Aesthetic NP Practice Authority
What an NP, PA, or RN entering aesthetic medicine in Virginia needs to know — sourced from the AANP State Practice Environment + the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Yes (conditional). Virginia does not enforce a strong corporate practice of medicine doctrine, and because NPs are licensed under the Board of Nursing, an NP may own and operate their own practice. NPs holding autonomous-practice licensure operate without a written practice agreement.
Virginia HB971 (effective July 1, 2024) lets NPs apply for autonomous practice after 3 years — about 5,400 hours — of full-time clinical experience, reduced from the prior 5-year requirement. NPs below that threshold maintain a written Practice Agreement per 18VAC90-40-90.
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. In Virginia the delegating prescriber must be accessible but need not be on-site.
Free. 7 minutes. Returns a state-specific 90-day roadmap to opening your own aesthetic practice. Built by Faisal Darwiche, NP — 27 years, three practices, the Aesthetic Show faculty. The plan I'd hand my younger self.