Polices and Procedures:

Notice: Some states necessitate certain boards such as the Board Of Medicine, Radiation Board, Cosmetology and/or Electrology Boards for recommendations or requirements to operate a laser for hair removal and/or Laser's / IPL's in general. 

Inquire what your state, local and medical requirements are before submitting your application for training.

In the state of CALIFORNIA the California Board of Medicine requires a laser operator to be under the personal and responsible supervision of an California licensed physician. It is entirely up to the medical director (Medical Doctor) if he or she will be on-site, however recommends that the M.D. be at least 30-minutes away and proper didactic training be documented.

A non-medical professional cannot fire the laser for hair removal in the state of California. The facility or clinic must have a medical director who must be a licensed medical doctor and the professional firing the laser must be an RN, PA or MD. A non-medical professional may own the clinic however they must adhere to the above protocols (i.e. Medical Director (MD) and a RN, PA or MD must fire the laser). 

Use of Lasers by Non-Physicians - in CALIFORNIA (only)

During the past few years, the California medical board has received an increase in calls inquiring about who may perform what type of cosmetic procedure and where. There is a particular interest in those elective cosmetic procedures that are becoming very popular with our appearance-oriented population, especially baby-boomers concerned with the signs of aging. Physicians call to find out who they may hire so that they may expand their practice to capture this market, and non-physicians call to find out if they might be allowed to profit by performing various treatments. The Board believed that it might be helpful to share some of these questions and our responses with our readers. Who may use lasers or intense pulse light devices to remove hair, spider veins and tattoos? Physicians may use lasers or intense pulse light devices IPL's). In addition, physician assistants (PA) and registered nurses (RN) (not licensed vocational nurses) may perform these treatments under a physician's (MD) supervision. Unlicensed medical assistants (MA), licensed vocational nurses (LPN), cosmetologists, electrologists or estheticians may not legally perform these treatments under any circumstances, nor may registered nurses (RN) or physician assistants (PA) perform them independently, without supervision. More questions can be found at: http://www.medbd.ca.gov/MA_Article_Laseruse.htm