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Qualifications You Need to Perform Laser Hair Removal in Each State

By: Nextech | December 2nd, 2024

According to Grand View Research, the global market for laser hair removal is expected to grow by an average of almost 19% annually through 2030. Advancements in technology and cultural trends in aesthetics send more than a million people each year to laser hair removal facilities throughout the U.S.

Regulations around who is allowed to perform laser hair removal vary wildly by state. As the market grows, it’s likely these rules will change. In the strictest states, laser hair removal can only be performed by a doctor. In some places, it can be performed by an assortment of medical and cosmetic professionals. And in one state, it can be performed by anyone.

Laser Hair Removal: An Overview

Laser hair removal uses a concentrated beam of light to damage hair follicles. When the light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, it converts to heat. This heat destroys the hair and damages the follicle.

With each treatment, the follicle is impaired a little further so that hair grows back slower, sparser, and finer. After several treatments, some patients report permanent hair removal.

Laser hair removal is typically performed in med spas, dermatology clinics, plastic surgery centers, and some medical centers.

Choosing the Right Laser Hair Removal Provider

While regulations on laser hair removal vary from place to place, best practices do not. Patients interested in this procedure should research local providers and choose one that operates safely.

Here are some red flags patients should watch out for:

A facility with no medical supervision. Laser hair removal is a medical procedure and should be treated as such. Look for a clinic or med spa supervised by a healthcare professional like a medical director or physician.
Undertrained laser operators. The person operating the laser should meet the training requirements of their state at a minimum. Better yet if they have taken training above and beyond what’s required.
Off-market equipment. Make sure the facility’s laser hair removal equipment is approved by the FDA.
No screening appointment before the procedure. Before undergoing any medical procedure – including laser hair removal – you should be thoroughly screened to make sure it will be safe and effective for you.
The screening should include a physical exam, a health history, and a discussion of risks, benefits, and expectations of the procedure.
Lax safety protocols. Laser hair removal facilities must follow basic health and safety precautions. These include protective eyewear for patients and laser operators, sanitization between patients, and instruction in pre- and post-procedure care.

Requirements for Laser Hair Removal Providers

Each state has its own regulations around who can perform laser hair removal. Some, like Alaska, Louisiana, and New Jersey, consider laser procedures a kind of surgery and restrict its practice only to physicians.

Some states allow non-physician medical personnel like physician assistants and nurses to operate a hair removal laser, usually under a doctor’s supervision.

A few states, like Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, also permit licensed cosmetic professionals such as estheticians and electrologists to perform laser hair removal.

These professionals are often required to complete additional training and may need a separate license. In some states, they can only perform the procedure under a medical professional’s supervision.

New York is the only state that has no restrictions around who can perform laser hair removal.

Do You Need a License to Perform Laser Hair Removal?

Eleven states issue specific licenses for laser hair removal. In some cases, only non-medical personnel, like estheticians and cosmetologists, need to obtain a license; medical personnel are licensed by default.

Some states do not have a specific license for laser hair removal, but they do require laser operators to complete specific training and continuing education.

The process to apply for and renew a license varies from state to state. To view your state’s licensing requirements, select your licensing agency from the list below:

Laser Hair Removal Regulations by State

State	Who Can Perform Laser Hair Removal?	Is a License Required?	Minimum Training Hours	Continuing Education Requirements	Notes
Alabama	Physicians, RNs, LPNs, PAs, electrologists	No	Varies	24 hours every 2 years	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Alabama.
Alaska	Physicians	No	Does not apply	None
Arizona	Physicians, RNs, APRNs, certified laser technologists, estheticians, cosmetologists	Yes	64	License renewal every 2 years	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Arizona.
Arkansas	Physicians, RNs, PAs, electrologists	No	16 plus professional licensure	None	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Arkansas.
California	Physicians, RNs, PAs	No	Varies	License renewal every 3 years	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in California.
Colorado	Physicians, RNs, PAs, estheticians, cosmetologists, electrologists	No	Varies	6 hours every 2 years	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Colorado.
Connecticut	Physicians, PAs, APRNs, RNs	No	Varies	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Connecticut.
Delaware	Physicians, APRNs with prescriptive authority	No	Varies	License renewal every 2 years
Florida	Physicians, APRNs, PAs, electrologists	No	Varies	20 hours every 2 years for electrologists	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Florida.
Georgia	RNs, APRNs, PAs, estheticians, master cosmetologists	Yes	Varies	5 hours every 2 years	Non-physician medical staff, estheticians, and master cosmetologists do not require physician supervision, but must have a laser practitioner license in Georgia.
Hawaii	Electrologists, PAs, licensed nurses	Yes	600 for electrologists	Varies	· Electrologists can perform laser hair removal without physician supervision in Hawaii. · Nurses and PAs may perform laser hair removal only under the supervision of a doctor in Hawaii.
Idaho	Physicians, RNs, PAs, NPs	No	Does not apply	None	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Idaho.
Illinois	Physicians, RNs, LPNs	No	Does not apply	None	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Illinois.
Indiana	Physicians, electrologists	No	300 for electrologists	None	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Indiana.
Iowa	Electrologists, estheticians, cosmetologists licensed before July 1, 2005	No	Varies	None	· Estheticians may only perform laser hair removal under physician supervision in Iowa. · Cosmetologists licensed after July 1, 2005 cannot perform laser hair removal in Iowa; those licensed before that date may if they meet additional licensing requirements.
Kansas	Physicians, RNs, PAs, APRNs	No	40 for non-physicians	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Kansas.
Kentucky	Licensed medical professionals	No	Varies	None	Kentucky doesn’t have specific licensing requirements, so estheticians and cosmetologists may be able to perform laser hair removal under a physician’s supervision. However, the procedure is typically performed by medical personnel.
Louisiana	Physicians	No	Does not apply	None
Maine	Physicians, PAs, RNs, electrologists	No	600 for electrologists	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Maine.
Maryland	Physicians, NPs, RNs, and PAs	No	40 for non-physicians	6 hours per year	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Maryland.
Massachusetts	Physicians, PAs, RNs, electrologists, estheticians	Yes	1,100 hours for non-medical staff	10 hours every 2 years	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Massachusetts.
Michigan	Physicians, RNs, PAs, APRNs, PAs, NPs	No	Does not apply	Varies	Physician supervision is required for some professionals for laser hair removal in Michigan.
Minnesota	Physicians, PAs, NPs, APRNs, advanced practice estheticians	No	Varies	Varies	Licensed estheticians must complete additional training and registration to perform laser hair removal in Minnesota.
Mississippi	Physicians, PAs, APRNs, RNs, LPNs	No	Varies	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Mississippi.
Missouri	Physicians	No	Does not apply	None
Montana	Physicians	No	Does not apply	None
Nebraska	Physicians, PAs, APRNs	No	Varies	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Nebraska.
Nevada	RNs, PAs, estheticians, cosmetologists	Yes	75	Varies
New Hampshire	Physicians, PAs	No	Varies	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in New Hampshire.
New Jersey	Physicians	No	Does not apply	None
New Mexico	Physicians, nurses, estheticians	No	Varies	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in New Mexico.
New York	Anyone	No	Does not apply	None	New York has no laws regulating who may perform laser hair removal.
North Carolina	Physicians, electrologists, NPs	Yes	30	10 hours each year	Nurse practitioners must be supervised by a physician for laser hair removal in North Carolina.
North Dakota	Physicians, NPs, RNs, PAs	No	Varies	None	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in North Dakota.
Ohio	Physicians, PAs, RNs, LPNs, cosmetic therapists	No	Varies	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Ohio.
Oklahoma	Physicians, APRNs, PAs, RNs, LPNs	No	Varies	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Oklahoma.
Oregon	Estheticians, NPs, PAs	Yes	Varies	5 hours each year	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Oregon.
Pennsylvania	Physicians, PAs, APRNs	No	Does not apply	None	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island	Electrologists, physicians, PAs, RNs, NPs	Yes	Varies	Varies	Electrologists licensed after July 1, 2019, require physician supervision for laser hair removal in Rhode Island.
South Carolina	Physicians, NPs, PAs, RNs, LPNs	No	16	None	Supervision by a physician, RN, NP, or PA is required for laser hair removal in South Carolina.
South Dakota	Physicians, NPs, PAs	No	Does not apply	None	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in South Dakota.
Tennessee	Physicians, PAs, NPs, LPNs, RNs, electrologists, estheticians	No	Varies	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Tennessee.
Texas	Electrologists, Physicians, PAs	Yes	40	8 hours every 2 years	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Texas.
Utah	Physicians, NPs, PAs, RNs, estheticians, electrologists, cosmetologists	No	Varies	Varies	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Utah.
Vermont	Physicians, PAs, RNs, APRNs, electrologists	Yes	600 hours for electrologists	Varies
Virginia	Physicians, electrologists, PAs, APRNs, NPs	No	Varies	None	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Virginia.
Washington	Physicians, RNs, PAs, master estheticians	No	450 hours for master estheticians	None	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Washington.
West Virginia	Physicians, PAs, APRNs	No	Does not apply	None
Wisconsin	Physicians, PAs, RNs, LVNs, estheticians, electrologists, cosmetologists	Yes	6 for non-medical personnel	6 hours every 2 years	Physician supervision is required for laser hair removal in Wisconsin.
Wyoming	Physicians	No	Does not apply	None

Navigating the Changing Regulatory Environment

The pace of technology moves a lot faster than the pace of government. Regulations, whether state or federal, are often a few steps behind medical technology, but they do eventually catch up.

Providers in states with relatively relaxed regulations may want to consider training beyond what their state requires. Should the state tighten restrictions, you’ll be ahead of the pack. Should regulations remain the same, you’ll still have a competitive edge with a better-trained staff.

Nextech’s specialty-specific EHR and practice management software for med spa, dermatology, and plastic surgery helps you stay ahead of the game. Intelligent software is always up to date, and helps you stay on the right side of regulations. Robust tools help you streamline clinic operations while delivering outstanding patient care.

Schedule a demo today.

FAQ

Can estheticians do laser hair removal?

Some states permit estheticians to perform laser hair removal. Those that do allow it have varying restrictions regarding licensing, training, and supervision. Check the requirements for your state in the table above or by contacting your state licensing board.

Can cosmetologists do laser hair removal?

Some states permit cosmetologists to perform laser hair removal. Those that do allow it have varying restrictions regarding licensing, training, and supervision. Check the requirements for your state in the table above or by contacting your state licensing board.

What license do you need to do laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is performed by professionals with a variety of licenses, including laser technician, esthetician/master esthetician, cosmetologist/master cosmetologist, electrologist, and medical licenses.

Eleven U.S. states require a specific license to perform laser hair removal. Some roles, such as physicians, are exempt from this separate license. In other states, there is no separate license, but licensed professionals may need to get additional credentials.

How do you become licensed for laser hair removal?

Physicians are the only role permitted to perform laser hair removal in all 50 states. Each state varies in which non-physician medical and non-medical personnel are allowed to perform laser hair removal. Specific credentialing requirements also vary. Check with your state's medical or professional licensing board for specific instructions on getting licensed.

Who is a good candidate for laser hair removal?

A well-trained operator can adjust the laser so it is effective on all hair and skin types.

The candidates who will have the easiest removal, however, have light skin and dark hair. Because the laser targets the pigment in the hair, patients with little contrast between their hair color and skin color are at a greater risk of being burned.

Laser hair removal should not be performed on tattooed skin. The pigment in the tattoo can absorb the laser and convert it to heat, burning the patient’s skin and damaging their tattoo.

Qualifications You Need to Perform Laser Hair Removal in Each State

Laser Hair Removal: An Overview

Choosing the Right Laser Hair Removal Provider

Requirements for Laser Hair Removal Providers

Do You Need a License to Perform Laser Hair Removal?

Laser Hair Removal Regulations by State

Navigating the Changing Regulatory Environment

FAQ

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Qualifications You Need to Perform Laser Hair Removal in Each State

Laser Hair Removal: An Overview

Choosing the Right Laser Hair Removal Provider

Requirements for Laser Hair Removal Providers

Do You Need a License to Perform Laser Hair Removal?

Laser Hair Removal Regulations by State

Navigating the Changing Regulatory Environment

FAQ

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