Who Can Operate a Cosmetic Laser? Rules by State in Australia

ARPANSA reports cosmetic laser use is regulated in Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia↗. Queensland requires a use licence required↗ to operate a class 4 laser, Tasmania requires a licence for cosmetic lasers and IPL↗, and Western Australia requires a licence and registration↗ for class 3B and 4 lasers. ARPANSA does not list the other states and territories.

Most people assume a beauty device that can burn skin is licensed everywhere in Australia. It is not. Whether anyone has checked the operator's training depends on which side of a state border the clinic sits.

Tiles are arranged roughly by position, not to scale. Shading follows ARPANSA's list of states that regulate cosmetic lasers and each state regulator's own pages.

What does Queensland require?

Under the Radiation Safety Act 1999, anyone operating class 4 laser apparatus for a cosmetic procedure needs a use licence required↗. To get one, applicants must show theory and practical training↗. The business that owns and controls the equipment needs a possession licence↗ on top of that.

ARPANSA's summary adds a detail worth knowing: non-medical operators in Queensland must be supervised by a doctor for most procedures, but for hair removal they must follow a doctor's advice for hair removal↗.

What does Tasmania require?

Tasmania goes furthest of the three. It requires a licence for cosmetic lasers and IPL↗, so a salon running IPL for cosmetic purposes needs a licence there just as a laser clinic does. ARPANSA reports cosmetic IPL is regulated in Tasmania only↗.

What does Western Australia require?

The Radiological Council requires a licence and registration↗ to use class 3B or class 4 lasers for cosmetic treatments. Where a non-medical practitioner such as a beauty therapist or nurse does laser hair removal, a doctor must endorse the procedures↗. The Council also states that IPL is not regulated↗ under its Radiation Safety Act.

Why does the national advice disagree with WA's regulator?

ARPANSA's advice for providers says that in Western Australia, operators of laser devices must be registered medical practitioners↗. The Radiological Council's own registration requirements describe a path for non-medical practitioners doing hair removal, with a doctor endorsing the policies and procedures. Both pages are official. The Council issues the licences in that state, so its pages are the ones to rely on, and the national summary looks out of date here.

What about the other states and territories?

New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and the Northern Territory are not on ARPANSA's list. There is no state laser licence for a clinic there to hold, which does not make treatment unsafe, but it does put the checking back on you. Ask what training the operator has, who supervises them, and what happens if a treatment burns.

Summary by state
State	Operator	Business or equipment	IPL
Queensland	use licence required↗	possession licence↗	Not on ARPANSA's list
Tasmania	licence for cosmetic lasers and IPL↗	Covered by the same Act	Licensed
Western Australia	licence and registration↗	Registration	not regulated↗
NSW, Vic, SA, ACT, NT	Not on ARPANSA's list	Not on ARPANSA's list	Not on ARPANSA's list

A summary of regulator pages, checked 12 September 2026, not legal advice. Clinics should confirm their obligations with their state regulator.

Written by [EDITOR NAME — REQUIRED BEFORE LAUNCH]. Reviewed by [QUALIFIED REVIEWER — REQUIRED BEFORE LAUNCH]. Published and last checked 12 September 2026.

Sources

ARPANSA, Advice for providers on lasers and IPL: States where ARPANSA reports that the cosmetic use of lasers is regulated. Checked 2026-09-12.
ARPANSA, Advice for providers on lasers and IPL: ARPANSA reports that the cosmetic use of IPL is currently regulated only in this state. Checked 2026-09-12.
ARPANSA, Advice for providers on lasers and IPL: ARPANSA: in Queensland, non-medical laser operators must be supervised by a registered medical practitioner for all procedures except hair removal, where they must follow a registered medical practitioner's advice. Checked 2026-09-12.
ARPANSA, Advice for providers on lasers and IPL: ARPANSA's provider page states that in Western Australia, operators of laser devices must be registered medical practitioners. Checked 2026-09-12.
Queensland Health, Laser licensing: Under Queensland's Radiation Safety Act 1999, anyone who operates class 4 laser apparatus for a diagnostic, therapeutic or cosmetic procedure must hold a use licence. Checked 2026-09-12.
Queensland Health, Cosmetic laser use licence: Applicants for a Queensland cosmetic laser use licence must show they have had both theoretical and practical training in using the laser safely and effectively for the procedure. Checked 2026-09-12.
Queensland Health, Cosmetic possession licence: In Queensland, a possession licence is needed to have overall ownership and control of Class 4 laser equipment. Checked 2026-09-12.
Tasmanian Department of Health, Radiation protection: Tasmania requires a licence under its Radiation Protection Act to deal with prescribed radiation sources, which include Class 3B and Class 4 lasers and IPL used for cosmetic purposes. Checked 2026-09-12.
Radiological Council of WA, Cosmetic use of lasers: Western Australia requires a licence and registration to use class 3B or class 4 lasers for cosmetic treatments. Checked 2026-09-12.
Radiological Council of WA, Cosmetic use of lasers: The Radiological Council of WA states that IPL is not currently regulated under the Radiation Safety Act. Checked 2026-09-12.
Radiological Council of WA, Specific requirements for registrations: For laser hair removal by non-medical practitioners in WA, an Ahpra-registered medical practitioner must confirm in writing that they endorse the policies and procedures. Checked 2026-09-12.