Who can perform a good faith exam in a Georgia med spa?
The RN line is the one that catches Georgia practices — and the arrangement it rules out is extremely common.
The short answer
A physician, NP, or PA. In its May 7, 2026 position statement, the Georgia Composite Medical Board stated that an RN or LPN may not be the only licensed professional performing the history and physical or the assessment of whether a procedure is appropriate.
A practice where the injector both evaluates the patient and administers the treatment, with the physician's involvement limited to a signature on a protocol, does not satisfy this.
For IV therapy, the order must be individualized
Under the same May 7, 2026 position statement, an RN may administer IV hydration, nutrient therapies, and medications only under a valid individualized order prescribed by a physician, NP, or PA. A standing protocol alone is not a substitute for it. See Georgia IV therapy rules.
For lasers and energy devices, the exam is tied to each service
Rule 360-35-.05 requires a patient to be examined before a laser or energy service by a consulting physician, or by a PA or APRN who holds a cosmetic laser practitioner licence. The exception: laser hair removal and pulsed light, where the exam is not required.
The exam has no remote option, and it attaches to the service, not the client relationship. One intake exam does not carry a patient through a package of different treatments.
What inspectors have found
The Board's 2026 unannounced inspections reportedly found, among other things, a lack of physician oversight and medical exams being skipped before treatment. See the Georgia med spa inspection checklist.
How Local Medical Directors helps
We coordinate good faith exams by a physician, NP, or PA — including on-demand exams through Qualiphy wired into your existing workflow — so the evaluation is never left to the RN alone.
Can a registered nurse perform the good faith exam in Georgia?
No. In its May 7, 2026 IV Hydration and Therapy position statement, the Georgia Composite Medical Board stated that an RN or LPN may not be the only licensed health care professional performing the history and physical or the assessment of whether a procedure is appropriate. That evaluation must come from a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
Can the good faith exam be done by telehealth in Georgia?
For laser and energy services under Rule 360-35-.05, the pre-treatment exam is the requirement with no remote supervision equivalent, unlike day-to-day supervision under Rule 360-35-.07(1)(d), which may be by telecommunications. Confirm any telehealth exam workflow with your medical director against the rule for the specific service.