There has been a strong national trend to expand esthetician scopes of practice to include more invasive cosmetic procedures. These bills often face significant debate over the exact scope of the additional treatments. As a result, many bills of this type can become stuck in committee and fail to pass.

Currently, in West Virginia, as in most states, estheticians can provide a number of skin care services but are unable to provide treatments that qualify as the practice of medicine. If passed, SB 486 creates a master aesthetician license with an expanded scope to include a number of cosmetic procedures that are currently restricted to the practice of medicine and nursing.

Under SB 486, master aestheticians, in addition to the current esthetics scope of practice, would be able to perform treatments using 1) laser, 2) intense pulsed light (IPL), 3) microneedling, and 4) radiofrequency treatments. In order to qualify for a master aesthetician license, a person would need to complete 900 hours of training. The current version of the bill is very short so specifics as to the treatments, what is included in the training, and any other application or practice requirements are likely to be left to be developed by the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.

These types of bills often get changed and amended significantly as they move through the process; that will likely be the case here, as well. If you would like additional information, to read the language of this bill or to contact the sponsors or committee, you can find the information you need through this link: SB 486.