Virginia esthetician scope of practice
What can an esthetician do in Virginia?
Virginia licenses estheticians as an Esthetician through the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology. The basic esthetician license covers non-laser skin care, such as cleansing, toning, stimulating and exfoliating the skin with cosmetic preparations or nonlaser devices, and removing unwanted body hair by nonlaser means; it is not a healing art and excludes the practice of medicine. Below: whether that license covers microneedling, chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser and IPL, and Botox or fillers, each answered from Virginia'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
- With conditions
- Botox and fillers
- Not stated
Licensed by Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.The board's page The state's own words
Microneedling
Can estheticians do microneedling in Virginia?
No. The board's 2018 guidance says microneedling is beyond the scope of licensure and should not be performed by an esthetician licensee.
Chemical peels
Can estheticians do chemical peels in Virginia?
Only with conditions. Chemical exfoliation requires a master esthetician license, and only listed agents are allowed, such as Jessner solution, trichloroacetic acid under 20%, and nonprescriptive alpha or beta hydroxy acids.
Dermaplaning
Can estheticians do dermaplaning in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia's definition of esthetics covers exfoliating the skin with any nonlaser device by manual or mechanical means, which takes in blade exfoliation; the board has issued no separate rule on dermaplaning.
Laser and IPL
Can estheticians do laser hair removal in Virginia?
Only with conditions. Lasers are outside the esthetician license, but a doctor may delegate laser hair removal to a trained person working under the doctor's direction and supervision.
Botox and fillers
Can estheticians do Botox or fillers in Virginia?
Not stated. Virginia's esthetics law and the board's guidance do not address Botox, fillers or other injections for estheticians. Ask the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology before you offer it.
Advanced license
Does Virginia have a master esthetician license?
Master Esthetician. Adds non-laser lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation and microdermabrasion of the epidermis, subject to the board's additional requirements and the agent limits in 18VAC41-70-250.
Good to know
What else Virginia says about an esthetician's scope
- A business offering master esthetics services, such as chemical exfoliation, needs an esthetics spa license.
- A license from another state does not allow practice in Virginia; a Virginia license is required.
- A physician who delegates laser hair removal to a non-PA or non-NP must make sure that person has completed the physician training.
Sources
What Virginia's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of Virginia's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026. Scope rules change and boards interpret them: confirm with the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology before you offer a treatment.
- The license and its scope
“means a person who engages in the practice of esthetics for compensation.”
law.lis.virginia.gov “exfoliating, or performing any other similar procedure on the skin of the human body or scalp by means of cosmetic preparations, treatments, or any nonlaser device, whether by electrical, mechanical, or manual means”
law.lis.virginia.gov “is not a healing art and shall not include any practice, activity, or treatment that constitutes the practice of medicine”
law.lis.virginia.gov - Microneedling
“Microneedling, also known as dermarolling, is the use of needles designed to pierce the skin for the purpose of collagen production or cellular renewal. This practice is beyond the scope of licensure and should not be performed by a licensee of the Board.”
townhall.virginia.gov - Chemical peels
“Chemical exfoliation requires a master esthetician license.”
townhall.virginia.gov “For chemical exfoliation of the epidermis by a licensed master esthetician, the standards for use of an exfoliator or concentration of acids will be:”
law.lis.virginia.gov - Dermaplaning
“removing unwanted hair from the body of any person by the use of any nonlaser device, by tweezing, or by use of chemical or mechanical means”
law.lis.virginia.gov - Laser and IPL
“A doctor who delegates the practice of laser hair removal and provides supervision to a person other than a licensed physician assistant or licensed nurse practitioner shall ensure that such person has completed the training required in subsection A of this section.”
law.lis.virginia.gov “Direction and supervision shall mean that the doctor is readily available at the time laser hair removal is being performed.”
law.lis.virginia.gov - Advanced license
“a licensed esthetician who, in addition to the practice of esthetics, offers to the public for compensation, without the use of laser technology, lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation, or microdermabrasion”
law.lis.virginia.gov - The board
“The Board for Barbers and Cosmetology licenses individuals and businesses that perform barbering, cosmetology, nail care, waxing, tattooing, body piercing, and esthetics.”
dpor.virginia.gov - Also good to know
“An esthetics spa license is required for businesses that offer master esthetics services provided by a licensed master esthetician.”
dpor.virginia.gov - Also good to know
“State law prohibits any person from practicing or offering to practice barbering, cosmetology, nail care, waxing, tattooing, body piercing, or esthetics in the Commonwealth without a Virginia license.”
dpor.virginia.gov
Questions
Virginia esthetician license, answered
Does Virginia have a master or advanced esthetician license?
What is the esthetician scope of practice in Virginia?
Plan the rest
Licensed, in scope, and ready to book clients
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- Opening your own skin care studio in Virginia: the salon license
Esthetician scope in other states
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