Nurses looking to practise in non-surgical cosmetics – including injectables – will now need to undertake extra training and undertake 12 months’ general nursing experience.  

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) and the National Boards have published the Guidelines for practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures and the Guidelines for practitioners who advertise higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures. These guidelines came into effect on 2 September 2025. 

The changes form part of the regulator’s approach to the billion-dollar cosmetic industry, which has surged in popularity over recent years. It also acknowledges some of the unique features of non-surgical cosmetic work, including a lack of clear of clear information about the qualifications and experience in the sector, the high numbers of young and potentially vulnerable people seeking procedures, and the competing interests of financial gain and patient safety. 

From 2 September, registered nurses wanting to enter the cosmetic injectables industry are required to first undertake 12 months of practice in a general or specialist area of nursing practice.  

This requirement does not apply retrospectively to currently working in the area of non-surgical cosmetic procedures and have not practised in another practice setting. It is important to note that should a notification be lodged relating to a nurse’s practise in the area of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, the nurse will be asked to demonstrate how they are working within their scope of practice, which is determined by their foundational education, relevant practice, training, any authorisation, their competence, qualifications and experience as outlined in the guidelines. 

Additionally, nurses looking to expand their scope of practice to include cosmetics will be required to complete additional training that allows them to show they understand facial anatomy and how to respond to an emergency.  

The new guidelines also address issues related to the advertising of higher risk procedures, including requiring that advertisements only use real images and avoid editing that misleads the public, and strengthening the ban on the use of testimonials from social media influencers.  

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Chair, Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey AM, said the guidelines are the robust response needed to safeguard consumers in the growing industry.  

“A lot of people might think of these procedures in the same way they’d consider getting a facial or a haircut. But these are clinical procedures and require appropriate training and experience to be performed safely,” Adjunct Professor Casey said. 

Chair of the Law and Regulation faculty at the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), Kate Rowan-Robinson, welcomed the greater clarity the new guidelines provided for nurses working or looking to work in the industry.  

“These things are always open for revision in future, but I think these are a really good starting point,” she said. 

“The guidelines really provide nurses with some very clear parameters around non-surgical cosmetics practice and I think it really adds a robustness to the industry”. 

Despite the raft of changes, APHRA and the National Boards stopped short of introducing minimum training standards for nurses working in cosmetics, which would have stipulated the base training required to work in the field. It thus falls to individuals to prove they are working within their scope of practice, as determined by their education, training, and experience.  

Nurses interested in finding out more about these new guidelines can visit the Ahpra and National Boards website.