North Carolina good-faith exam for med spas
Requirements for the good-faith examination before treatment. Below are the North Carolina rules that govern it, each linked to its primary source. Monitoring and reference, not legal advice.
Good-faith examination in North Carolina
Both boards land in the same place from different directions: someone with prescriptive authority has to evaluate the patient and order the treatment before a nurse touches them, and the physician has to examine the patient before the first laser treatment.
A licensed physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or other practitioner with prescriptive authority must complete the client evaluation and assessment for the appropriateness of the procedure and issue the prescription or order before a licensed nurse carries it out. That evaluation may not be delegated to the nurse who will perform the treatment.
NC Board of Nursing, Cosmetic/Aesthetic Dermatological Procedures Position Statement (rev. 9/2022) · verified Aug 17, 2026
The Medical Board’s position on laser surgery is that the patient must receive a physician examination before the initial treatment, and again thereafter as medically indicated.
NCMB Position Statement 5.1.2 · verified Aug 17, 2026
An RN does not require the on-site presence of a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant to perform a prescribed cosmetic procedure. An LPN does: an LPN must have the on-site presence and supervision of an RN, physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or other licensed practitioner acting within their scope.
NC Board of Nursing, Cosmetic/Aesthetic Dermatological Procedures Position Statement (rev. 9/2022) · verified Aug 17, 2026
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