Med Spa Advertising Rules by State

The Board of Cosmetology and Barbering may act against a licensee who advertises by means of knowingly false or deceptive statements.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 250-X (Board of Cosmetology and Barbering — grounds for board action) · verified Sep 4, 2026

Advertising reaches an Alaska practitioner from two directions.

AS 08.64.326(a)(3) (Grounds for discipline — advertising) · verified Sep 5, 2026

False, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading advertising is unprofessional conduct subject to Medical Board discipline.

A.R.S. §32-1401(27) · verified Jul 26, 2026

The board separately treats grossly over-utilizing, ordering or performing tests or procedures on a patient as an ethical violation where that may result in harm.

17 CAR § 140-2601(5) (Ethical violations for physicians) · verified Sep 4, 2026

A licensed practitioner may not disseminate any false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive communication to induce patronage — expressly reaching undisclosed altered images, unsubstantiated superiority claims, and misleading “as low as” price teasers. A violation is a misdemeanor and separate grounds for discipline.

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §651 · verified Jul 26, 2026 · read at Public.Law — California Codes

Paying anyone for sending patients is a CLASS 2 MISDEMEANOR — but Colorado then expressly permits paying an independent advertising or marketing agent, including on a per-patient basis.

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-240-132(1)(a) · verified Sep 2, 2026

Connecticut regulates medical spa advertising directly: any advertisement by the spa must carry the information identifying the physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse who performs cosmetic medical procedures — or state that the information may be found on the spa’s…

Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-903c(d)(1) · verified Sep 3, 2026

Delaware’s cited advertising rules are written as grounds of discipline.

24 Del. C. §1731(b)(7) · verified Sep 3, 2026

The District treats the marketing claim itself as practicing medicine: Advertising or representing in any manner that one is authorized to practice medicine falls inside the statutory definition, so a med spa that holds itself out that way is practicing medicine whether or not it treats anyone.

D.C. Code §3-1201.02(7)(A)(vii) · verified Sep 3, 2026

False, deceptive, or misleading advertising by a physician is a ground for discipline.

Fla. Stat. §458.331(1)(d) · verified Jul 26, 2026

The Board may discipline a licensee who advertised for or solicited patients, obtained a fee or other thing of value on the representation that a manifestly incurable disease can be permanently cured, or made untruthful or improbable statements, or flamboyant or extravagant claims, concerning their professional excellence or treatment protocols.

O.C.G.A. §43-34-8(a)(6) · verified Aug 17, 2026 · read at FindLaw Codes

The medical practice act makes false, fraudulent, or deceptive advertising a ground for revoking, limiting, suspending, or denying a license, and names excessive claims of expertise in a specialty, assuring a permanent cure for an incurable disease, and any untruthful and improbable statement in advertising a…

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 453-8(a)(3) · verified Sep 8, 2026

Idaho states its advertising rule as a discipline ground in one line — advertising the practice of medicine in any unethical or unprofessional manner — and pairs it with two grounds that reach the way a cosmetic practice sells.

Idaho Code §54-1814(4) · verified Sep 3, 2026

A physician may not advertise claims of superior quality of care to entice the public, may not compare fees with other practitioners, may not advertise services they are not licensed to provide, and may not use false, fraudulent, deceptive or misleading material or guarantees of success, or messages that play upon the vanity or fears of the public.

225 ILCS 60/26 · verified Aug 17, 2026

An advertisement that names a practitioner must state the profession/license held and must not include deceptive or misleading information — anything misrepresenting a practitioner’s profession, skills, training, expertise, degree, board certification, or license. Violations subject the practitioner to board discipline.

Ind. Code §25-1-10.3-2, §25-1-10.3-7 · verified Jul 26, 2026

The director must ensure advertising activities do not include false, misleading or deceptive representations, AND must be clearly identified as the medical director in ALL advertising activities, internet websites and signage related to the medical spa.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 481—655.6(3)(d)-(e) (Medical director — advertising) · verified Sep 4, 2026

Kansas writes an unusually specific advertising list into its definition of unprofessional conduct, and two entries reach claims a cosmetic practice is tempted to make.

Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-2837(a)(1) · verified Sep 3, 2026

Issuing, publishing, or making oral or written representations in which grossly improbable or extravagant statements are made which have a tendency to deceive or defraud the public is dishonorable, unethical or unprofessional conduct — and the statute names the case a cosmetic practice is most likely to fall into:…

Ky. Rev. Stat. §311.597(2) · verified Sep 3, 2026

Louisiana's advertising ground is written to catch SELF-PROMOTION as well as patient solicitation, and it reaches private communication as well as public: solicitation of patients or self-promotion through advertising or communication, public or private, which is fraudulent, false, deceptive, or misleading, is a…

La. Rev. Stat. §37:1285(A)(7) · verified Sep 3, 2026

Maine states the advertising rule as a discipline ground in three words — false, misleading or deceptive — and pairs it with a fraud ground that reaches misrepresentation in connection with the service rendered, not merely in obtaining the license.

32 M.R.S. §3282-A(1)(I) · verified Sep 3, 2026

Maryland reaches med-spa marketing through the Board of Physicians twice over: a physician may advertise only as the Board’s rules permit and may not claim board certification without holding it and naming the certifying board, and advertising in violation of that section is itself a disciplinary ground.

Md. Code, Health Occ. §14-503(a) · verified Sep 3, 2026

One statute here regulates the WORD rather than the claim: using “physician” in a title, advertisement, listing of affiliations or communication is barred where it indicates or implies that you offer or engage in the practice of medicine or the provision of health care services in the commonwealth, unless the Board…

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 112, § 8A · verified Sep 1, 2026

Michigan files advertising under unethical business practices, in the same list as fee-splitting and kickbacks — which tells you how the Board frames a misleading claim.

Mich. Comp. Laws § 333.16221(d)(i) · verified Sep 2, 2026 · read at Internet Archive snapshot — evidence of a page, not the current rule

Two medical practice act grounds reach advertising, and the first of them covers SUBSTANTIATION and COMPARATIVE claims — the two things cosmetic marketing does most.

Minn. Stat. § 147.091, subd. 1(e) · verified Sep 2, 2026

The medical practice act makes flamboyant claims of professional excellence unprofessional conduct.

Miss. Code Ann. § 73-25-29(8)(c) · verified Sep 8, 2026

Three subparagraphs of Missouri’s omnibus discipline ground — misconduct, fraud, misrepresentation, dishonesty, unethical conduct or unprofessional conduct in the performance of the functions or duties of any profession licensed or regulated by CHAPTER 334 — bear directly on how a med spa sells: misrepresenting…

Mo. Rev. Stat. §334.100.2(4)(e) · verified Sep 3, 2026

The uniform licensing statute makes a misleading, deceptive, false, or fraudulent advertisement or other representation in the conduct of the profession unprofessional conduct for every Title 37 licensee, and separately reaches a document or statement the licensee knows or ought to know is false or misleading.

Mont. Code Ann. § 37-1-316(1)(g) · verified Sep 8, 2026

Two regimes reach med-spa marketing in Nebraska.

Neb. Rev. Stat. §87-303.05(1) · verified Sep 3, 2026

Nevada reaches deceptive med-spa marketing through the Board of Medical Examiners’ disciplinary grounds: advertising the practice of medicine in a false, deceptive or misleading manner is itself a ground for discipline, as is any conduct intended to deceive, and as is obtaining or renewing a license by any false,…

Nev. Rev. Stat. §630.304(2) · verified Sep 3, 2026

New Hampshire names advertising conduct as a disciplinary ground twice over: including in advertising any statement of a character tending to deceive or mislead the public, or any statement claiming professional superiority, and advertising a drug or medicine of unknown formula or an anesthetic that is unnamed,…

N.H. Rev. Stat. §329:17, VI(g) · verified Sep 3, 2026

New Jersey’s patient testimonial rule is unusually detailed: the testimonial must truthfully reflect that patient’s actual experience, carry two conspicuous disclaimers, disclose any compensation, and be documented — including a signed and notarized statement from the patient — for three years.

N.J.A.C. 13:35-6.10 · verified Aug 17, 2026 · read at Cornell Legal Information Institute

The nursing rule states that advertising and marketing of aesthetic healthcare procedures is regulated and may not be deceptive, false or misleading, and requires a licensee to reference only their ACTIVE license and never to hold out services they are not licensed to provide.

16.12.14.11(D) NMAC (Patient records, confidentiality, and advertising) · verified Sep 4, 2026

Advertising or soliciting for patronage that is not in the public interest is professional misconduct, expressly including advertising that is false, fraudulent, deceptive, misleading, sensational or flamboyant.

N.Y. Educ. Law §6530(27) · verified Aug 17, 2026

Unfair methods of competition, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices, in or affecting commerce are unlawful in North Carolina. The Attorney General enforces this alongside any private action, and it reaches marketing conduct that no licensing board would touch.

N.C. Gen. Stat. §75-1.1(a) · verified Aug 17, 2026

Advertising reaches a North Dakota physician through the disciplinary grounds.

N.D.C.C. § 43-17-31(1)(k) (Untrue or deceptive advertising) · verified Sep 5, 2026

Making a false, fraudulent, deceptive or misleading statement in the solicitation of, or advertising for, patients is a statutory ground for discipline in Ohio — covering statements that misrepresent facts, omit material facts, create false expectations, or would cause an ordinary person to be misled.

Ohio Rev. Code §4731.22(B)(5) · verified Aug 17, 2026

The Medical Practice Act reaches a med spa’s marketing in two places, and one of them is jurisdictional rather than disciplinary.

Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 509 (Untrue or misleading advertising — both 2019 versions) · verified Sep 5, 2026

Oregon defines unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, for a person licensed to practice medicine or podiatry, as conduct unbecoming such a licensee or detrimental to the best interests of the public — including any conduct or practice contrary to the recognized standards of ethics of the medical or podiatric…

Or. Rev. Stat. §677.190(4) · verified Sep 3, 2026

Advertising a medical business in a way that is intended to deceive the public, or that has a tendency to deceive the public, is unprofessional conduct in Pennsylvania. Intent is not required — a tendency to deceive is enough.

49 Pa. Code §16.61 · verified Aug 17, 2026 · read at Cornell Legal Information Institute

Rhode Island’s advertising ground turns on TENDENCY, not proof of harm: all advertising of medical business that is intended or has a tendency to deceive the public is unprofessional conduct.

R.I. Gen. Laws §5-37-5.1(2) · verified Sep 3, 2026

South Carolina reaches deceptive med-spa marketing through the Board of Medical Examiners’ misconduct grounds: dishonorable, unethical or unprofessional conduct likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public is misconduct, and so is using a false or fraudulent statement in a document connected with the licensee’s…

S.C. Code §40-47-110(B)(9) · verified Sep 3, 2026

South Dakota's advertising ground is one of the broadest in this reference and it does not require falsity: unprofessional or dishonorable conduct includes all advertising of medical business in which untruthful or improbable statements are made, or which are calculated to mislead or deceive the public —…

S.D. Codified Laws §36-4-30(5) · verified Sep 3, 2026

Tennessee lists the advertising acts that are unprofessional conduct by name — superiority claims that cannot be substantiated, unearned degrees, and promoting services beyond what the licensee can actually do.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0880-02-.13(4)(a) · verified Sep 2, 2026

Texas regulates med-spa advertising through the Medical Board’s physician advertising rules, and several bite hardest on a med spa: a TESTIMONIAL is deemed misleading without both a credentials disclaimer and disclosure of compensation; models or actors must be identified as such; an undisclosed MEDICAL…

22 TAC §164.3(a) · verified Aug 17, 2026 · read at Cornell Legal Information Institute

“Advertisement” reaches billboards, brochures, direct mail, radio and television scripts, telephone directories, internet websites and any other means of promotion intended to induce a person to enter into an agreement for services with a health care provider.

Utah Code § 58-1-501.6(4) (Health care provider advertisements and disclosure) · verified Sep 4, 2026

Vermont makes misleading health care advertising unprofessional conduct in express terms — ALL advertising about health care services or a medical business that is intended or has a tendency to mislead or deceive the public.

Vt. Stat. tit. 26, §1354(a)(2) · verified Sep 3, 2026

Virginia is specific about the paperwork behind a claim.

18 Va. Admin. Code § 85-20-30 · verified Sep 2, 2026

Washington needs no advertising rule of its own for med spas: false, fraudulent or misleading advertising is unprofessional conduct for every health licensee in the state, under one statute that covers them all.

Wash. Rev. Code 18.130.180(3) · verified Sep 2, 2026

West Virginia’s medical advertising rule is a three-word discipline ground — false or deceptive advertising — but the sections around it are where a med spa’s marketing risk actually sits.

W. Va. Code §30-3-14(c)(3) · verified Sep 3, 2026

False, misleading or deceptive advertising is unprofessional conduct — and Wisconsin pairs it with a rule aimed squarely at soliciting people who are in no position to refuse.

Wis. Admin. Code Med § 10.03(1)(k) · verified Sep 2, 2026

Advertising the practice of medicine in a misleading, false or deceptive manner is a ground for discipline in Wyoming.

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