Body Piercer / District of Columbia
2026 data District of Columbia board official source

District of Columbia Body Piercer License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Performs body piercing. Licensed in most states for health/safety.

What the District of Columbia data shows for Body Piercers

District of Columbia's path to body piercer licensure runs through 1,500 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a criminal history screening. District of Columbia folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

Upfront cost is $75 on a 2-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in District of Columbia, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

There's no published reciprocity list here - District of Columbia reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
53/100
Body Piercer · District of Columbia

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
1,500 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee B+
$75
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in District of Columbia

Education / Training Hours
Cosmetology School
1,500 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$75
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Body Piercer All District of Columbia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with District of Columbia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Body Piercer in District of Columbia? ▼
In District of Columbia, the license path calls for 1500 education/training hours, a passing exam score, and a $75 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Body Piercer in District of Columbia? ▼
Certification as a body piercer in District of Columbia means clearing the state's checklist: 1500 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The District of Columbia licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Body Piercer license to District of Columbia from another state? ▼
Out-of-state body piercer credentials get a case-by-case review in District of Columbia rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the District of Columbia licensing board.
Does District of Columbia require a background check for Body Piercer licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the body piercer licensing process in District of Columbia. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this body piercer license

Body Piercer in District of Columbia is one requirement row in a body piercer-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the District of Columbia licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.