District of Columbia Esthetician License Requirements

The District of Columbia licenses estheticians through the Board of Barber and Cosmetology, part of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). Basic estheticians complete 600 hours of school training, then pass a written exam and a practical exam.

1. Meet the basic qualifications. You must be at least 18 years old with an education equivalent to at least the 10th grade.
2. Complete 600 hours of training. Finish a Board-acceptable esthetics program covering infection control, anatomy, skin science, facials, hair removal, make-up, and DC scope-of-practice rules — or document 600 combined hours of training and experience while licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction.
3. Register for the written exam with ProV. Schedule online at provexam.com or by phone. The exam fee is $92, paid directly to ProV.
4. Pass the practical exam. After you pass the written exam, the Board's Exam Coordinator will send instructions to schedule your practical exam at Bennett Career Institute.
5. Apply and pay the license fee. Submit your application online with a passport-style photo and government ID. The total initial cost is $175 ($65 application fee plus $110 license fee).

DC requires 600 hours of instruction at a licensed school (or Board-recognized equivalent) under 17 DCMR § 3703.19. The curriculum must cover a combination of:

• Infection control
• Physiology and anatomy
• Skin histology, and skin diseases and disorders
• Hair and its growth cycle
• Basic chemistry and cosmetic ingredients
• Basic facials and facial massage
• Electricity and facial machines
• Methods of hair removal
• Make-up
• Advanced topics and treatments
• Scope of practice and regulatory rules

Applicants already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction may satisfy the requirement by documenting 600 combined hours of training and experience instead of repeating a DC program. Estheticians who want to advance to Master Esthetician must complete the basic esthetician training above, pass the basic esthetics exam, and complete an additional 600 hours of master-level training in advanced sciences and esthetics (or hold NCEA certification, which waives the master-level training and exam).

DC estheticians must pass both a written and a practical exam under 17 DCMR § 3707.

Written/Theory Exam

The theory exam is administered by ProV. Schedule online at provexam.com or call (801) 733-4455. The examination/re-examination fee is $92, paid directly to ProV when you schedule.

Practical Exam

Basic estheticians must also pass a practical exam (Master Estheticians, Managers, Owners, and Braiders are exempt). After passing the written exam, the Board's Exam Coordinator emails scheduling instructions for the practical, held at Bennett Career Institute, 700 Monroe Street NE, Washington, DC 20017.

Licensure by Endorsement

If you hold an active license in another state, you can apply for a DC license by endorsement, which waives the DC exam. You must upload a copy of your current out-of-state license and have that state's board send a Letter of Certification directly to the DC Board by mail or email — certifications submitted by the applicant are not accepted.

Cosmetology and cosmetology-specialty licenses, including Esthetician, expire on April 15 of every even-numbered year, regardless of when they were issued. The renewal window opens 90 days before expiration. Renew online through DLCP's license renewal portal using your license number. The standard renewal fee for operator-level licenses (including Esthetician) is $110; a late renewal adds a $50 fee, and licenses expired more than 60 days require full reinstatement for $210.

Continuing Education

Renewal requires 6 hours of continuing education: 2 hours in a health/safety/welfare course and 4 hours in general elective courses, from a Board-approved provider. This requirement is waived the first time you renew and for owner-license renewals. The Board accepts CE from its list of sponsored schools as well as courses approved by NIC, NABBA, or NCEA in other states.

Reinstatement

Licenses expired more than 60 days past the renewal date must be reinstated rather than renewed, at a combined cost of $210 ($155 reinstatement license fee plus a $50 reinstatement fee).

The District of Columbia defines the esthetics scope of practice in 17 DCMR § 3799 (Definitions). A licensed DC esthetician (operator) may perform the “practice of basic esthetics” — skin care procedures on the head, torso, face, neck, arms, hands, legs, feet, eyebrows, or eyelashes for cosmetic purposes only, not for treating medical, physical, or mental ailments, including:

• Skin treatments: Cleansing, stimulating, manipulating, exercising, and applying oils, antiseptics, clays, or masks
• Extractions: Manual extraction, including with a comedone extractor
• Chemical exfoliation
• Hair removal: Depilatories, waxing, tweezing, and removing superfluous hair by means other than electrolysis, laser, or intense pulsed light
• Facial devices: Other esthetic preparations or procedures using the hands, or a high-frequency or galvanic electrical apparatus, or a heat lamp

Basic estheticians may not perform peels, microdermabrasion, sanding, body wraps, hydrotherapy, advanced extraction with a lancet, or lymphatic massage — those fall under the “practice of master-level esthetics,” which requires a separate Master Esthetician license. Verify any practitioner through DLCP’s Occupational & Professional License Search.