Limited Esthetician Scope of Practice Guidance - Cosmetologists
I. Purpose & Overview of Licensure
This document provides guidance on the scope of practice for Limited Estheticians licensed under the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists. It helps clarify which services are permissible and which are outside the scope of practice for this license type. This guidance is intended for reference purposes to support consistent practice and compliance and is based on the Maryland Code Business Occupations and Professions Article § 5-101 and COMAR regulations.
II. “Do’s & Don’ts” - Permitted & Prohibited Services
Permitted services listed in this document are also permitted for Senior Cosmetologists and Cosmetologists.
III. Additional Guidance
If a service you are seeking guidance on is not listed in this document, please refer to Maryland Board of Cosmetologists COMAR regulations for clarification.
Important: Any service that penetrates beyond the epidermis is not permissible for Limited Estheticians or Cosmetologists. There are no exceptions unless the individual also holds the appropriate health occupation license that authorizes the procedure.
This ensures that all practitioners remain within their legally defined scope of practice and maintain client safety in accordance with Maryland law.
| Permitted Services (Within Scope) | Prohibited Services (Outside of Scope) |
|---|---|
| Waxing, including full body | Cosmetic Tattooing, including but not limited to Microblading/Microshading |
| Lash/Brow Tinting | Botox/ Fillers/ Injectables |
| Lash/Brow Lifting | Laser Hair Removal and IPL |
| Brow Laminations | Radio Frequency (Face & Body) |
| Eyelash Extensions | Skin tightening devices using heat below the epidermis |
| Dermaplaning | Plasma fibroblast/ plasma pen |
| Microneedling (1.0 mm or less) | HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) |
| Nano-needling | Cryotherapy (for lesion removal or any skin treatment) |
| Exfoliation | Medical grade peels that penetrate beyond the epidermis |
| Superficial Chemical Peels, limited to epidermis only | IV therapy or injectable vitamins |
| Hydrafacials | Fat dissolving treatments |
| Manual Exfoliation (Including scrubs, enzymes, and non-chemical methods) Ultrasonic skin scrubber/spatula | Cool sculpting |
| Galvanic & High Frequency | Removal of skin tags, warts, moles or lesions |
| LED (light emitting diode) therapy | Cavitation devices |
| Vacuum suction | PRP (platelet rich plasma) or PRF treatments (platelet rich fibrin) |
| Gua Sha | Tattoo removal |
| Facial massage: Face, neck, decollete, shoulders, hands and arms, lymphatic face massage | Full body massage |
| Oxygen Infusion treatments | |
| Facial cupping | |