March 13, 2022
Laser Hair Removal Laws and Regulations by State
Many laser hair removal laws debuted in recent years. In the U.S., medical laser suppliers need to strictly follow Food and Drug Administration's guidelines on manufacturing, advertising, and safety in order receive approval for general distribution. However, regulations of laser hair removal in each state is slightly different than another.
In certain states, laws determine who are qualified or not for performing laser hair removal. Regulations and guidelines are usually litigated either by the state's medical board or other occupational boards. Not every state has specific regulations on the subject of laser hair removal.
Bellow is a compiled list of laser hair removal laws by state. The content might have been updated since the writing of this article. It is recommended to check the latest version of your state's regulations.
| State | Authority | Regulation | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Board of Medical Examiners | Use of Lasers and Other Modalities | https://www.albme.gov/licensing/md-do/registrations/use-of-lasers/ |
| Alaska | Alaska State Medical Board | Guidelines As To Who May Perform Laser Surgery | https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/med_guide_lasers_laser_surgery.pdf |
| Arizona | Arizona Administrative Code | Title 12, Chapter 1, Radiation Regulatory Agency: R12-1-1440. Medical Lasers | https://azdhs.gov/documents/licensing/radiation-regulatory/laser-tech/cosmetic-laser-tech-rules.pdf |
| Arkansas | Arkansas State Medical Board | Regulation No. 22. Laser Surgery Guidelines | https://www.armedicalboard.org/professionals/pdf/MPA.pdf |
| California | Frequently Asked Questions – Cosmetic Treatments | Cosmetic Treatments FAQ | http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensees/Cosmetic_Treatments_FAQ.aspx |
| Colorado | Colorado Board of Medical Examiners | Rules Regarding the Delegation and Supervision of Medical Services to Unlicensed Health Care Providers Pursuant to Section 12-36-106(3)(L), C.R.S. | https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/Upload/AGORequest/AdoptedRules02008-00340.DOC |
| Connecticut | State of Connecticut Medical Examining Board | Declaratory Rulings | http://www.portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DPH/dph/phho/Medical_Board/Declaratory_Rulings/DeclaratoryRulingLaserHairRemovalpdf.pdf |
| Delaware | Depart of Health and Social Services | 4453 Regulations Governing Cosmetology and Barbering | https://regulations.delaware.gov/register/may2015/final/18%20DE%20Reg%20865%2005-01-15.htm |
| District of Columbia | District of Columbia Board of Medicine Policy | Policy No. 15-02 (2014) | https://doh.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/page_content/attachments/BOARD%20OF%20MEDICINE%20POLICY%20NO%20%2015-02%20-%20POLICY%20ON%20PRACTICE%20OF%20AESTHETIC%20MEDICINE%20-%20NOVEMBER%2013%202014.pdf |
| Florida | Florida Board of Medicine Help Center | Who can perform laser hair removal in the state of Florida? | http://flboardofmedicine.gov/help-center/who-can-perform-laser-hair-removal-in-the-state-of-florida/ |
| Georgia | Georgia Composite Medical Board | Laser Licensure Frequently Asked Questions | http://medicalboard.georgia.gov/sites/medicalboard.georgia.gov/files/LaserFAQv2.pdf |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Medical Board | Minutes of Meeting of Janurary 12, 2017 | https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/files/2013/06/Medical_170112.pdf |
| Idaho | Idaho State Board of Medicine | Guidelines for Hair Removal Using Intense Pulsed Light and/or Laser Devices Supervised by Medical Personnel | https://bom.idaho.gov/BOMPortal/LINKS/about/Laer%20Hair%20Removal.pdf |
| Illinois | Department of Nuclear Safety to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency | Title 32, Chapter II, Subchapter b, Part 315: Standards for Protection against Laser Radiation | https://www2.illinois.gov/iema/laws/Documents/Regs/32_315.pdf |
| Indiana | Indiana Professional Licensing Agency | Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Practice Related FAQ’s | http://www.in.gov/pla/2879.htm |
| Iowa | Iowa Board of Medicine | Report from the Ad Hoc Committee on the Use of Lasers, Intense Pulsed Light Devices, and Radio-Frequency Devices | https://medicalboard.iowa.gov/policies/lasers.html |
| Kansas | Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes | Statutes 65-2872 | https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch65/065_028_0072.html |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure | Board Opinion Relating to Laser Surgery | https://kbml.ky.gov/board/Documents/Board%20Opinion%20Laser%20Surgery.pdf |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners | Use of Medical Lasers Chemical Skin Treatment | http://www.lsbme.la.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Statements%20of%20Position/UseofMedicalLasersChemicalSkinTreatment.pdf |
| Maine | Board of Licensure in Medicine | Title 32, Chapter 48, Subchapter 2: Licensure | http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec3270-A.html |
| Maryland | Department of Health and Mental Hygiene | The use of lasers for hair removal | https://www.mbp.state.md.us/forms/dr_laser.pdf |
| Massachusetts | Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering | DRAFT Cosmetology, Barbering, and Electrology Regulations - 2019 | https://www.mass.gov/doc/draft-cosmetology-barbering-and-electrology-regulations-2019/download |
| Michigan | Michigan Department of Community Health | Use of Laser Equipment By Health Professionals | http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2003-2004/publicact/pdf/2004-PA-0144.pdf |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Statutes | 147.081 Practicing Without License; Penalty | N/A |
| Mississippi | Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure | N/A | N/A |
| Missouri | Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District | Opinion ED89333 | https://www.courts.mo.gov/file/Opinion_ED89333.rtf |
| Montana | Montana Secretary of State | Rule: 24.156.501 | https://rules.mt.gov/gateway/ruleno.asp?RN=24.156.501 |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery | Cosmetic and Dermatologic Procedures | https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/CosmAndDerm.pdf |
| Nevada | Subcommittee of the Legislative Committee on Health Care | Interim Agendas Minutes, Exhibit A – Lasers | https://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Interim_Agendas_Minutes_Exhibits/Exhibits/Lasers/E060308A.pdf |
| New Hampshire | The General Court of New Hampshire | Title XXX, Chapter 329 Physicians and Surgeons, Section 329:1 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xxx/329/329-mrg.htm |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners | Subchapter 4a. Surgery, Special Procedures, and Anesthesia Services Performed in an Office Setting | http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/pa/Minutes/pamin_041604.pdf |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Medical Board | Pain Relief Act, Sections 24-2D-1 through 24-2D-5, NMSA 1978, and Section 16.10.14 NMAC of the Board rules | https://www.nmmb.state.nm.us//policies.html |
| New York | New York Department of State | Consumer Guide to Beauty Salons & Spas | https://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/pdfs/beauty_salon_guide.pdf |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Medical Board | Laser Guidance | https://www.ncmedboard.org/images/uploads/other_pdfs/LaserGuidanceDoc.pdf |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Legislative Assembly | Title 43 Occupations and Professions, Chapter 43-11 Cosmetologists | https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2016/title-43/chapter-43-11 |
| Ohio | State Medical Board of Ohio | 1st Stop Checklist: Cosmetic Therapy, Requirements & Regulations | https://clients.ohiosbdc.ohio.gov/DocumentMaster.aspx?doc=2611 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Board of Nursing | Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision | https://www.okmedicalboard.org/download/510/Approve%20d_Med_Spa_Guidelines_11_7_08.pdf |
| Oregon | Oregon Medical Board | Medical Use of Lasers | https://www.oregon.gov/omb/board/philosophy/pages/medical-use-of-lasers.aspx |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Code | Title 28 Health and Safety | https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?titleNumber=028&file=/secure/pacode/data/028/028toc.html |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Department of Health | Licensee Information | https://health.ri.gov/licenses/ |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Legislature | Title 40 - Professions and Occupations | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t40c047.php |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Joint Board of Nursing | Minutes April 21-22, 2010 | https://doh.sd.gov/boards/nursing/assets/MinutesBONApr2010.pdf |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners | General Rules and Regulations Governing the Practice of Medicine | https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/0880-02.20091221.pdf |
| Texas | Texas Department of State Health Services | Health and Safety Code, Title 5, Subtitle D, Chapter 401, Subchapter M. Laser Hair Removal | https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.401.htm |
| Utah | Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing | Standards for Approval of Mechanical or Electrical Apparatus | https://dopl.utah.gov/laws/R156-11a.pdf |
| Vermont | Vermont General Assembly | Title 26: Professions and Occupations, Chapter 086: Electrologists | https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/26/086/04402 |
| Virginia | Virginia General Assembly | Code of Virginia, Section 54.1-2973.1. Practice of laser hair removal | https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter29/section54.1-2973.1/ |
| Washington | Washington State Legislature | Washington Administrative Code, WAC 246-919-605 Use of lasers, light, radiofrequency, and plasma devices as applied to the skin | https://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-918-125 |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Board of Medicine | Public Policy Statement on Surgery Using Laser, Pulsed Light, Radiofrequency Devices, or Other Techniques | https://wvbom.wv.gov/download_resource.asp?id=11 |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Cosmetology Examining Board | Chapter Cos 2: Practice and Professional Conduct | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/cos/2 |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Board of Medicine | Wyoming Board of Medicine Rules and Regulations As-Adopted | https://www.wyoleg.gov/ARULES/2011/AR11-018medicine.pdf |