Not every service in a Med Spa requires a Good Faith Exam, but nearly all medical aesthetic treatments do. If a treatment involves prescription products, medical devices, or any procedure that penetrates the skin, a Good Faith Exam is legally required in almost every state.
Understanding which treatments trigger this requirement is critical. Performing even one service without a prior exam can expose your practice to fines, investigations, and licensing issues.
If you’re not familiar with what a Good Faith Exam entails, start with What Is a Good Faith Exam.
What Determines Whether a Treatment Requires a Good Faith Exam
In general, any treatment that meets one or more of the following criteria requires a Good Faith Exam:
- Involves prescription drugs or devices (e.g., Botox, fillers, PDO threads)
- Breaks the skin barrier (e.g., microneedling, laser resurfacing, IV therapy)
- Impacts bodily systems or functions (e.g., weight loss injections, HRT)
- Requires medical judgment to assess candidacy or contraindications
If you’re unsure who can perform the exam, see Who Can Perform a Good Faith Exam.
Why Many States Require Live (Synchronous) Exams
Here are the most common categories of services that require a prior Good Faith Exam before a patient can be treated:
| Treatment Category | Examples | GFE Required? |
| Injectables | Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers | ✔ Yes |
| Energy-Based Devices | Laser hair removal, IPL, skin tightening | ✔ Yes |
| Microneedling & Collagen Induction | Microneedling, RF microneedling | ✔ Yes |
| IV and Vitamin Therapy | IV drips, B12 shots, hydration therapy | ✔ Yes |
| Weight Management & Hormonal Therapy | Semaglutide, testosterone, peptides | ✔ Yes |
| Chemical Peels (Medical Strength) | Medium to deep peels | ✔ Yes |
| Non-Medical Skincare | Cleansing, gua sha, basic exfoliation and massage | ✖ No |
For more detail on state-by-state variations, read Do Laws Around Good Faith Exams Differ by State.
Why Non-Medical Services Are Exempt
Basic non-medical skincare spa services like skin cleaning, light exfoliation, or topical skincare treatments that do not alter tissue beneath the skin surface are typically exempt.
However, as soon as a medical device, drug, or needle is introduced, the service crosses into the medical realm and a Good Faith Exam becomes mandatory.
That distinction is critical, especially for hybrid Med Spas offering both wellness and aesthetic treatments. If your business provides both, learn how to stay compliant across all service lines in What Are the Compliance Laws in My State for a Med Spa.
Why You Should Perform Exams Even When Not Explicitly Required
Even if a treatment might not technically require a Good Faith Exam, many successful Med Spas perform them anyway.
Why? Because it:
- Creates a consistent standard of care across all patients
- Builds trust and transparency before treatment
- Protects against potential liability claims
- Simplifies documentation in case of board review
It’s far easier to explain why you performed an exam than to justify why you didn’t.
How Spakinect Simplifies Compliance Across All Treatments
Spakinect ensures every required Good Faith Exam is conducted by a licensed provider before any medical procedure begins.
- Patients connect with a provider in an average of 31 seconds
- Exams are performed by our team of 33 experienced licensed, W-2 providers
- Spakinect currently serves 40 states and counting
- Processes are vetted by Medical Boards and legal experts
- All documentation integrates seamlessly into your EMR and client portal
Whether you operate one location or 20, Spakinect provides the same gold-standard compliance framework across your entire organization.
See our current coverage here: States We Service.
FAQs: Which Services Require a Good Faith Exam
Are Good Faith Exams required for every Med Spa treatment?
Not all, but most medical aesthetic procedures require them. If a treatment uses prescription products or devices, an exam is mandatory.
Do repeat patients need another exam for the same treatment?
Not always. Learn more in How Often Does a Good Faith Exam Need to Be Renewed.
Do virtual Good Faith Exams count for medical procedures?
Yes, in most states. See Is the Good Faith Exam Done In Person or Virtually.
What happens if I perform a treatment that requires a Good Faith Exam without one?
You could face fines, board investigations, or loss of licensure. Read What Happens If I Don’t Perform a Good Faith Exam.
How do I know if my state requires an exam for a specific service?
Check your state’s rules in Do Laws Around Good Faith Exams Differ by State.
Final Takeaway
If a treatment involves a prescription, device, or medical intervention, it’s safest to assume a Good Faith Exam is required.
Every compliant Med Spa shares one thing in common: they never guess when it comes to exams. Spakinect helps you maintain that standard – connecting patients to licensed providers in seconds, documenting every encounter, and ensuring full compliance.
