Practice & Compliance
Good Faith Exam Workflow Guide
An educational overview of Good Faith Exams in the context of medical aesthetics practice. This guide covers general concepts, workflow considerations, documentation, and questions providers should confirm with their state board or qualified counsel. It is not legal, regulatory, or medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-17
What a Good Faith Exam Generally Refers To
In the context of medical aesthetics, a Good Faith Exam generally refers to a pre-treatment clinical assessment conducted to determine whether a proposed treatment is appropriate for a specific patient. The exam is typically understood as a clinical safeguard that helps establish a provider-patient relationship and supports the medical appropriateness of the treatment.
The concept originates from broader medical and regulatory frameworks. Whether and how it applies to aesthetic treatments can depend on state law, the provider's license type, the treatment being offered, and the practice setting.
When a Good Faith Exam May Be Required
A Good Faith Exam may be required before certain aesthetic treatments, particularly those involving prescription products such as injectable neurotoxins or dermal fillers. Whether one is required, and what it must include, can depend on several factors.
Requirements may depend on provider license, entity structure, service offered, and medical oversight arrangement. Confirm with the applicable state licensing board and qualified legal counsel.
- Whether the treatment involves a prescription product or delegated clinical act
- Whether state law or board guidance requires a pre-treatment evaluation
- Whether the provider's license type and delegation structure require an exam
- Whether the practice setting (in-person, mobile, or telehealth) affects the requirement
Who May Be Permitted to Perform a Good Faith Exam
The licensed professional who may perform a Good Faith Exam can depend on current state law, the treatment involved, and the delegation in place. In some states, a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant may perform the exam; in others, the rules may differ.
A training certificate alone does not determine whether a provider may perform a Good Faith Exam. Authority is generally tied to licensure and state law, not to course completion.
- Physicians may perform exams within their scope and state medical board rules
- Advanced practice registered nurses may perform exams depending on state scope and collaboration requirements
- Physician assistants may perform exams under state supervision and delegation rules
- Registered nurses may perform delegated exam components within state nursing rules — confirm what is permitted
- Estheticians and unlicensed personnel typically fall outside the scope of a clinical Good Faith Exam
Relationship to Prescribing and Treatment Initiation
A Good Faith Exam is often linked to the initiation of treatment, particularly when prescription products are involved. The exam may serve as the clinical basis for a treatment plan or prescription order.
Where delegation is involved, the exam may support the delegating provider's clinical authority for the treatment. The relationship between the exam, the prescription, and the delegated act should be confirmed for the specific state and practice model.
Documentation Considerations
If a Good Faith Exam is required, documenting it in the patient record is important for continuity of care and compliance. Documentation expectations can vary by state and treatment type.
Common documentation elements may include the date and time of the exam, the identity and credentials of the examining provider, exam findings and assessment, the treatment plan or recommendation, and patient consent to the plan.
- Date and time of the exam
- Identity and credentials of the provider who performed the exam
- Exam findings and clinical assessment
- Treatment plan or recommendation
- Whether the exam was in-person or via telehealth (if permitted)
- Patient consent to the treatment plan
Telehealth Considerations
Some states may permit telehealth Good Faith Exams under certain conditions; others may require an in-person exam. Whether telehealth is permitted, and what conditions apply, can depend on state law, the treatment, and the provider's license.
Telehealth rules may also address documentation, patient identity verification, and follow-up requirements. Confirm the applicable telehealth rules with your state board before relying on a remote exam.
- Whether telehealth Good Faith Exams are permitted in your state
- What platform and privacy standards apply to telehealth visits
- Whether an in-person exam is required for the first treatment or for specific treatments
- How telehealth exams should be documented
- Whether follow-up in-person visits are required
State Variation
Good Faith Exam requirements vary significantly across states. There is no single national rule that applies uniformly. Some states have specific statutory or regulatory requirements; others may address the concept through board guidance or scope-of-practice rules.
Do not assume that a requirement (or absence of one) in one state applies in another. Always confirm the current requirements for the specific state where the practice operates.
Workflow Review Checklist
Use this checklist to review your practice's Good Faith Exam workflow. These items are general and should be confirmed against your state's current requirements.
- Confirm whether a Good Faith Exam is required for each treatment you offer
- Identify which licensed provider may perform the exam in your state
- Establish a documented workflow for scheduling, performing, and recording the exam
- Define what the exam must include and how findings are documented
- Confirm whether telehealth exams are permitted and under what conditions
- Establish a workflow for repeat treatments and follow-up exams
- Ensure the exam is completed before treatment initiation where required
- Review the exam workflow with your medical director or supervising physician
- Confirm the workflow with qualified legal counsel for your state
Questions to Confirm With Your State Board or Counsel
The following questions may help guide your research. They are not a substitute for qualified legal advice.
- Is a Good Faith Exam required before the specific treatments I plan to offer?
- Who may perform the exam under my state's current rules?
- What must the exam include and how must it be documented?
- May the exam be conducted via telehealth, and if so, under what conditions?
- How often must the exam be repeated for ongoing or repeat treatments?
- Does the exam requirement change if I use delegation or a medical director?
- What are the consequences of not performing a required exam?