Maine Med Spa Regulations
Maine has no med-spa-specific statute; injectable, laser, and IV services are governed by the Medical Practice Act's physician-delegation rule, the Nursing Practice Act (full NP authority after a 24-month supervised transition), the PA statute, and a joint telehealth rule requiring a good-faith exam, while estheticians are confined to non-medical skin care.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-21
Who can inject Botox and dermal fillers in Maine?
Maine has no med-spa-specific injectables statute; authority flows from the general practice acts. Physicians (MD/DO), nurse practitioners, and physician assistants may order and administer cosmetic injectables within their scope, and a registered nurse may administer injections pursuant to the order of a legally authorized prescriber (32 MRS 2102 'execution of the medical regimen as prescribed'). Estheticians and unlicensed staff may not inject.
Source: 32 MRS 2102 — Definition of professional nursing (administration of medications/treatment as prescribed), 32 MRS 3270-A — Assistants; delegating authority, Board of Nursing Ch. 8 — APRN scope & prescriptive authority
Does Maine require a good-faith exam before treatment?
The joint Board of Licensure in Medicine / Osteopathic / Nursing telehealth rule (Ch. 11) requires a licensee to establish a valid licensee-patient relationship and, before providing treatment or issuing prescriptions, to interview the patient and perform a pertinent physical exam as defined by the standard of care. A static internet questionnaire does not satisfy this. The exam may be conducted via telehealth if the technology is sufficient to establish an informed diagnosis as though performed in person.
Source: Joint Rule Ch. 11 — Telehealth Standards of Practice (Medical History and Physical Examination)
Does a med spa in Maine need a medical director?
Maine imposes no statutory 'medical director' requirement specific to medical spas. Medical procedures must be performed or delegated by a licensed physician (or independently by an NP/PA within scope) under 32 MRS 3270-A. A designated physician medical director appears in Maine law only as one option for satisfying a nurse practitioner's initial 24-month supervised transition-to-practice (Board of Nursing Ch. 8), not as a facility mandate.
Source: 32 MRS 3270-A — Assistants; delegating authority, Board of Nursing Ch. 8 — Required Clinical Experience Sec. 2(A)
Can a non-physician own a med spa in Maine?
Maine does not enforce a strict corporate-practice-of-medicine doctrine, and no statute restricts ownership of a medical practice to licensed physicians only. The Maine Professional Service Corporation Act (13 MRS Ch. 22-A) is an optional form; where used, shares may be held by any 'qualified person,' defined to include individuals and entities authorized to provide the professional service, not physicians exclusively.
What supervision does Maine require for med-spa procedures?
A registered nurse acts under a prescriber's order (32 MRS 2102) and a physician may delegate medical acts to trained staff without being physically present, remaining legally liable (32 MRS 3270-A). A physician assistant practices under a collaborative agreement (under 4,000 hours) or a practice agreement (over 4,000 hours) with a physician who must be accessible for consultation, not physically present (32 MRS 3270-G). A nurse practitioner practices independently but must first complete a 24-month period under a supervising physician or NP, or employment at a facility with a physician medical director (Board of Nursing Ch. 8).
Source: 32 MRS 3270-A — Assistants; delegating authority, 32 MRS 3270-G — Physician associates; scope of practice and agreement requirements, Board of Nursing Ch. 8 — Required Clinical Experience
What can an esthetician legally do in Maine?
Maine aestheticians are limited to non-medical skin care: cleansing, facials, waxing and hair removal, extractions, makeup, microdermabrasion, and low-strength chemical exfoliation (cosmetic AHAs not exceeding 30% at pH >= 3.0, BHAs, Jessner's, and enzymes). By definition their exfoliation 'is not intended to elicit viable epidermal or dermal wounding, injury, or destruction,' and the rules expressly exclude TCA and phenol peels. Lasers, injections, and other medical procedures are outside the aesthetician scope.
Who can operate a cosmetic laser in Maine?
Maine has no laser-operator licensure statute and the Board of Licensure in Medicine publishes no laser or cosmetic-procedure position statement. Cosmetic laser treatment is treated as a medical act performed by or delegated by a physician: under 32 MRS 3270-A a physician (and, within scope, an NP or PA) may perform laser procedures and may delegate them to appropriately trained staff, provided the physician ensures training/competency and remains liable. Personal presence of the physician is not statutorily required.
Source: 32 MRS 3270-A — Assistants; delegating authority (delegation of medical care to trained staff), Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine — Policies & Guidelines (no laser/cosmetic position statement)
What are the rules for IV therapy and vitamin drips in Maine?
No Maine statute addresses elective/wellness IV therapy specifically. It is governed by the general framework: a prescriber (MD/DO/NP/PA) must order the infusion after a good-faith exam (Joint Rule Ch. 11), and a registered nurse administers IV fluids and medications as part of 'execution of the medical regimen as prescribed by a legally authorized licensed professional' (32 MRS 2102). Estheticians may not perform IV therapy.
Source: 32 MRS 2102 — Definition of professional nursing, Joint Rule Ch. 11 — Telehealth Standards (exam before treatment/prescribing)
Does a med spa have to register or hold a license in Maine?
Maine has no medical-spa facility registration or licensing category. Medical services are authorized through the individual practitioners' licenses (Board of Licensure in Medicine, Board of Osteopathic Licensure, or Board of Nursing), and an establishment offering aesthetics/cosmetology services must hold a barbering-and-cosmetology establishment license from the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Operating a medical practice without a licensed practitioner would constitute unlicensed practice of medicine.
Source: 32 MRS 3270 — Licensure required (practice of medicine), 02-041 Barbering & Cosmetology Rules — establishment licensing
What are the penalties for practicing outside scope in Maine?
Practicing medicine or surgery without a license, or using protected titles such as 'M.D.'/'physician,' is a Class E crime under 32 MRS 3270. Licensees who exceed scope or delegate improperly are separately subject to discipline by their governing board (Board of Licensure in Medicine, Board of Osteopathic Licensure, Board of Nursing, or OPOR), including restriction, suspension, or revocation of licensure and prescriptive authority.
Source: 32 MRS 3270 — Licensure required (Class E crime for unlicensed practice)
Cite this page
Build a compliant med spa faster
Board-ready SOPs and compliance checklists mapped to these requirements.
SOP kits by topic: Injectables · Skin & Laser · Operations & Compliance · Body & Wellness · Weight Loss · Hormone Therapy · Emergency Protocols
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change — verify current requirements with your state medical/nursing board before acting.