ANSI Z136 Laser Safety Standards for Arizona Practitioners
Last updated: October 21, 2026 | By Rebecca Tafoya, Certified Laser Technician & Laser Safety Officer, Get Laser Certified
Short answer: ANSI Z136.3 is the American National Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care. Its current edition, ANSI Z136.3-2024, gives safety guidance for diagnostic, cosmetic, preventive, and therapeutic laser use wherever a health care laser system is used as a medical device, including salons and spas. It is a voluntary consensus standard, not an Arizona law. In Arizona, who may operate a cosmetic laser, how they are trained, and how they are supervised are set separately by state statute and Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) rules. Arizona practitioners need to understand both.
Key Takeaways
ANSI Z136.3-2024 is the health-care volume of the ANSI Z136 laser safety series and replaced the 2018 edition.
The standard addresses laser classification, Laser Safety Officer (LSO) duties, hazard analysis and the nominal hazard zone (NHZ), protective eyewear, controlled areas, signage, training, and non-beam hazards such as laser plume.
The Z136 standards are voluntary consensus standards. Arizona's legal requirements for laser technicians come from A.R.S. § 32-3233 and ADHS rules, not from the ANSI document itself.
Under A.R.S. § 32-3233, Arizona laser technicians must complete 40 hours of didactic training at a department-certified program plus supervised hands-on training, and must work under a qualified health professional's supervision.
Facility-specific obligations vary. Confirm current requirements for your facility with the ADHS Bureau of Special Licensing or a qualified compliance advisor.
What Are the ANSI Z136 Laser Safety Standards?
The ANSI Z136 laser safety standards are a series of American National Standards for the safe use of lasers. ANSI Z136.1 is the parent standard, and application-specific volumes build on it. ANSI Z136.3 is the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care, published by the Laser Institute of America. According to the ANSI Webstore listing for Z136.3-2024, it applies to any location where a health care laser system is used as a medical device, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, individual medical and dental offices, and non-medical locations such as salons and spas. The 2024 edition revised the 2018 edition and was harmonized with ANSI Z136.1, the general laser safety standard.
The standard itself uses "shall" for requirements and "should" for recommendations within its own framework. That language describes what the standard asks of a laser safety program; it does not by itself make the standard a state law. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration describes the Z136 series as voluntary consensus standards approved by ANSI, not OSHA regulations.
What Is the Difference Between ANSI Z136.1 and ANSI Z136.3?
ANSI Z136.1 is the parent standard for the safe use of lasers in general. It contains the core definitions, hazard classifications, measurements, and calculations. ANSI Z136.3 applies those principles to health care, where patients are intentionally exposed to laser energy and staff work close to the beam. For cosmetic laser practitioners, Z136.3 is the more directly relevant document, and LSOs often reference both.
What Does ANSI Z136.3 Cover?
Laser classification: The hazard class of a device is determined by the manufacturer's certification. Class 3B and Class 4 systems, which include most aesthetic lasers, require the strictest controls.
Laser Safety Officer: The employer designates an LSO with the authority and responsibility to evaluate and control laser hazards, including the authority to suspend, restrict, or terminate laser operation when hazards are not controlled.
Hazard analysis and the NHZ: The 2024 edition requires the LSO to conduct a laser hazard analysis for Class 3B and Class 4 lasers.
Eye protection: Laser protective eyewear must match the device's wavelength and be marked with optical density (OD) and wavelength. Patient eye protection is addressed separately.
Controlled areas and signage: Warning signs are posted at entries to the laser treatment controlled area while the laser is in use, and windows or entryways within the NHZ need appropriate barriers or filters.
Training: Personnel who use, or work in the presence of, Class 3B and Class 4 health care lasers receive documented laser safety training.
Non-beam hazards: The standard also addresses hazards such as laser-generated airborne contaminants (plume), electrical hazards, and fire.
The ANSI summary of the 2024 changes also notes that a third-party laser provider is not a replacement for an LSO or a facility's laser safety program.
Is ANSI Z136.3 Legally Required in Arizona?
Not as a standalone law. ANSI Z136.3 is safety guidance, while Arizona's legal framework for cosmetic laser use comes from state statute and ADHS rules. A.R.S. § 32-3233 sets the core requirements for laser technicians who perform cosmetic procedures:
Complete 40 hours of didactic training at a department-certified training program.
For hair removal, complete supervised hands-on training that includes 24 hours of in-room supervision.
For other cosmetic laser procedures, complete an additional 24 hours of supervised hands-on training covering at least 10 procedures for each procedure type.
Perform hair removal under the indirect supervision, and other cosmetic procedures under the direct supervision, of a health professional whose scope of practice permits that supervision.
The statute also requires lasers and IPL devices to be registered with the department. The ADHS Bureau of Special Licensing has certified and regulated Arizona laser technicians since August 3, 2018.
Because facility requirements can vary by registration type and device, and because rules change, confirm current obligations for your facility with the ADHS Bureau of Special Licensing or a qualified compliance advisor. Following ANSI Z136.3 is a strong safety practice; it is not a substitute for meeting Arizona's legal requirements.
What Is a Nominal Hazard Zone?
OSHA defines the nominal hazard zone as the space around a laser within which direct, reflected, or scattered radiation during normal operation exceeds the maximum permissible exposure (MPE). Anyone inside the NHZ while the laser is active needs appropriate protection.
The NHZ is device-specific. It depends on the laser's wavelength, output, beam characteristics, delivery system, and the treatment room, including reflective surfaces. There is no single distance that applies to every aesthetic laser. The LSO determines or reviews the NHZ using the manufacturer's specifications and the methods in the Z136 standards, then configures the controlled area to match.
How Do You Choose the Right Laser Safety Eyewear?
Laser safety eyewear must protect against the specific wavelength of the device in use. OSHA's health care guidance notes that all laser eyewear must be marked with optical density and wavelength. Eyewear rated for 755 nm, for example, may provide little or no protection at 1064 nm. Facilities that use multiple wavelengths need eyewear for each, clearly labeled and stored with the matching device.
Patients need protection too. The 2024 edition calls for approved, tested eyewear when treating the face and neck, and asks the LSO to verify that protective barrier windows suit the wavelength in use.
What Does a Laser Safety Officer Do?
The LSO is the person responsible for a facility's laser safety program. Typical duties include conducting hazard analyses, approving controlled-area setups and written procedures, selecting and verifying eyewear, overseeing staff training and documentation, and responding to incidents. For a closer look at the role, see what a Laser Safety Officer does in an Arizona med spa.
How Does Laser Certification Training Address ANSI Z136.3?
A quality Arizona laser training program should teach laser safety alongside the state's certification requirements. Get Laser Certified's training in Peoria covers laser classification, hazard zones, eyewear selection, controlled-area setup, and safe operating procedures in both classroom and supervised hands-on instruction. For the full picture of what Arizona requires before you treat clients, read the Arizona laser operator requirements guide.
Ready to train? View laser training programs and request current class information, or call (602) 726-5603.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ANSI Z136.3 compliance legally required in Arizona?
ANSI Z136.3 is a voluntary consensus standard, not an Arizona statute. Arizona's laser technician requirements come from A.R.S. § 32-3233 and ADHS rules. Many facilities use Z136.3 as the basis for their laser safety programs. Confirm your facility's specific obligations with the ADHS Bureau of Special Licensing or a qualified compliance advisor.
What is the current edition of ANSI Z136.3?
The current edition is ANSI Z136.3-2024, which revised the 2018 edition. Copies are available through the ANSI Webstore and the Laser Institute of America.
What is the difference between ANSI Z136.1 and ANSI Z136.3?
Z136.1 is the general laser safety standard with the core definitions, classifications, and calculations. Z136.3 applies those principles to health care settings, including cosmetic and aesthetic laser treatments.
Does every Arizona laser technician need to know ANSI Z136.3?
The LSO leads the facility's laser safety program, but every technician who operates a Class 3B or Class 4 device should understand eyewear selection, controlled-area rules, hazard zones, and the facility's written procedures.
This article is for educational purposes and is not legal advice.
About the Author: Rebecca Tafoya is a Certified Laser Technician and Laser Safety Officer at Get Laser Certified in Peoria, AZ. She teaches laser safety, ANSI Z136 principles, and clinical protocols across the certification program.
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