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Does a med spa in Wyoming need a medical director?

Oversight · part of The Practice Perimeter

⛔ WYOMING DEFINES “PRACTICING MEDICINE” BROADLY, AND IT REACHES CONDUCT A MED SPA DOES DAILY. A person is practicing medicine who advertises, holds out or represents to the public that they are authorized to practice medicine; who offers or undertakes to prevent, diagnose, correct or treat, IN ANY MANNER, BY ANY MEANS, METHOD OR DEVICE, any human disease, illness, pain, wound, infirmity, defect or abnormal condition; who offers or undertakes to prescribe, order, give or administer drugs obtainable only by prescription; or who RENDERS A DETERMINATION OF MEDICAL NECESSITY OR APPROPRIATENESS of proposed treatment. Aiding or abetting the practice of medicine by a person not licensed by the board is a ground for discipline. On the cosmetology side the practice of esthetics is defined by purpose — the improvement and beautification of the skin FOR COSMETIC PURPOSES — and the Cosmetology Act does not prohibit services rendered by licensed physicians, nurses, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, physical therapists, morticians or barbers when exclusively engaged in the practice of their respective professions. The cosmetology board’s own scope rule then closes the esthetics question the statute leaves open: the rule enumerates the esthetics scope — massaging, cleansing, exfoliating, stimulating, manipulating, beautifying and applying preparations to the skin, brow and lash work, and extractions of the face are among the acts it lists — and then states that PROCEDURES WHICH PIERCE THE EPIDERMAL OR DERMAL LAYER OF THE SKIN ARE CONSIDERED INVASIVE AND ARE PROHIBITED; the same rule says that using the term or title “Medical Esthetician” is not allowed.

Drawn from 9 verified rules in this section · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice

The rest of what Wyoming says on this

Every other rule we have verified under physician supervision & delegation, each linked to its primary source.

  • "Practicing medicine" means any person who in any manner: Advertises, holds out, or represents to the public that he is authorized to practice medicine in this state; or Offers or undertakes to prevent, diagnose, correct or treat, in any manner, by any means, method or device, any human disease, illness, pain, wound, fracture, infirmity, defect or abnormal physical or mental condition, injury, deformity or ailment, including the management of pregnancy and parturition.

    Wyo. Stat. Ann. §33-26-102(a)(xi)(A)-(B) · verified Sep 3, 2026

  • "Practicing medicine" means any person who in any manner offers or undertakes to prescribe, order, give or administer drugs which can only be obtained by prescription according to law; or renders a determination of medical necessity or appropriateness of proposed treatment.

    Wyo. Stat. Ann. §33-26-102(a)(xi)(E)-(F) · verified Sep 3, 2026

  • The board may refuse to renew, and may revoke, suspend or restrict a license or take other disciplinary action, including the imposition of conditions or restrictions upon a license, on the ground of aiding or abetting the practice of medicine by a person not licensed by the board.

    Wyo. Stat. Ann. §33-26-402(a)(ix) · verified Sep 3, 2026

  • Nothing in this act shall prohibit services rendered by licensed physicians, nurses, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, physical therapists, morticians or barbers when exclusively engaged in the practice of their respective professions.

    Wyo. Stat. Ann. §33-12-140(a) · verified Sep 3, 2026

  • Within the esthetics scope of practice: (v) Procedures which pierce the epidermal or dermal layer of the skin are considered invasive and are prohibited. (vi) Using the term or title of "Medical Esthetician" is not allowed.

    Wyo. Bd. of Cosmetology Rules ch. 1 § 6(c)(v)-(vi) (Scope of Practice — Esthetics; ref. 033.0001.1.04012026) · verified Sep 7, 2026

  • The esthetics scope of practice is: (i) Massaging, cleansing, exfoliating, stimulating, manipulating, beautifying, or applying makeup, oils, lotions, or other preparations to the skin using hands, chemicals, mechanical or electrical apparatuses, or appliances; (iii) Arching or tinting eyebrows, tinting, chemical waving, or applying extensions to eyelashes; and (iv) Performing extractions of the face using hands, mechanical or electrical apparatuses, or appliances.

    Wyo. Bd. of Cosmetology Rules ch. 1 § 6(c)(i), (iii)-(iv) (Scope of Practice — Esthetics; ref. 033.0001.1.04012026) · verified Sep 7, 2026

  • "Practice of esthetics" means any single practice or service or a combination of practices or services performed for others for the improvement and beautification of the skin of the human body for cosmetic purposes.

    Wyo. Stat. Ann. §33-12-120(a)(vii) · verified Sep 3, 2026

  • The esthetics scope includes the removal of superfluous hair by means other than electrolysis and laser, and the add-on hair removal endorsement available to licensed hairstylists and nail technicians is limited the same way, to removal by means other than electrolysis and laser.

    Wyo. Bd. of Cosmetology Rules ch. 1 § 6(c)(ii), (e) (Scope of Practice — Esthetics; Add-On Hair Removal; ref. 033.0001.1.04012026) · verified Sep 8, 2026

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← All Wyoming rules and changes · MedSpaRadar is regulatory monitoring and reference, not legal, medical, or compliance advice. Verify against the linked primary source and consult qualified counsel before acting — rules change and turn on your specific facts. Legislative data via LegiScan (CC BY 4.0).