Scope of practice: How the AAD fights for you
The Academy is addressing scope creep head on with a robust public education campaign, efforts to strengthen dermatology’s place in the house of medicine, and extensive federal, state, and grassroots advocacy activities. When it comes to scope of practice, the Academy has your back.
Educating the public
We work to ensure the public understands that board-certified dermatologists are the experts. That’s the goal of the Academy’s successful Your Dermatologist Knows consumer positioning strategy. How does it work?
We develop and disseminate public-focused content with one consistent message: No one understands your skin better than a board-certified dermatologist. Only a board-certified dermatologist has the training, knowledge, and experience necessary to treat skin, hair, and nail conditions.
We spread this message through paid social media placements, organic content created in collaboration with social media ambassadors and dedicated social media correspondents, and extensive media relations outreach.
These efforts have been massively successful. The target demographic overwhelmingly thinks of board-certified dermatologists first for skin, hair, and nail health.
Want to help spread the message? Follow @AADskin1 on Instagram and share our #yourdermatologistknows posts with your followers!
Educating your peers
It doesn’t stop with the public. Dermatology has a strong place in the house of medicine, and we use it to build coalitions to succeed on the scope of practice issue.
The Academy is a leader in the AMA House of Delegates, influencing the position of the overall house of medicine through the unified voice of the Dermatology Section Council. Dermatologists have achieved leadership roles at the AMA; Jack Resneck Jr., MD, FAAD, served as AMA President from 2022-2023, and in 2025 Marta Van Beek, MD, MPH, FAAD, was elected to the AMA Board of Trustees.
The Academy is a member of the AMA Scope of Practice Partnership, a group of 105 medical associations working together to fight non-physician scope expansions.
Advocacy activities
Fighting against scope creep and for truth in advertising are top AADA priorities at the state level, where most scope rules are made. The Academy has achieved some major scope of practice legislation wins in many states. We advocate:
For the ability of board-certified dermatologists to provide direct, on-site supervision to all non-dermatologist personnel.
For making the credentials of each member of the care team clear to patients.
Against scope expansions for physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other non-physicians that threaten patient safety by allowing them to practice independently and advertise as skin experts.
Want to get involved in the fight? Contact your local or state dermatology society and ask how they collaborate with the Academy in advocacy efforts.
Got a particular scope concern? You can share it with Academy staff.
