Who can actually perform aesthetic/cosmetic procedures in Nevada?
Cosmetic injections, infusion services, vitamin injections, laser treatments, microneedling…the list of aesthetic and wellness treatments continue to proliferate as does the number of locations where an individual could receive these treatments including medical offices, medical spas, infusion/IV practices and increasingly, mobile locations. With the expansion of the number of aesthetic and wellness services available has come continuing confusion as to who can perform these services and in what manner.
The speed at which these services are being sought out by individuals has outpaced the regulatory process governing the provision of aesthetic and wellness services often requiring applying statutes and regulations to situations for which they do not always fit creating uncertainty for many practitioners including RNs, LPNs, APRNs, and advanced aestheticians, among others.
The Nevada State Board of Nursing (NSBON) issued a Practice Advisory Decision in January 2025, entitled “Scope of Practice Requirements and Limitations for RNs and LPNs Performing Aesthetic/Cosmetologic Procedures”, which strives to provide some clarification for LPNs and RNs licensed by the NSBON as to what procedures these license holders may perform and what level of supervision is required.
The Practice Decision addresses many procedures/services which may only be provided by an LPN and/or RN, however it also provides much needed clarification regarding the performance of certain aesthetic and cosmetic procedures by LPNs and RNs that initially appeared to require an advanced aesthetician license. The Practice Decision indicates that both LPNs and RNs may perform aesthetic/cosmetic services including but not limited to, micro-dermabrasion, micro-needling/micro-channeling (to a max depth of <.5mm), intense pulse light therapy, and lasers for the use of non-ablative hair removal or non-ablative treatment of the skin. Supervision required for nurses is slightly different that that of advance aestheticians who only require that their supervising provider be available for consultation.
Other aesthetic/cosmetic and wellness services and procedures that LPNs and/or RNs may perform will be addressed in additional FAQ.