Back to All NewsOhio Board of Cosmetology Adopts Rules Limiting Procedures by Cosmetologists and Aestheticians
Posted By American Med Spa Association, Monday, February 10, 2020
Share
The Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board has adopted a number of changes to its administrative rules that more clearly define the scope of practice of cosmetologists and aestheticians. AmSpa members were alerted when these changes were proposed in October 2019; since then, the board held a public hearing on November 8 and adopted the rule changes as proposed on December 19.
These new rules change which procedures aestheticians and cosmetologists are prohibited from performing. (You can read the adopted amendments here and here.) Subsection (K) in the list of rules for cosmetologists and subsection (J) in the list of rules for aestheticians for competent practice is amended to prohibit services that ablate, damage or alter any living cells. It names specific treatments that are excluded, such as cryosculpting treatments, microneedling, plasma pen or fibroblast skin tightening, and the removal of minor skin imperfections such as tags, moles or angiomas. The specific list is not exhaustive, so any sort of treatment or modality that damages or alters the living tissue would be prohibited.
This is a substantial change from the prior language of this section. Formerly, it prohibited licensees from using Class II or Class III medical devices only. The new language, in a practical sense, also will prohibit the use of these devices, as their functions likely are included in the broader “ablate, damage or alter any living tissue” language.
These rules are currently active, so medical spas that employ cosmetologists and aestheticians in the provision of some services will want to review their practices and make adjustments as appropriate. It also should be noted that these rule changes affect only licensed cosmetologists and aestheticians acting within the scope of their licenses; the rules do not change the authority of a physicians, physician assistants or nurse practitioners to delegate to other health care professionals.
These new rules change which procedures aestheticians and cosmetologists are prohibited from performing. (You can read the adopted amendments here and here.) Subsection (K) in the list of rules for cosmetologists and subsection (J) in the list of rules for aestheticians for competent practice is amended to prohibit services that ablate, damage or alter any living cells. It names specific treatments that are excluded, such as cryosculpting treatments, microneedling, plasma pen or fibroblast skin tightening, and the removal of minor skin imperfections such as tags, moles or angiomas. The specific list is not exhaustive, so any sort of treatment or modality that damages or alters the living tissue would be prohibited.
This is a substantial change from the prior language of this section. Formerly, it prohibited licensees from using Class II or Class III medical devices only. The new language, in a practical sense, also will prohibit the use of these devices, as their functions likely are included in the broader “ablate, damage or alter any living tissue” language.
These rules are currently active, so medical spas that employ cosmetologists and aestheticians in the provision of some services will want to review their practices and make adjustments as appropriate. It also should be noted that these rule changes affect only licensed cosmetologists and aestheticians acting within the scope of their licenses; the rules do not change the authority of a physicians, physician assistants or nurse practitioners to delegate to other health care professionals.
