Nurses can specialise in aesthetic practice, performing or assisting with a wide range of cosmetic procedures. If you work in aesthetics, or are considering it as part of your professional career, below is a list of useful resources and guidance:

Regulation including prescribing

Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) - maintains a voluntary register of practitioners and education/training providers. The JCCP has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which sets out information sharing and referral arrangements to help promote good practice and patient safety in this area.

Cosmetic Standards Practice Authority (CSPA) - sets practice standards for the non-surgical sector and collects data on adverse incidents and complications.

Medicines management provides guidance for nurses and other health care professionals in relation to prescribing and administration of medicines by non-medical health care professionals.

Remote prescribing is not allowed in aesthetic practice. The prescriber must assess the person they are prescribing for in person. Likewise, the product prescribed can only be used for the person it is prescribed for. The prescriber should also be educated as well as competent in the procedure and be practising within their scope of practice.

The NMC has published guidance regarding remote prescribing of non-surgical cosmetic medicines, including anti-wrinkle injections like Botox and other licensed brands, as well as aesthetic emergency kit medicines: NMC to update position on remote prescribing of non-surgical cosmetic medicines - The Nursing and Midwifery Council 

The key changes effective from 1 June 2025 are: 

• Face-to-Face Consultations: Nursing and midwifery prescribers must consult with patients in person before issuing prescriptions for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, and document their comprehensive clinical assessment that includes physical, emotional and psychosocial aspects.  
  
  
• Remote prescribing via telephone, email, online platforms, or third-party communication will no longer be permitted. 
  
  
• This decision aligns with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Prescribing Competency Framework and the principles for good practice in remote consultations. 
  
  
• Regulated Premises: Prescriptions must be issued in Health Improvement Scotland or NHS regulated premises, such as dental practices. 
  
  
• Qualified Prescribers: Only qualified prescribers such as dentists, doctors, prescribing nurses or prescribing pharmacists can issue these prescriptions.  

Other guidance

Self-employment provides information and resources for self-employed health care professionals.

The RCN Levels of Nursing provide standards for registered nurses working at enhanced, advanced and consultant levels. 

Please note that the RCN indemnity scheme excludes aesthetic practice, so members practising in this field will need to source professional indemnity cover separately.

The Advertising Standards Authority has information about advertising Botox, as there are specific rules to be followed: Botox - frequently asked questions.

Specialist networks

British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN)

RCN Advanced Nurse Practitioner Forum

RCN Public Health Forum

RCN Infection Prevention and Control Network