The Arizona medspa terms everyone uses and nobody defines

Arizona aesthetic practice runs on a small vocabulary of compliance terms — good-faith exam, standing order, Level II, delegated medical act — that appear in board opinions, medical director agreements, and malpractice policies without ever being explained. Providers nod along, sign the agreement, and discover during an audit that they and the person who wrote the document meant different things.

These are the definitions as they apply in Arizona specifically, with the statute or Board opinion each one comes from. Where a term means something different here than in California or Texas, that difference is stated rather than glossed over.

Core terms

Quick reference

Terms you will meet often enough to need, but that rarely warrant a page of their own.

Full Practice Authority

Arizona's grant of independent practice to board-certified NPs under A.R.S. § 32-1601 — diagnosis, prescribing, and practice ownership without a collaborative agreement. See can an NP be a medical director in Arizona.

ASBN Advisory Opinion

Guidance issued by the Arizona State Board of Nursing interpreting the Nurse Practice Act. Not a statute, but cited by investigators — the 2025 opinion is the source of the Level II / Level III framework.

Hyaluronidase

An enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid filler. The reversal agent for HA-filler vascular occlusion, and a required on-site item for practices performing HA filler.

Chart Review

Periodic review of clinical records by the medical director to confirm treatments, orders, and good-faith exams align. A standard component of medical director engagements.

Medical Director

The licensed prescriber who provides clinical oversight for a practice — issuing standing orders, reviewing charts, and taking responsibility for the clinical framework. See medical director services.

Scope of Practice

The set of acts a licence permits its holder to perform. Cannot be expanded by supervision, training, or agreement — see can an esthetician inject Botox.

Level II

Arizona risk tier covering neuromodulator injection. Requires a written order and a good-faith exam.

Level III

Arizona risk tier covering dermal filler. Adds a written vascular-emergency protocol and on-site hyaluronidase.

Standing Delegation Order

Another name for a standing order — advance written authorization for defined procedures on defined patients.

MSO

Management services organization. The non-clinical entity in a CPOM-compliant structure, owned by the business owner.

PLLC

Professional limited liability company. The clinical entity, owned by a qualifying licensed clinician.

Anti-Kickback / Fee-Splitting

Rules restricting payment for referrals and the sharing of professional fees with non-licensees. A reason management fees must be set at defensible value.