Can the pre-treatment exam be done by telehealth in North Carolina?
Intake · part of The Practice Perimeter
Short answer
Yes — the Board does not require the pre-treatment evaluation to be in person, so a physician, PA or NP may do it by synchronous or asynchronous telemedicine provided the technology is sufficient to accurately diagnose and treat at the standard of care.
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 · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
Related North Carolina rules
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
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Related North Carolina questions
- Is an exam required before a patient can be treated in North Carolina?
- Who may perform the pre-treatment exam in North Carolina?
- Must someone be on site while a patient is treated in North Carolina?
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