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.
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 for laser hair or tattoo removal a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner must examine the patient before the first 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 is that each patient be examined by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner licensed or approved by the Board prior to receiving the first laser hair or tattoo removal treatment, and at other times 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
It is the Board's position that a licensee-patient relationship may be established via either synchronous or asynchronous telemedicine technologies without any requirement of a prior in-person meeting, so long as the standard of care is met; licensees are encouraged to provide, or rely upon, an appropriate evaluation prior to diagnosing or treating the patient, and that evaluation need not be in-person if the licensee employs technology sufficient to accurately diagnose and treat the patient in conformity with the applicable standard of care.
NCMB Position Statement 5.1.4 (Telemedicine — licensee-patient relationship; evaluations and examinations) · verified Sep 8, 2026
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