blog

Qualifications Needed to Open a Med Spa

Nov 06 2020

Reading Time: 3 Minutes

Author: Cathy Longley

A medical spa, or med spa, blends medical procedures with a day spa experience. These clinics run under a doctor’s supervision. They offer treatments that need medical oversight.

Many see opening a med spa as a low-risk venture. The industry earns billions yearly in Canada and the US. The North American market predicts an increase of 11.64% in compound annual growth between 2019 and 2025. Med spas are becoming more popular. They combine luxury relaxation with treatments like Botox injections.

If you work in medicine or are enrolled in injection training, you may dream of owning a med spa. You might wonder about the qualifications needed. This blog answers those questions. It also covers med spa classifications and employee certifications.

Let’s get started!

What Is a Medical Spa?

Medical spas, or medi-spas, offer medical procedures in a luxurious setting. They pair spa tranquility with expert medical care. Services include facials, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. They also offer Botox, fillers, lasers, and skin tightening.

Not all medical spas are the same. Their classification depends on the services offered. We discuss this in a later section.

The Advantages of Owning a Medical Spa

Owning a med spa has many advantages. It can be a profitable business when done right.

A study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found high demand. Americans underwent 7.4 million wrinkle injections, 1.3 million chemical peels, 1 million laser hair removals, and 700,000 microdermabrasion procedures in 2018.

These numbers show huge spending. Americans spent an estimated $16.5 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2018. Med spas are popular across North America. This trend is not changing soon.

About 80% of med spas are individually-owned. As an owner, you create an efficient, beautiful space. You don’t have to worry about bigger chains.

Opening a med spa also means entering retail. Stocking high-end and affordable skin care lines boosts revenue. You help clients build perfect routines. Building trust and lasting connections is key to success. We see this as a huge advantage.

Do Owners Need to Have Qualifications Before Being Eligible to Open a Medical Spa?

In some places, med spas must be owned by a qualified physician. Restrictions on corporate medicine dictate this. Only physicians can be paid for medical services. Many med spa services fall under this rule.

So, who can open a medical spa? In Ontario, aesthetic treatments like injections and lasers fall under Health Canada’s regulations. Only licensed medical professionals should perform these treatments. This includes MDs, nurse practitioners, RNs, RPNs, or dentists.

In Ontario, med spa ownership does not require being a physician. However, physicians or nurse practitioners often oversee clinics. In the US and UK, non-physician entrepreneurs often partner with physicians. They create an MSO to manage non-medical aspects.

In this setup, the non-physician owner controls marketing, branding, and payroll. They handle everything unrelated to medical services.

What Qualifications or Certifications Do Employees Need?

There are three levels of spas a consumer may encounter.

Aesthetic Spas

These facilities offer only superficial procedures. They affect the top skin layer with no invasive methods. Services include manicures, pedicures, light peels, and facials. Regulations are loose because there are no serious risks.

Medical Aesthetic Spas

These facilities offer higher-risk procedures. This includes Botox, fillers, lasers, and deep peels. They also offer microneedling and skin tightening. Registered medical practitioners often perform these procedures. Some are done by trained medical aestheticians.

These facilities operate as medical offices. They follow regulations from professional Colleges. Risks are low, but staff may be certified in Basic Cardiac Life Support.

Plastic Surgery Clinics

These facilities offer all med spa treatments plus surgery. This includes facelifts and breast augmentations. These procedures have higher risks. They can permanently alter or remove tissue.

A licensed physician is always present in these clinics. This ensures any issues are handled. Employees must be certified in Basic or Advanced Cardiac Life Support. These facilities are highly regulated by professional Colleges.

For more on specific regulations, visit this link.

DO Medical Professionals Need Any Additional Certification to Work in a Med Spa?

If you are a physician, nurse, or other medical professional, you can upskill. Enlist in the right training courses. To give Botox or filler injections, you need proper training. APT Injection Training offers comprehensive courses.

We offer courses for different experience levels. We also provide internationally-recognized certifications. If you dream of opening a med spa, contact us. Or check out our courses here.