Ethics & California LawQuestion 467 of 484

A California-licensed MANICURIST is asked by a client to also perform a pedicure that includes scrubbing, foot-mask, and polish. Within scope, the manicurist may:

a.Refuse, because a manicurist license covers hands only and never feet
b.Perform the pedicure, because California's manicurist license expressly authorizes care of nails and skin on BOTH hands and feet, including non-invasive callus filing, scrub, mask, and polish, with a hand- or foot-massage that does not extend beyond the elbow or knee
c.Perform the pedicure only with a doctor's supervision because feet are medical territory
d.Perform the pedicure plus a Brazilian-style leg wax extending above the knee, because a manicurist scope is the same as a cosmetologist scope

Explanation

California's manicurist license (Bus. & Prof. Code §7321) authorizes the manicurist to perform any practice 'in the cleaning, cutting, shaping, manicuring, pedicuring or beautifying of the fingernails or toenails' and the immediately surrounding skin, hands, feet, with a non-invasive hand or foot massage that does not extend beyond the elbow or knee. So pedicures are squarely IN scope. Credo blades and cutting living tissue are out of scope. Leg waxing above the knee crosses into esthetician/cosmetologist scope (option D). Option A misreads the statute. Option C invents physician supervision that the statute does not require for routine cosmetic foot care.

Law Reference: Bus. & Prof. Code §7321

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