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State rules · RI

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

License lookups for the boards that cover spa and med spa treatments in Rhode Island, and what official sources say on five questions — each with its source and the date we checked.

6 official sources on 4 of 5 topics · 4 boards · 1 official lookup site · checked Sep 14, 2026

These are research summaries of official sources, checked on the dates shown. They are not legal advice, rules change, and the linked source controls. City and other municipal rules, including a local business license or zoning, can also apply. This page is the state board only. Confirm with the board.

How to check a license in Rhode Island

Ask the person treating you for their license type and number, then search the board that issued it. A title like “injector” or “specialist” isn’t a license type, so a board lookup won’t list it.

Medical board

Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline (RIDOH)

Open the license lookupBoard’s website

Checked Sep 14, 2026

Nursing board

Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration and Nursing Education (RIDOH)

Open the license lookupBoard’s website

Checked Sep 14, 2026

Physician assistant board

Rhode Island Board of Licensure for Physician Assistants (RIDOH)

Open the license lookupBoard’s website

Checked Sep 14, 2026

Cosmetology & esthetics board

Rhode Island Board of Hairdressing and Barbering (RIDOH)

Open the license lookupBoard’s website

Checked Sep 14, 2026

What to look for on the lookup

  • The name matches. The person treating you, spelled the way they gave it. Ask for any other name they’ve been licensed under.
  • The license type matches what you were told. RN and LPN are different licenses, as are physician and physician assistant, or esthetician and cosmetologist.
  • The status says active. Note words like expired, lapsed, inactive, suspended, restricted or probation — and what they apply to.
  • The expiration date hasn’t passed. Some lookups show it; some only show status. If neither is clear, the board can confirm.
  • Any public discipline or board orders. If the lookup lists actions, orders or conditions, open them and read what they say.

Every board’s lookup looks a little different. If something is unclear, contact the board.

Match a claimed credential to the right board in Rhode Island

What official sources say in Rhode Island

Where we found an official statement, you’ll see our plain summary, the source, how binding that kind of source is, and when we checked. Where we didn’t, you’ll see the question to ask the place instead.

These are research summaries of official sources, checked on the dates shown. They are not legal advice, rules change, and the linked source controls. City and other municipal rules, including a local business license or zoning, can also apply. This page is the state board only. Confirm with the board.

We found official statements on 4 of 5 topics. Not located yet: what estheticians may do. Not located means we have nothing official to show you — it says nothing about what is allowed.

Who may inject Botox and fillers

Official source found

Rhode Island's Medical Spas Safety Act requires each medical spa to appoint a medical director who is a physician or certified nurse practitioner. The supervising physician, APRN or PA must perform an initial assessment and prepare a written treatment plan, and non-physicians may only perform cosmetic medical procedures (a category that includes cosmetic injections and fillers) that they are trained for and that were delegated to them. 'Supervision' is defined as either on site (direct) or off site but in Rhode Island and immediately available (indirect).

Source: R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-105, Medical Spas Safety Act (P.L. 2025, ch. 308)

Law or regulationPublished or effective Jun 30, 2025Checked Sep 14, 2026

RIDOH's July 2024 guidance says every patient must be assessed by a Rhode Island-licensed physician, PA or CNP before receiving any medical spa or IV therapy business service, and that using standing orders in place of an individualized assessment, diagnosis and treatment is unprofessional conduct. In an ownership example it states that nurses are not able to examine, diagnose, prescribe or administer Botox.

Source: Guidance Document Regarding the Operation of Medical Spas and Intravenous (IV) Therapy Businesses (Rhode Island Department of Health)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Jul 2024Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “Who will inject me, what license do they hold, and which clinician examined me, ordered this and supervises them?”

Who may own a med spa

Official source found

RIDOH says whether a medical spa or IV therapy business needs a health care facility license depends on its ownership, services and the owners' professional licenses. An owner or operator with no professional license who does not qualify for the professional service corporation exemption needs an organized ambulatory care facility license, and no business or owner may control how the physician, PA or CNP practices. RIDOH recommends that prospective owners seek legal counsel.

Source: Guidance Document Regarding the Operation of Medical Spas and Intravenous (IV) Therapy Businesses (Rhode Island Department of Health)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Jul 2024Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “Who owns this practice, and who is its medical director?”

Who may operate lasers and IPL

Official source found

Under the Medical Spas Safety Act, procedures using ablative lasers or ablative energy devices may only be performed by physicians, physician assistants and certified nurse practitioners. The act lists laser procedures and intense pulsed light among cosmetic medical procedures subject to its delegation and supervision rules.

Source: R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-105, Medical Spas Safety Act (P.L. 2025, ch. 308)

Law or regulationPublished or effective Jun 30, 2025Checked Sep 14, 2026

RIDOH's guidance says non-ablative laser, light and energy device treatments may be provided by a physician or delegated to an appropriately trained CNP or PA, and that an electrologist who has completed training under R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-32-21 may perform laser hair removal without physician supervision.

Source: Guidance Document Regarding the Operation of Medical Spas and Intravenous (IV) Therapy Businesses (Rhode Island Department of Health)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Jul 2024Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “Who operates the laser or IPL device, what license or certification do they hold, and who supervises them?”

IV hydration and drips

Official source found

RIDOH says IV therapy business services are the practice of medicine: only physicians, PAs and certain CNPs may evaluate, diagnose and prescribe IV fluids, and an RN who diagnoses, prescribes, compounds or treats on their own is outside their scope. Letting patients pick IVs from a menu, or relying on standing orders when a practitioner is only available by telemedicine, is unprofessional conduct.

Source: Guidance Document Regarding the Operation of Medical Spas and Intravenous (IV) Therapy Businesses (Rhode Island Department of Health)

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Jul 2024Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “Who assesses me and orders what goes in the bag, and who places the IV — under which license?”

What estheticians may do

Not found yet

We haven’t found an official statement on this for Rhode Island yet.

That doesn’t tell you whether something is allowed or not — only that we have no official statement to show you.

Ask the place

“What license does the person doing this hold, and does that license cover this treatment?”

Check it with the board

“Which skin treatments are within a licensed esthetician's scope here — peel depth, microneedling, devices — and which are not?”

Put this to the board, or search its rules and position statements for it. Its answer, with a date, is what settles it — not the place’s.

Who decides

Usually the cosmetology or esthetics board.

On file for Rhode Island: Rhode Island Board of Hairdressing and Barbering (RIDOH).

Sources

The official documents above, once each. Rules change; the linked source controls, and the date is when we last opened it.

  1. R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-105, Medical Spas Safety Act (P.L. 2025, ch. 308)Law or regulation · checked Sep 14, 2026
  2. Guidance Document Regarding the Operation of Medical Spas and Intravenous (IV) Therapy Businesses (Rhode Island Department of Health)Board guidance — may not be binding · checked Sep 14, 2026

Treatment guides

What the menu name doesn’t tell you, and what to ask before you book.

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