LegitScript Certification for Med Spas: Do You Need It to Run Google Ads?

What Is LegitScript?

LegitScript is a third-party compliance verification company that Google uses to check if healthcare advertisers are legitimate and compliant.

LegitScript reviews your business: your licenses, your website, your ad copy. If you pass, you get a certification. That certification tells Google "this business is legitimate and their ads are compliant." Google trusts LegitScript, so they approve ads faster and are less strict with certified businesses.

Cost: approximately $500–$700/year for most healthcare businesses (price varies by business type).

When LegitScript Is Required

Pharmaceutical Advertisers: REQUIRED. If you're advertising prescription drugs, you must have LegitScript certification or Google won't approve your ads.

Supplement Advertisers: Often REQUIRED, especially if making health claims.

Pharmacy Retailers: REQUIRED.

Most Med Spas: Optional. You can run Google Ads without it.

When You DON'T Need LegitScript (Most Med Spas)

If you're a med spa advertising cosmetic procedures (Botox, fillers, laser treatments, etc.), LegitScript is optional. You can run Google Ads without certification.

Google will review your ads manually. If your copy is compliant and your business looks legitimate, they approve. No LegitScript needed.

Should You Get LegitScript Anyway? The Pros and Cons

Pros of Getting Certified:

✓ Faster ad approvals (1–2 days vs 3–5 days)
✓ Lower rejection risk (Google trusts certified businesses)
✓ Ability to make slightly more aggressive claims (with caution)
✓ Peace of mind on compliance
✓ Competitive advantage if your competitors don't have it

Cons:

✗ Cost (~$500–$700/year)
✗ Application process takes 1–2 weeks
✗ Ongoing compliance burden (LegitScript audits you annually)
✗ If you lose certification, you can't run Google Ads until you regain it

The ROI of LegitScript for Med Spas

If you're spending $5,000+/month on Google Ads, LegitScript probably pays for itself through faster approvals and lower rejection risk.

Here's the math:

Without LegitScript:
Ads take 5 days to approve. In that 5 days, you miss 15% of potential patients (who search but see your competitor's ad instead). Over a month, that's 5–8 leads lost. At $100 CPL, that's $500–$800 lost per month. Over a year: $6,000–$9,600.

With LegitScript:
Ads are approved in 1–2 days. You don't miss that traffic. Plus, you have 15–20% fewer rejections. $700/year investment saves you $6,000–$9,600 in lost traffic. ROI: 8.5:1 to 13.7:1.

At smaller spend levels ($2,000–$3,000/month), the ROI is lower but still positive.

How to Apply for LegitScript

1. Go to legitscript.com
2. Click "Apply" or "Get Verified"
3. Fill out application (business info, licenses, ownership, website)
4. Pay application fee (~$400–$500)
5. LegitScript reviews (1–2 weeks)
6. Upon approval, pay annual fee (~$200–$300/year)
7. Display LegitScript badge on your website (Google may require this)

Red Flags That Might Block LegitScript Approval

LegitScript may reject your application if:

• No medical director or licensed aesthetician on staff
• Website has unsubstantiated medical claims
• Business is very new (under 1 year old)
• Poor Google reviews or negative online reputation
• Unlicensed practitioners performing procedures
• No clear business address or contact information
• History of regulatory violations

If you get rejected, you can reapply after fixing the issues. Most med spas get approved without problems.

My Recommendation

If you're spending $5,000+/month on Google Ads: Get LegitScript. The $700/year cost is worth the faster approvals and lower rejection risk.

If you're spending $2,000–$4,999/month: Optional. If ads are approving fine without it, save the cost. If you see frequent rejections, get certified.

If you're spending under $2,000/month: Skip it for now. The ROI isn't strong enough.

If you advertise medical procedures (not cosmetic): Seriously consider it for compliance peace of mind, even if not required.