Dreaming of owning your own med spa as a nurse? Whether you're in a full-practice state or exploring partnership options, you have pathways.
Let Medical Health Covers guide you through legal steps, licensing, and setup—so you can launch with confidence.
Many nurses dream of opening their own med spa. It’s a chance to blend beauty, care, and independence. But the rules aren’t always clear. Every state has its own laws about what nurses can and can’t do. In places like California, the process gets even more complex. You’ll need to know the right steps and legal paths. This guide breaks it all down. Whether you're a registered nurse or nurse practitioner, here’s what you need to know —especially if you're in one of the states with independent nurse practitioners, where ownership may be possible.
Nurses are a big part of the med spa world today. They bring skill, care, and trust to every patient visit. Whether it's a medical spa nurse or a nurse practitioner, their role is more important than ever before.
These medical professionals know how to make clients feel safe and confident during every particular procedure. From IV therapy to injectables, they support or perform treatments with medical training and gentle hands. A healthcare provider in a med spa must have both aesthetics knowledge and a calm, caring approach.
Patients often ask for nurses by name. That’s how much trust they earn over time. As the industry grows, so do nurse practitioner medical spa roles. They’re taking on more responsibility. Med spas need licensed nurses to ensure treatments are done right and within legal guidelines. In short, nurses are the heartbeat of every successful med spa.
Can a nurse open up a medical spa? In some states, yes—but only by following the right steps. This depends on your state’s laws and the corporate practice rules that limit who can own medical businesses. These rules say only licensed doctors can own medical spa that offer professional services like Botox or fillers.
But nurses have options. One way is by Opening a Medical Spa through a different business model. You can set up a Management Services Organization (MSO). This handles business tasks like marketing, payroll, and hiring. The medical side stays under a doctor’s control. The nurse manages operations through the MSO.
This setup helps meet legal requirements while keeping your business running smoothly. Another option is creating a Professional Corporation. This is required in some states for medical businesses. You’ll also need approval from your state’s medical board to make sure everything’s done legally. These structures may sound complex, but they give nurses a real path to ownership. With the right team and guidance, your med spa dream can be real.
To open a med spa, nurses need more than just passion. You also need the right training and certifications. Becoming a certified nurse injector is one important step. This proves you’re trained to safely give injectables like Botox. You’ll also need a cosmetic injector license in many states. It shows you're qualified to perform cosmetic procedures.
These licenses help protect both you and your patients. They also meet state and safety requirements. If you're a nurse practitioner esthetician, you may be able to offer more advanced treatments. That depends on your state. Your role and training decide what you can legally do. It’s important to know your limits. A good faith exam is mandatory before any treatment. This ensures patients are healthy enough for the procedure.
In some states, a nurse practitioner medical spa is fully legal and independently owned. This is called full practice authority. With full authority, you can treat, prescribe, and even run your own med spa without a doctor’s help. That gives medical professionals more control and more opportunity. But not every state offers full rights. Many have limits that require nurse-doctor partnerships. California is changing. Assembly Bill 890 gives nurse practitioners more freedom—starting fully in 2026.
To qualify, you’ll need three years of hands-on experience in a medical spa setting. If approved, you’ll be able to work alone in specific places like medspa or health centers. If you're a registered nurse, ownership is still possible. You’ll need a partnership or MSO setup with a physician. Rules are strict, but options are growing. Nurses now have more ways than ever to lead and succeed in the med spa space.
Running a med spa means more than just giving treatments. You also need to protect your business. Liability insurance helps cover mistakes, accidents, or lawsuits. It’s one of the most important safety steps you can take. Next is compliance. You must follow all legal requirements to avoid fines or business closure.
This includes keeping patient records safe and secure. That’s where data privacy and HIPAA rules come in. Only approved staff should access medical files. Use locked systems and strong passwords to keep data protected. Healthcare provider rules also require clear, signed consent before any procedure.
Clean tools and spaces matter too. Follow strict operational standards to avoid infection and meet state rules. Good practices build trust and keep patients safe. With the right systems in place, your med spa runs smoother—and stays protected.
In some states, a nurse opens up a medical spa by teaming up with a licensed physician. This partnership helps meet corporate practice laws that limit business ownership to doctors. You handle operations. The physician oversees medical treatments.
It’s a win-win. Another smart option? Buying an existing med spa and running it through an MSO. This setup allows you to manage daily tasks while staying within legal limits. Many use this model when Opening a Medical Spa in states with restricted nurse authority. Just make sure you follow rules from the medical board and complete the right paperwork.
All medical professional services must stay under physician supervision in these cases. With the right guidance, this path can be smooth, legal, and rewarding.
The med spa field is booming. More nurses are joining—and leading—the industry every year. As a medical spa nurse, you can grow fast and gain valuable hands-on experience. Your income depends on your role, skills, and location. Many earn well above average. Want to learn more? Check the latest Med Spa Nurse Salary guide. Offering top professional services can raise your value and your rates. Success is possible—with training, effort, and a patient-first approach.
Not alone. In most states, an RN must partner with a physician or work under a legal business structure.
Yes. With added training and proper licensing, a nurse can work in aesthetics as an advanced skincare provider.
You’ll need nursing licenses, cosmetic certifications, and legal business approvals. Some states require a doctor partnership too.
Yes. This is a common path. Nurses manage operations while doctors oversee medical treatments.
Follow your state’s laws, get the right licenses, and work with a lawyer or medical board for guidance.
Nurses are shaping the future of med spas. But every journey starts with knowing the rules. Legal requirements vary by state, but that doesn’t mean your dream is out of reach. Whether you’re a registered nurse or nurse practitioner, there are clear steps to move forward. You can partner with a physician, create a legal business model, or plan for full independence.
Build smart partnerships. Earn certifications. Follow all compliance rules from your state’s medical board. Stay educated on changing laws and business trends in the medical spa industry. With the right plan, your med spa can be safe, trusted, and thriving.
At Medical Health Covers, we’re here to support your journey— From answering every common question to offering expert legal and licensing guidance, our goal is to help you succeed. We believe nurses deserve a path to ownership that’s clear, achievable, and empowering. Take the next step with confidence. Your dream med spa is closer than you think.
EXCELLENT Based on 106 reviews Jalaina Gordon2025-02-27Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Staff is professional and GFE process is smooth. Portal is very user friendly as well! Michelle Paris2025-02-25Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Medical Health Covers is a game changer for online good faith exams in the aesthetic services space. Their nurse practitioners are not just smart and kind—they even throw in a bit of humor that keeps things engaging and light. The whole team, from management to customer service, is on point, making the experience smooth and reassuring. It’s refreshing to see a company that balances expertise with genuine care and a modern, personable approach. If you’re looking for a service that’s professional, forward-thinking, and yes, even a little funny, this is the one to trust. Sothavy Ton2025-02-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Medical Health Covers has done a phenomenal job getting us set up and on the right track. Their resources have been a huge help with assuring that we follow proper compliance. Andrea Fink2025-01-27Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This service is quick, professional and convenient. Whitney Jones2025-01-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can’t recommend Medical Health Covers enough for their GFE service. From the start, they’ve been transparent, reliable, and incredibly efficient. Their team is knowledgeable and makes the entire process straightforward, addressing every question with patience and expertise. Nicole has been available 24/7 with any and all concerns regarding onboarding and I really appreciate her help! The entire team is great! What truly sets Medical Health Covers apart is their commitment to excellent customer service. They go above and beyond to ensure that I’m covered and fully informed about my options. The peace of mind I have knowing I’m in good hands is priceless. If you’re looking for a service that combines professionalism, care, and comprehensive support, Medical Health Covers is the clear choice. I’m beyond satisfied and would confidently recommend them to anyone in need of GFE coverage! Via Aesthetics & Wellness2025-01-11Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very Professional and Helpful. All the Satff has been great since I started my medspa business. The process of setting up was very easy. I Highly recomend this company for GFEs. Brandi Langley2025-01-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently tried this service and have been extremely satisfied. 5 stars all the way Holden Simon2024-12-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I just signed on with good health covers and they have been extremely good with all my questions! Look forward to working more with them! Elizabeth Delgado2024-12-17Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am extremely pleased with the Medical Health Cover platform. It’s intuitive and incredibly convenient for quickly and efficiently clearing clients for treatments at our Medical Spa. I highly recommend it to any Medical Spa in need of a Good Faith Exam (GFE) platform. The platform allows you to select which treatments you want clients to be cleared for, and there is a large team of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants available to clear clients via telehealth with very short wait times.