Michigan: who may do what, and how to check a license

Michigan's Public Health Code lets a licensee delegate selected acts, tasks, or functions within the licensee's own scope of practice to a licensed or unlicensed person who is qualified by education, training, or experience, with the work done under the licensee's supervision. A licensee may not delegate a task that, under accepted practice standards, requires the licensee's own level of education, skill, and judgment. This is the general delegation statute. It does not name cosmetic injections specifically.

Source: MCL 333.16215 (Public Health Code, Act 368 of 1978), Delegation of acts, tasks, or functions

Law or regulationPublished or effective Mar 4, 2020Checked Sep 25, 2026

The Public Health Code defines the "supervision" that applies to delegated work. At a minimum it requires continuous availability of direct communication (in person or by radio, telephone, or telecommunication) with the licensed professional. It also requires regularly scheduled availability for review and consultation, and predetermined procedures and drug protocol from the supervising professional. The definition is general and is not specific to cosmetic procedures.

Source: MCL 333.16109 (Public Health Code), Definitions; "Supervision"

Law or regulationPublished or effective Sep 7, 2021Checked Sep 25, 2026

Michigan's Business Corporation Act requires a corporation organized to provide services in a learned profession to incorporate as a professional corporation. The act makes no specific mention of medical spas.

Source: MCL 450.1281 (Business Corporation Act), Incorporation as professional corporation

Law or regulationPublished or effective Jan 2, 2013Checked Sep 25, 2026

In a professional corporation that provides services regulated under article 15 of the Public Health Code, each shareholder must generally be licensed to provide the same professional service. Limited exceptions let physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists, and physician assistants form corporations together.

Source: MCL 450.1284 (Business Corporation Act), Professional corporation subject to MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838

Law or regulationPublished or effective Jan 2, 2013Checked Sep 25, 2026

For a professional limited liability company that renders a Public Health Code professional service, all members and managers must generally be licensed to render that same service. Limited exceptions let physicians and certain other licensees organize together.

Source: MCL 450.4904 (Michigan Limited Liability Company Act), Rendering professional services

Law or regulationPublished or effective Mar 15, 2022Checked Sep 25, 2026

A LARA Corporations Division page, summarizing a Dec. 5, 2005 Michigan Department of Community Health position statement, says laser use is the practice of medicine and medicine is a learned profession. It says corporations and LLCs using lasers for medical or dental services may organize only as professional service corporations or professional LLCs. The page cites 1962 PA 192, which has since been repealed; its professional-corporation provisions now appear in MCL 450.1281 et seq. (added in 2012).

Source: Use of Laser Equipment by Health Professionals (LARA Corporations Division)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Dec 5, 2005Checked Sep 25, 2026

A position statement on LARA's website, dated 12/5/05 and attributed to LARA (formerly the Michigan Department of Community Health), says laser use is the practice of medicine or dentistry. It says a physician or dentist may delegate laser use to a licensed or unlicensed person working under their supervision. That supervision requires acknowledgment of the person's training, continuous availability of communication, scheduled review, and written procedures and protocols. The statement says the delegating physician or dentist is ultimately responsible for the outcome. It is a department position statement, not a statute or rule.

Source: Use of Laser Equipment by Health Professionals: MDCH Position Statement (LARA)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Dec 5, 2005Checked Sep 25, 2026

Under the Occupational Code as amended by 2024 PA 160, an esthetician or cosmetologist who performs a light therapy service may use only noninvasive light therapy. The therapy must be FDA-approved and intended not to penetrate the living layers of the skin.

Source: MCL 339.1210 (Occupational Code, Act 299 of 1980), Esthetician; qualifications; permitted services

Law or regulationPublished or effective Apr 2, 2025Checked Sep 25, 2026

Since 2024 PA 160 (effective April 2, 2025), the statute lists the skin care services an esthetician or cosmetologist may perform. The list includes exfoliating only dead skin cells, including dermaplaning or microdermabrasion. It also includes nonmedical grade hydrodermabrasion (with documented training for earlier licensees), nonmedical grade chemical peels, high-frequency treatment, brow and lash services, and facial cupping.

Source: MCL 339.1210(2) (Occupational Code), Esthetician permitted services

Law or regulationPublished or effective Apr 2, 2025Checked Sep 25, 2026

The same section limits the listed esthetician skin care services, as applicable, to the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin.

Source: MCL 339.1210(3) (Occupational Code), Esthetician permitted services

Law or regulationPublished or effective Apr 2, 2025Checked Sep 25, 2026

Michigan's cosmetology general rules bar students, apprentices, and licensees from performing services limited to the scope of a licensed health profession. The exception is a service delegated to them under MCL 333.16215. This rule dates from 2021 and predates the 2024 statutory changes to esthetician scope.

Source: Mich. Admin. Code R 338.2179g(1)(i), Cosmetology General Rules

Law or regulationPublished or effective 2021Checked Sep 25, 2026