Can a nurse, investor, or non-physician own a medical spa in Virginia?

Physician-owned preferred; non-physician ownership restricted or requires strict MSO structure Strict; physician-owned or MSO with strong physician control

Virginia · Strict

Can a Non-Physician Own a Med Spa in Virginia?

Med-spa ownership in Virginia is governed by the Corporate Practice of Medicine doctrine and the state's ownership rules. Get this wrong and the whole structure can be unlawful — here's where Virginia lands.

By Evan at Inside MedSpa

Ownership rules

Physician-owned preferred; non-physician ownership restricted or requires strict MSO structure

Corporate Practice of Medicine

Strict; physician-owned or MSO with strong physician control

The medical-director angle

Required; physician must be actively involved in oversight Ownership and the medical-director requirement are usually two sides of the same compliance coin.

What to verify in Virginia

Ensure a Virginia-licensed physician is actively involved in ownership or management and confirm direct on-site supervision requirements for all injectors before opening.

Primary source: Virginia Medical Society; Virginia Board of Medicine; Virginia Board of Nursing

General business information for Virginia medical-spa owners, current as of 2026 — not legal advice. State boards update rules often; confirm specifics with the Virginia board (and your own counsel) before you act.

See the full Virginia regulation profile →

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