Laser Licensing Essentials: Navigating Cosmetic Procedures in Queensland

If you wish to operate a laser for cosmetic purposes in Queensland, you will need to acquire a Use licence.  We are sometimes asked if there is any provision for exemption. 

Queensland Health released this notification that explains the current regulatory requirements as they stand.

Is there any provision for a licence exemption?

• Under the Radiation Safety Act 1999, a person must not use a radiation source unless the person is allowed to use it under a use licence. However, the Act also provides that in certain circumstances, use licences are not required.

• One of these circumstances is when a trainee is undergoing certain training at an educational institution or other entity that has been approved by the chief executive and whose approval has been published on the department’s website.
• In this circumstance, the trainee must be in the presence and under the personal supervision of a person who is licensed to use the radiation source.

For an educational institution or other entity to be approved, the chief executive will need to be satisfied that:

• (a) the training requires students to undertake practical and theoretical training to complete the course of study

• (b) the practical training provided by the educational institution or entity is of an acceptable standard

• (c) the theoretical training provided by the educational institution or entity is of an acceptable standard; and

• (d) the educational institution or entity assesses –

• The practical competency of students on completion of the practical training; and
• The theoretical components of the training provided in the course of study.

Approved training providers for intending cosmetic laser users

Note: ‘Cosmetic purposes’ means one or more of the following:

• hair reduction

• skin rejuvenation (including superficial pigmentation adjustment)
• superficial capillary reduction
• tattoo removal

A person who is undergoing practical training in Queensland is not required to hold a licence to use a laser apparatus for cosmetic purposes while they are completing one of the following training courses conducted by the below specified educational institution or other entity (training provider):

Approved Training Provider Details1			Approved Training Details1			Qualification Awarded
Name of Provider	Contact details	Description of Provider	Name of Training	Scope of Training	Description of Training

Approved under s83(1)(b) of the Radiation Safety Regulation 2021

Note:

• The trainee must be in the presence and under the personal supervision of a person who is licensed to use the radiation source.
• All other persons who intend to undergo practical training in Queensland, other than the training cited above, are required to hold an appropriate ‘trainee’ licence issued under the Act.

Access an application for a Licence to Possess a Radiation Source

I am a training provider, what is the necessary criterion for me to gain approval 

To determine whether or not the training and the training provider should be approved, the chief executive may consider:

• the type of training provider and its governance arrangements
• details of the theoretical training provided
• details of how the practical training is offered
• how competency is measured
• the ability, experience and competency of the licensed trainers and assessors
• how trainers or assessors measure their performance as well as that of the trainees
• how trainers or assessors deal with a non-performer; and
• how frequently the training provider re-assesses its training.

The approval will be reviewed at specified intervals. At the time of review, the training provider will be expected to provide details of any changes in the information submitted to support the initial application.

Information to be submitted – cosmetic laser use training

It is expected that any training relating to the provision of cosmetic services using laser apparatus would cover information, as applicable, about:

• the apparatus itself and the associated radiation risks and hazards
• how to ascertain the optimal operating settings of the apparatus for each client, and how to assess the results for each client
• the safety measures in place to minimise the risks to both the clients and the apparatus operator
• the tools that may be used to minimise the risks to the client (e.g. use of a skin melanin meter), and
• how to recognise an incident and what to do if an incident occurs.

For full information on the Possession Licence