SOUTH CAROLINA Bill Would License Advanced Estheticians
Bill Name: Senate Bill 1023 (S 1023)
Primary Sponsor: Senator Ronnie Cromer
Status: 6/25/2024 Senate Adjourned
AmSpa’s Take: There has been a strong national trend to expand esthetician scopes of practice to include more invasive cosmetic procedures. These bills often face significant debate over the exact scope of the additional treatments. As a result, many bills of this type can become stuck in committee and fail to pass.
Outlook: This bill is in the first steps of the process.
Analysis: Currently, in South Carolina, as in most states, estheticians can provide a number of skin care services but are unable to provide treatments that qualify as the practice of medicine. For example, they can exfoliate dead skin cells, but may not penetrate past the stratum germinativum layer of skin and may not use a chemical with a pH lower than 3.0. If passed, S 1023 creates an advanced esthetician license with an expanded scope to include a number of cosmetic procedures that are currently restricted to the practice of medicine and nursing.
Under S 1023, advanced estheticians, in addition to the current esthetician scope of practice, would be able to perform high-frequency, microcurrent, galvanic, microneedling, dermaplaning, and chemical peels with a pH between 2.0 and 3.0. The bill does not expand on any specifics or set other limitations on these procedures.
In order to qualify for an advanced esthetician license, a person would need to:
- Be at least 16 years old and have completed the 10th grade;
- Complete a 600-hour course in a board-approved school; and
- Pass the board examination and pay the application fee.
Notably, estheticians in South Carolina have similar requirements but must complete a 450-hour course. S 1023 does not explicitly discuss a reduced option for those currently licensed. So, it is unclear if currently licensed estheticians would need to go back through the full 600-hour course or if they could take a shortened course that covers the new treatments.
While it isn’t unusual for bills like this to add treatments or services, what is unusual is what is missing. Usually, bills of this type provide some type of grandfather clause for current licensees. These types of bills often get changed and amended significantly as they move through the process; that will likely be the case here, as well. If you would like additional information, to read the language of this bill or to contact the sponsors or committee, you can find the information you need here: S 1023.