Aesthetic NP Practice Authority
What an NP, PA, or RN entering aesthetic medicine in Tennessee needs to know — sourced from the AANP State Practice Environment + the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
No. Tennessee strictly enforces the corporate practice of medicine doctrine, so the clinical entity must be physician-owned. Aesthetic practices are commonly organized as an MSO/PC structure (a physician owns the clinical professional corporation; a management company handles non-clinical operations). Fee-splitting with non-physicians is prohibited.
A career-long Collaborative Practice Agreement with a physician is required — Tennessee has no pathway to independent practice (TCA 63-7-123). The agreement includes a filed formulary, periodic physician chart review, and regular in-person physician presence.
A good-faith exam by a licensed prescriber (NP/MD/DO) is required before initial aesthetic medication administration. Telehealth GFE is permitted in most states subject to state-specific rules.
RNs may inject aesthetic medications (botulinum toxin, dermal fillers, fat-dissolving) under a valid prescriber order and approved protocol. Only PRESCRIBING requires a licensed NP/MD/DO. Verify with your board. Tennessee guidance indicates on-site prescriber supervision is expected for delegated injections; confirm the current Board rule before delegating.
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