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

Required; in-person or telehealth allowed under certain conditions. Conditional; telehealth GFE permitted if physician-patient relationship established and state guidelines met.

North Carolina · Moderate

Good-Faith Exam Rules for Med Spas in North Carolina

The good-faith exam (GFE) is the legal gate before any injectable or device treatment. North Carolina'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 or telehealth allowed under certain conditions.

Can the exam be done by telehealth

Conditional; telehealth GFE permitted if physician-patient relationship established and state guidelines met.

Who can perform the exam vs. the injection

MD/DO, NP/PA with physician collaboration, RN under physician delegation.

What to verify in North Carolina

Establish a clear medical director agreement and verify delegation protocols comply with NC Medical Board and Board of Nursing standards.

Primary source: NC Medical Board; NC Board of Nursing

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

See the full North Carolina 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.