How scope is set
Scope is set by your license type (RN, NP, PA, MD/DO, or other eligible medical license) and your state. Nursing and medical boards define which procedures each licensee may perform, under what delegation, and with what supervision. A training certificate documents completion; it does not expand your legal scope.
What scope governs
- Which aesthetic treatments you may perform.
- Whether you may perform them independently or need delegation and supervision.
- Who may delegate to you and under what protocols.
- What assessments (such as Good Faith Exams) must precede treatment.
- Documentation, consent, and recordkeeping expectations.
By provider type
RNs typically perform aesthetic injections under delegation and supervision from a physician or APRN. NPs and PAs may have broader independent authority in some states but often work under collaborative agreements or protocols. Physicians generally have the broadest authority but still carry documentation, consent, and oversight obligations. Confirm the specifics for your license in your state.
Delegation and supervision
Delegation is how a qualified provider authorizes another licensee to perform specific tasks under protocol. Supervision defines the oversight maintained over those acts — direct, indirect, or remote, depending on state, treatment, and credentials. Some states require on-site presence for certain treatments.
Ownership and scope
Corporate-practice-of-medicine rules can affect scope by restricting who may own a practice and which structures are permitted. Ownership rules interact with scope, oversight, and delegation.
Performing outside scope
Treating outside your scope is a serious legal and safety risk — board discipline, malpractice exposure, and potential criminal liability. It also creates risk for your practice and oversight provider. Confirm scope before adding any new treatment.
Where to confirm
Your state nursing and medical boards are the authority. Use the official sources below and confirm with legal counsel before offering new services. For a detailed look at which provider types may perform which treatments, see who can perform medical aesthetic treatments.