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State rules · DC

District of Columbia: who may do what, and how to check a license

License lookups for the boards that cover spa and med spa treatments in District of Columbia, and what official sources say on five questions — each with its source and the date we checked.

7 official sources on 4 of 5 topics · 3 boards · 2 official lookup sites · checked Sep 14, 2026

These are research summaries of official sources, checked on the dates shown. They are not legal advice, rules change, and the linked source controls. City and other municipal rules, including a local business license or zoning, can also apply. This page is the state board only. Confirm with the board.

How to check a license in District of Columbia

Ask the person treating you for their license type and number, then search the board that issued it. A title like “injector” or “specialist” isn’t a license type, so a board lookup won’t list it.

Medical board

DC Board of Medicine (DC Health)

Official lookup (opens the board’s site)Board’s website

When we checked on Sep 14, 2026, we couldn’t fully confirm this lookup — a page blocked our check or didn’t fully load. It may work fine; the board’s own site is where to confirm.

Checked Sep 14, 2026

Nursing board

DC Board of Nursing (DC Health)

Official lookup (opens the board’s site)Board’s website

When we checked on Sep 14, 2026, we couldn’t fully confirm this lookup — a page blocked our check or didn’t fully load. It may work fine; the board’s own site is where to confirm.

Checked Sep 14, 2026

Cosmetology & esthetics board

District of Columbia Board of Barber and Cosmetology (Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection)

Official lookup (opens the board’s site)Board’s website

When we checked on Sep 14, 2026, we couldn’t fully confirm this lookup — a page blocked our check or didn’t fully load. It may work fine; the board’s own site is where to confirm.

Checked Sep 14, 2026

What to look for on the lookup

  • The name matches. The person treating you, spelled the way they gave it. Ask for any other name they’ve been licensed under.
  • The license type matches what you were told. RN and LPN are different licenses, as are physician and physician assistant, or esthetician and cosmetologist.
  • The status says active. Note words like expired, lapsed, inactive, suspended, restricted or probation — and what they apply to.
  • The expiration date hasn’t passed. Some lookups show it; some only show status. If neither is clear, the board can confirm.
  • Any public discipline or board orders. If the lookup lists actions, orders or conditions, open them and read what they say.

Every board’s lookup looks a little different. If something is unclear, contact the board.

Match a claimed credential to the right board in District of Columbia

What official sources say in District of Columbia

Where we found an official statement, you’ll see our plain summary, the source, how binding that kind of source is, and when we checked. Where we didn’t, you’ll see the question to ask the place instead.

These are research summaries of official sources, checked on the dates shown. They are not legal advice, rules change, and the linked source controls. City and other municipal rules, including a local business license or zoning, can also apply. This page is the state board only. Confirm with the board.

We found official statements on 4 of 5 topics. Not located yet: iv hydration and drips. Not located means we have nothing official to show you — it says nothing about what is allowed.

Who may inject Botox and fillers

Official source found

The DC Board of Medicine's aesthetic medicine policy classifies neuromodulators (botulinum toxins) and tissue fillers as Level III procedures, which it says are the practice of medicine and may be performed only by persons authorized to practice medicine. Facilities doing these procedures need a medical director physically present at least 50% of operating hours. The board says the policy is directive, not mandatory, until regulations are adopted.

Source: Board of Medicine Policy No. 15-02, Policy on the Practice of Aesthetic Medicine

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Nov 13, 2014Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “Who will inject me, what license do they hold, and which clinician examined me, ordered this and supervises them?”

Who may own a med spa

Official source found

The policy says Level II and III aesthetic procedures may be performed only as part of a medical practice, and its definition describes a medical spa as an entity owned by, or majority-held by, physicians licensed in DC (or a facility where aesthetic medical procedures are performed). The board states the policy is not mandatory until regulations are adopted.

Source: Board of Medicine Policy No. 15-02, Policy on the Practice of Aesthetic Medicine

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Nov 13, 2014Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “Who owns this practice, and who is its medical director?”

Who may operate lasers and IPL

Official source found

Under the same non-mandatory policy, non-ablative lasers for hair removal or skin treatment and intense pulsed light are Level II procedures, and ablative or vaporizing lasers are Level III; both levels are treated as the practice of medicine. A facility performing them should have a medical director, clinical director and site director (who may be the same person), with the site director or a qualified substitute present during all operating hours.

Source: Board of Medicine Policy No. 15-02, Policy on the Practice of Aesthetic Medicine

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Nov 13, 2014Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “Who operates the laser or IPL device, what license or certification do they hold, and who supervises them?”

IV hydration and drips

Not found yet

We haven’t found an official statement on this for District of Columbia yet.

That doesn’t tell you whether something is allowed or not — only that we have no official statement to show you.

Ask the place

“Who assesses me and orders what goes in the bag, and who places the IV — under which license?”

Check it with the board

“Who may order elective IV hydration or vitamin infusions, who may start and monitor the IV, and is a standing order allowed?”

Put this to the board, or search its rules and position statements for it. Its answer, with a date, is what settles it — not the place’s.

Who decides

Usually the nursing and medical boards; sometimes the pharmacy board.

On file for District of Columbia: DC Board of Medicine (DC Health), DC Board of Nursing (DC Health).

What estheticians may do

Official source found

DC's barber and cosmetology rules prohibit licensees from using exfoliating substances or devices that affect more than the top layer of the epidermis, and say such use is beyond the scope of practice of Board licensees.

Source: 17 DCMR 3729, Facial Procedures, Devices, and Equipment

Law or regulationPublished or effective Jan 1, 2010Checked Sep 14, 2026

DC's definitions list removing superfluous hair 'by means other than electrolysis, laser procedures, or intense pulsed light' as part of basic esthetics, and define master esthetics as including microdermabrasion, resurfacing and chemical peel.

Source: 17 DCMR 3799, Definitions (Chapter 37, Barber and Cosmetology)

Law or regulationPublished or effective May 22, 2026Checked Sep 14, 2026

The Board of Medicine's non-mandatory aesthetic policy treats Level I services, including superficial chemical peels of 20% concentration or less with a pH of 3.0 or higher, as not the practice of medicine and says they may be performed by estheticians or cosmetologists in salons.

Source: Board of Medicine Policy No. 15-02, Policy on the Practice of Aesthetic Medicine

Board guidance — may not be bindingPublished or effective Nov 13, 2014Checked Sep 14, 2026

Still ask the place: “What license does the person doing this hold, and does that license cover this treatment?”

Sources

The official documents above, once each. Rules change; the linked source controls, and the date is when we last opened it.

  1. Board of Medicine Policy No. 15-02, Policy on the Practice of Aesthetic MedicineBoard guidance — may not be binding · checked Sep 14, 2026
  2. Medicine Practice of Medicine Permitted In a Cosmetology SalonBoard guidance — may not be binding · checked Sep 14, 2026
  3. 17 DCMR 3729, Facial Procedures, Devices, and EquipmentLaw or regulation · checked Sep 14, 2026
  4. 17 DCMR 3799, Definitions (Chapter 37, Barber and Cosmetology)Law or regulation · checked Sep 14, 2026

Treatment guides

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