Montana esthetician scope of practice
What can an esthetician do in Montana?
Montana licenses estheticians as an Esthetician through the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. A basic Esthetician license covers body skin care, including professional chemical compounds, electrical appliances and temporary hair removal, and every licensee is limited to noninvasive procedures. Below: whether that license covers microneedling, chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser and IPL, and Botox or fillers, each answered from Montana's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026.
- Microneedling
- Not stated
- Chemical peels
- With conditions
- Dermaplaning
- Not stated
- Laser and IPL
- Not allowed
- Botox and fillers
- Not allowed
Licensed by Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.The board's page The state's own words
Microneedling
Can estheticians do microneedling in Montana?
Not stated. Montana's official pages we read do not settle whether a licensed esthetician may do microneedling. Ask the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before you offer it.
Chemical peels
Can estheticians do chemical peels in Montana?
Only with conditions. A licensee with proper training may do chemical peels, but only superficial peels that stay within the nonliving epidermis; peels that compromise the germinative or basal layers are prohibited.
Dermaplaning
Can estheticians do dermaplaning in Montana?
Not stated. Montana's official pages we read do not settle whether a licensed esthetician may do dermaplaning. Ask the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before you offer it.
Laser and IPL
Can estheticians do laser hair removal in Montana?
No. Montana's Board of Nursing says laser hair removal is a medical procedure that only a qualified health care provider may administer, so an esthetician may not perform it.
Botox and fillers
Can estheticians do Botox or fillers in Montana?
No. Estheticians may not administer Botox or other injectables, and all licensees of the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists are limited to noninvasive procedures.
Advanced license
Does Montana have a master esthetician license?
Montana's official pages we read name no advanced or master esthetician license; the basic Esthetician license is the one that sets the scope.
Good to know
What else Montana says about an esthetician's scope
- A licensed salon or shop must be separated from any medical or other healthcare practice in the same space by at least a full-length partition.
- Esthetics services must be performed in a licensed salon or shop, subject to board inspection.
- Offering microdermabrasion or mechanical exfoliation requires a board endorsement before practicing.
Sources
What Montana's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of Montana's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026. Scope rules change and boards interpret them: confirm with the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before you offer a treatment.
- The license and its scope
“"Esthetician" means a person licensed under this chapter to engage in the practice of esthetics.”
archive.legmt.gov “"Esthetics" means skin care of the body, including but not limited to hot compresses or the use of safety-approved electrical appliances or chemical compounds formulated for professional application only”
archive.legmt.gov “All licensees under this board are limited to noninvasive procedures as defined by the board in ARM 24.121.301(13) below.”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov - Chemical peels
“A licensee with the proper training can perform microdermabrasion and chemical peels.”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov “Any procedure that compromises the germinative or basal layers of the skin are prohibited for individuals licensed by the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov “the epidermis, specifically the stratum corneum layer, and through which living cells beneath the stratum corneum are never altered, cut, or scarred.”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov - Laser and IPL
“Laser hair removal is a medical procedure and may only be administered by a qualified health care provider acting within the provider's scope of practice.”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov - Botox and fillers
“Am I allowed to administer injectables such as Botox or perform any type of surgical or invasive procedure under my license?”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov - The board
“The mission of the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists is to protect the health, safety and well-being of Montana citizens through the regulation and oversight of barbering, barbering nonchemical, cosmetology, electrology, esthetics, and manicuring.”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov - Also good to know
“including medical and other healthcare practices, must be separated from a salon/shop by at least a full length partition.”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov - Also good to know
“All licensees practicing cosmetology or esthetics under the scope of their license must do so in a licensed salon or shop”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov - Also good to know
“(4) Licensees seeking to offer mechanical exfoliation or microdermabrasion services shall obtain an endorsement by the board prior to practicing.”
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov
Questions
Montana esthetician license, answered
What is the esthetician scope of practice in Montana?
Plan the rest
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