Louisiana esthetician scope of practice
What can an esthetician do in Louisiana?
Louisiana licenses estheticians as a Registered Esthetician through the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. A basic esthetician license covers esthetic services performed on the epidermis, which the board's rules list as including makeup application, facials, superficial chemical peels, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion and nano-needling; the statute excludes diagnosing or treating dermatological conditions and electrolysis. Below: whether that license covers microneedling, chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser and IPL, and Botox or fillers, each answered from Louisiana's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026.
- Microneedling
- Not allowed
- Chemical peels
- With conditions
- Dermaplaning
- Allowed
- Laser and IPL
- Not allowed
- Botox and fillers
- Not allowed
Licensed by Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology.The board's page The state's own words
Microneedling
Can estheticians do microneedling in Louisiana?
No. Microneedling is listed among services no esthetician license authorizes in a salon licensed by the board. Only nano-needling that does not penetrate beyond the epidermis by more than 0.25 mm is in the esthetics scope.
Chemical peels
Can estheticians do chemical peels in Louisiana?
Only with conditions. Superficial chemical peels that affect only the epidermis are within the esthetics scope. Any acid exfoliation below the epidermis is prohibited.
Dermaplaning
Can estheticians do dermaplaning in Louisiana?
Yes. Dermaplaning is named as an esthetic service and defined as exfoliating the epidermis with a bladed tool, so the basic license covers it.
Laser and IPL
Can estheticians do laser hair removal in Louisiana?
No. Use of lasers is listed among services no esthetician license authorizes in a salon. State law reserves laser surgery to licensed physicians, veterinarians, dentists and podiatrists.
Botox and fillers
Can estheticians do Botox or fillers in Louisiana?
No. The rules do not name injectables. They do list procedures that penetrate the dermis or live tissue by puncturing or product insertion among services no esthetician license authorizes.
Advanced license
Does Louisiana have a master esthetician license?
Louisiana's official pages we read name no advanced or master esthetician license; the basic Registered Esthetician license is the one that sets the scope.
Good to know
What else Louisiana says about an esthetician's scope
- Under the board's rules, no esthetician license authorizes the use of a mechanical or electrical apparatus that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies as a medical device.
- Louisiana law reserves laser surgery to people licensed to practice medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, or podiatry.
- Nano-needling is defined as a non-invasive technique using a skin needling device that does not penetrate beyond the epidermis by more than 0.25 mm.
Sources
What Louisiana's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of Louisiana's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026. Scope rules change and boards interpret them: confirm with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before you offer a treatment.
- The license and its scope
“a registered esthetician may manage an esthetics salon.”
doa.la.gov “as defined in R.S. 37:563(8), includes but is not limited to make-up application, facials, superficial chemical peels, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, nano-needling and other similar services performed on the epidermis.”
doa.la.gov “diagnosis, treatment, or therapy of any dermatological condition, or the process of removing”
legis.la.gov - Microneedling
“3. micro-needling;”
doa.la.gov “No license or permit issued by the board authorizes the performance of any of the following services in a salon licensed by the board:”
doa.la.gov - Chemical peels
“Cosmetologists, estheticians and persons authorized to perform microdermabrasion shall only exfoliate or perform services which affect the epidermis.”
doa.la.gov “the use of any acid or acid solution to exfoliate the skin below the epidermis”
doa.la.gov - Dermaplaning
“a technique to exfoliate the epidermis and remove the vellus hair with a bladed tool.”
doa.la.gov - Laser and IPL
“2. use of lasers;”
doa.la.gov “Only persons licensed under the laws of this state to practice medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, or podiatry shall perform laser surgery.”
legis.la.gov - Botox and fillers
“services or procedures which penetrate or invade the live tissue or dermis by any means including but not limited to the use of instruments or product insertion, puncturing, cutting, needling or chemical exfoliation.”
doa.la.gov - The board
“The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology regulates, controls and monitors members of the Cosmetology industry to maintain public health and welfare standards for the consumer public”
lsbc.louisiana.gov - Also good to know
“the use of any mechanical or electrical apparatus classified as a medical devise by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”
doa.la.gov - Also good to know
“a non-invasive technique for transdermal serum delivery performed using a skin needling device which does not penetrate beyond the epidermis of more than .25 mm of the outmost layer of skin.”
doa.la.gov
Questions
Louisiana esthetician license, answered
What is the esthetician scope of practice in Louisiana?
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Licensed, in scope, and ready to book clients
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Esthetician scope in other states
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