Scope of Practice
Who Can Legally Perform Aesthetic Treatments in South Dakota?
Which license types can legally perform each treatment in South Dakota, with the conditions — sourced from official state boards.
Last reviewed June 2026
Neurotoxin injections (Botox / Dysport) in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Master Esthetician
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
Dermal filler injections in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Master Esthetician
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
Weight-loss injections (semaglutide / tirzepatide) in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Master Esthetician
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
Kybella (deoxycholic acid) injections in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Master Esthetician
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
PRP / PRF ("vampire facial") in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Master Esthetician
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
Laser hair removal in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Permitted under general physician supervision — a physician is available (e.g., by phone) but need not be present. Requires a physician to be available but not on-site.
Master Esthetician
Permitted under general physician supervision — a physician is available (e.g., by phone) but need not be present. Requires a physician to be available but not on-site.
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
Laser skin resurfacing in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Master Esthetician
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
IPL / photofacial in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Permitted under general physician supervision — a physician is available (e.g., by phone) but need not be present. Requires a physician to be available but not on-site.
Master Esthetician
Permitted under general physician supervision — a physician is available (e.g., by phone) but need not be present. Requires a physician to be available but not on-site.
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
RF microneedling (e.g. Morpheus8) in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Master Esthetician
Permitted under general physician supervision — a physician is available (e.g., by phone) but need not be present. Requires a physician to be available but not on-site.
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
Microneedling in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Permitted under general physician supervision — a physician is available (e.g., by phone) but need not be present. Requires a physician to be available but not on-site.
Master Esthetician
Permitted under general physician supervision — a physician is available (e.g., by phone) but need not be present. Requires a physician to be available but not on-site.
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
Chemical peels in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Permitted under general physician supervision — a physician is available (e.g., by phone) but need not be present. Requires a physician to be available but not on-site.
Master Esthetician
Permitted under general physician supervision — a physician is available (e.g., by phone) but need not be present. Requires a physician to be available but not on-site.
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
Dermaplaning in South Dakota
Details →Esthetician (LE)
Permitted for this license type. Unclear, assume no unless you can verify with state data.
Master Esthetician
Permitted for this license type. Unclear, assume no unless you can verify with state data.
Medical Assistant (MA)
Registered Nurse (RN)
Permitted when delegated by, and performed under the authority of, a licensed physician. Performed under a physician’s delegation/orders and authority.
Nurse Practitioner (NP/APRN)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Permitted under a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a licensed physician. The physician does not need to be on-site. Requires a written protocol or collaborative agreement with a physician.
Physician (MD/DO)
Permitted for this license type.
Med-Spa Rules in South Dakota
Does this state require a physician medical director for a med spa?
ConditionalRequires a physician to oversee medical procedures.
Is a good-faith exam (by a physician, NP, or PA) required before treatment?
ConditionalRequired before treatment by a physician, NP, or PA.
Do nurse practitioners have full (independent) practice authority in this state?
Not permitted
May a physician delegate cosmetic injections to qualified staff (e.g., RN) under supervision?
ConditionalDelegation is allowed under physician supervision.
Can a non-physician legally own a medical spa in this state? (corporate practice of medicine)
Not permitted
Looking for a qualified provider in South Dakota?
Every provider on Elite Aesthetics Guide is independently evaluated, and many are credential-verified.
Find providers in South Dakota →Sources
Elite Aesthetics Guide provides consumer information to help you find and vet qualified providers. This is general information, not medical or legal advice, and regulations change — always confirm with the official state board. Consult a licensed provider for any treatment decision.