Currently, New York does not regulate laser hair removal (LHR), either as a medical procedure or an aesthetics procedure. This means that no license or training is needed for anyone to offer the service. This is unusual compared with the rest of the country, which typically treats it as either part of the practice of medicine or has a technician license to set a minimum training requirement.

Efforts to regulate LHR in New York have been a long and ongoing story. We previously discussed some of the issues in an article (see here). For the last several years, other bills have been introduced to regulate LHR, but so far, none have been passed. A 1916 continues this tradition, though it remains to be seen if they will do better in 2025 than they did in 2024.

A 1916 would create a license for a “laser hair removal technician” under the Appearance Enhancement Advisory Committee, as well as for “LHR facilities.” This is the same body that covers cosmetologists, nail specialists, estheticians and similar practices. A 1916 would require the adoption of rules and standards for the licensure and practice of LHR technicians and for the LHR facilities where they practice. These rules must, at a minimum, contain:

1. Identifying state-approved training courses;
2. A registration fee for LHR establishments;
3. A minimum age requirement;
4. A minimum number of hours of training;
5. A minimum number of training procedures performed on volunteers, and;
6. Continued certification by a nationally accredited organization.

LHR facilities would need to maintain a minimum of $1 million in liability insurance in addition to the other adopted rules and standards.

Importantly, A 1916 gives the option for the rules to waive training and education requirements for current estheticians who are already performing LHR. These current LHR practicing estheticians would still need to pass an approved competency exam to gain the new LHR technician license. This would obviously substantially reduce the costs for estheticians to continue their services and comply with the new regulations. A 1916 does not contain a requirement for physician supervision or oversight in the LHR process.

Most other states treat LHR along with other laser and light-based procedures as medical procedures which need to be performed under a physician’s delegation and supervision, with a few states treating it as a separate specialty license, as A 1916 would. If you would like additional information, to read the bill, or to contact the sponsors you can find it through this link: A 1916.