Utah esthetician scope of practice
What can an esthetician do in Utah?
Utah licenses estheticians as a Basic esthetics permit through the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Cosmetology program. A basic esthetics permit covers skincare on the face or body for cosmetic purposes, such as cleansing, stimulating, applying oils, masks and manual extraction, plus manual hair removal, and does not cover treating medical, physical or mental ailments. Below: whether that license covers microneedling, chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser and IPL, and Botox or fillers, each answered from Utah's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026.
- Microneedling
- With conditions
- Chemical peels
- With conditions
- Dermaplaning
- With conditions
- Laser and IPL
- With conditions
- Botox and fillers
- Not allowed
Licensed by Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Cosmetology program.The board's page The state's own words
Microneedling
Can estheticians do microneedling in Utah?
Only with conditions. Only a master esthetician may use a microneedling device; needle penetration up to 1.5 mm may be used without supervision, and deeper penetration needs general supervision by a licensed health care practitioner.
Chemical peels
Can estheticians do chemical peels in Utah?
Only with conditions. A basic esthetician may do limited chemical exfoliation only with listed acids and strengths, such as alpha hydroxy acids of 30% or less at a pH of 3.0 or higher; acids that exfoliate below the stratum corneum need a licensed health care practitioner's supervision.
Dermaplaning
Can estheticians do dermaplaning in Utah?
Only with conditions. Dermaplaning and other blades are prohibited except for listed exceptions, including dermaplaning for advanced exfoliation by a master esthetician under general supervision by a licensed health care practitioner.
Laser and IPL
Can estheticians do laser hair removal in Utah?
Only with conditions. A master esthetician may do nonablative laser hair removal only under the cosmetic medical procedure supervision in Utah Code 58-1-506, which requires a supervisor with an unrestricted license to practice medicine or advanced practice registered nursing.
Botox and fillers
Can estheticians do Botox or fillers in Utah?
No. Injecting a neurotoxin or filler for cosmetic purposes is a cosmetic medical procedure, which the Medical Practice Act places within the practice of medicine.
Advanced license
Does Utah have a master esthetician license?
Master esthetics license. Adds the wider practice in Utah Code 58-11a-302.18, including chemical exfoliation, dermaplaning and cosmetic medical device procedures, subject to the conditions in that section and in DOPL rules.
Good to know
What else Utah says about an esthetician's scope
- A basic esthetics permit holder is not considered an esthetician for purposes of the cosmetic medical procedure supervision rules in Utah Code 58-1-506.
- A master esthetician may not perform any listed service to treat medical, physical or mental ailments.
- Before a chemical exfoliant, a microneedling device or a microdermabrasion machine, the licensee must tell the client the procedure is for cosmetic purposes only unless a licensed health care practitioner supervises it.
Sources
What Utah's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of Utah's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026. Scope rules change and boards interpret them: confirm with DOPL before you offer a treatment.
- The license and its scope
“Practice of basic esthetics -- Basic esthetics permit -- Qualifications.”
le.utah.gov “done on the face or body for cosmetic purposes and not for the treatment of medical, physical, or mental ailments:”
le.utah.gov “cleansing, stimulating, manipulating, exercising, applying oils, antiseptics, clays or masks, and manual extraction, including a comedone extractor; or”
le.utah.gov “manual hair removal.”
le.utah.gov - Microneedling
“To be approved, a microneedling device shall:”
utah.gov “without supervision if needle penetration does not exceed 1.5 mm”
utah.gov - Chemical peels
“alpha hydroxy acids of 30% or less, with a pH of not less than 3.0; and”
utah.gov “The use of any acid or acid solution that would exfoliate the skin below the stratum corneum, including those listed in Subsections (3) and (4), is prohibited unless used under the supervision of a licensed health care practitioner”
utah.gov - Dermaplaning
“Dermaplane procedures, dermabrasion procedures, blades, knives, and lancets are prohibited except for:”
utah.gov “dermaplane procedures for advanced exfoliation as defined in Subsection R156-11a-102(7) by a master esthetician under general supervision of a health care practitioner.”
utah.gov - Laser and IPL
“laser hair removal;”
le.utah.gov “A supervisor supervising a nonablative cosmetic medical procedure for hair removal shall:”
le.utah.gov “have an unrestricted license to practice medicine or advanced practice registered nursing in the state;”
le.utah.gov - Botox and fillers
“the injection of medication or substance, including a neurotoxin or a filler, for cosmetic purposes.”
le.utah.gov “including to perform cosmetic medical procedures, or to attempt to do so, by any means or instrumentality”
le.utah.gov - Advanced license
“The practice of master esthetics includes:”
le.utah.gov “limited chemical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation, as defined by administrative rules made by the division;”
le.utah.gov “advanced extraction; (vii) dermaplaning;”
le.utah.gov - The board
“The license holder is responsible for printing the license issued by DOPL and displaying per statute.”
dopl.utah.gov - Also good to know
“An individual with a basic esthetics permit is not considered an esthetician for purposes of Section 58-1-506”
le.utah.gov - Also good to know
“An individual with a master esthetics license may not perform any service described in Subsection (1)(a) for the treatment of medical, physical, or mental ailments.”
le.utah.gov - Also good to know
“the procedure may only be performed for cosmetic and not medical purposes, unless the licensee is working under the supervision of a licensed health care practitioner”
utah.gov
Questions
Utah esthetician license, answered
Does Utah have a master or advanced esthetician license?
What is the esthetician scope of practice in Utah?
Plan the rest
Licensed, in scope, and ready to book clients
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Esthetician scope in other states
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