Is a good-faith exam required before treatment in California, and can it be done by telehealth?

Required; in-person exam mandatory before treatment Not allowed; California requires in-person evaluation before any aesthetic procedure

California · Strict

Good-Faith Exam Rules for Med Spas in California

The good-faith exam (GFE) is the legal gate before any injectable or device treatment. California's rules on who performs it — and whether it can happen over telehealth — directly affect how you schedule and staff.

By Evan at Inside MedSpa

Is a good-faith exam required

Required; in-person exam mandatory before treatment

Can the exam be done by telehealth

Not allowed; California requires in-person evaluation before any aesthetic procedure

Who can perform the exam vs. the injection

MD, DO, NP, PA, RN under physician supervision

What to verify in California

Ensure a California-licensed physician is the controlling owner or medical director with clear supervisory authority over all injectors.

Primary source: Medical Board of California; California Board of Registered Nursing

General business information for California medical-spa owners, current as of 2026 — not legal advice. State boards update rules often; confirm specifics with the California board (and your own counsel) before you act.

See the full California regulation profile →

Stay ahead of the rules that change your business.

Regulatory shifts, FDA recalls, and the moves that matter — twice a week — with Inside MedSpa Pro.

Go Pro · $20/mo

By the time it's news, it's too late.

The rebate cut, the scope-of-practice bill, the competitor opening down the street — it hits your business before the trade press ever covers it. Pro gets you there first: what happened, why it touches your margins, and exactly what to do — at 6 AM, in two minutes.

Go Pro · $20/mo

Never be the last to know. Cancel anytime.