New Hampshire Laws, Rules, and Professional Ethics
This domain tests New Hampshire licensure, scope, sanitation duties, and professional ethics. The exam expects you to know who may practice, what must be displayed, and when to refer.
New Hampshire framework
- Esthetics is regulated under RSA 313-A by the Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics within the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, or OPLC. Board administrative rules govern licensure, sanitation, and practice.
- Practice esthetics for compensation only with a current license; work under required supervision or training conditions; display your license as required; keep the establishment licensed and inspected.
- Scope: cleansing, analysis, facials, exfoliation, extractions within training, hair removal, makeup, and lash or brow services. Do not diagnose, prescribe, cut skin, remove lesions, or perform medical procedures.
- Sanitation: follow Board rules and manufacturer labels; disinfect implements; use single-use items; maintain records.
- Ethics: informed consent, confidentiality, honest advertising, no guarantees, nondiscrimination, boundaries, referral, and reporting unsafe practice.
Worked example
A client asks you to snip off a skin tag because it catches on jewelry. Removing skin is outside esthetic scope and creates bleeding and infection risk. Decline, explain the scope, refer to a dermatologist, and document the request and referral.
Traps
Assuming a national license works in New Hampshire; letting an unlicensed assistant extract; posting before-and-after images without consent; diagnosing a rash; advertising 'permanent' hair removal with wax; ignoring Board rule updates.