)(a) · verified Sep 8, 2026

• This chapter may not be construed: (a) as conferring any authority to practice medicine, surgery, or any combination of medicine or surgery; (b) to confer any authority to practice any of the healing arts prescribed by law to be practiced in the state of Montana; or (c) to permit any person to undertake the treatment of disease by any of the methods employed in the healing arts unless the licensee has been qualified under the applicable law or laws licensing the practice of those professions or healing arts in the state of Montana.

  Mont. Code Ann. § 37-8-103(2) · verified Sep 8, 2026

• (f) performing procedures beyond the authorized scope of the level of nursing and/or health care for which the individual is licensed as defined by rules; (m) delegating nursing care, functions, tasks and/or responsibilities to others contrary to the Montana laws and rules governing nursing and/or to the detriment of patient safety; (n) failing to exercise appropriate supervision over persons who are practicing under the supervision of the licensed professional;

  Mont. Admin. R. 24.159.2301(2)(f), (m), (n) · verified Oct 2, 2026

• A physician, office, firm, state institution, or professional service corporation may not employ or make use of the services of a physician assistant in the practice of medicine, as defined in 37-3-102 , and as provided in this chapter and a physician assistant may not be employed or practice as a physician assistant unless the physician assistant: (1) is licensed by the board; (2) has paid to the board the applicable fees required by the board; and (3) engages in practice for which the physician assistant is educationally prepared and for which the physician assistant has achieved and maintained competency.

  Mont. Code Ann. § 37-20-301 · verified Sep 8, 2026

• for physician assistants with fewer than 8,000 hours of postgraduate clinical experience, practicing without a collaborative agreement meeting the requirements of 37-20-203 , MCA;

  Mont. Admin. R. 24.156.405(2)(k) · verified Sep 8, 2026

• Chart review for a physician assistant shall occur, with frequency and amount to be determined at the practice level and as described in the collaboration agreement.

  Mont. Admin. R. 24.156.1623 · verified Sep 8, 2026