Can a med spa in District of Columbia offer compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide?
Facility · part of The Practice Perimeter
Anticipatory compounding for later dispensing is inside the District's definition. Compounding - the preparation, mixing, assembling, packaging, or labeling of a drug or device as the result of a practitioner's prescription drug order or for the purpose of, or as an incident to, research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale or dispensing. Compounding also includes the preparation of drugs or devices in anticipation of prescription drug orders based on routine, regularly observed prescribing patterns.
22-B DCMR § 1999.1 (Pharmacies — Definitions: “Compounding”) · verified Sep 7, 2026 · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
The rest of what District of Columbia says on this
Every other rule we have verified under med-spa registration & licensing, each linked to its primary source.
No person shall practice, attempt to practice, or offer to practice a health occupation licensed, registered, certified, or regulated under this chapter in the District unless currently licensed, registered, or certified, or exempted from licensure, registration, or certification, under this chapter.
D.C. Code §3-1210.01 (Practicing without license, registration, or certification) · verified Sep 3, 2026
Person means an individual, corporation, trustee, receiver, guardian, representative, firm, partnership, society, school, or other entity.
D.C. Code §3-1201.01(11) (“Person” defined) · verified Sep 3, 2026
The examination, annual license fees and criminal background check fees for each class of license issued by the Department of Health shall be as follows: COSMETOLOGISTS: Application $65.00; License $110.00 (up to 2 years); Renewal $110.00 (up to 2 years); Renewal (Managers & Instructors) $155.00; Late Renewal Fee $50.00; Reinstated License $110.00 (up to 2 years). BARBERS: Application $65.00; License: (1) Barber $110.00 (up to 2 years) (2) Manager $110.00 (up to 2 years) (3) Instructor $110.00 (up to 2 years) (4) Owner $110.00 (up to 2 years).
17 DCMR § 3500.1 (Licensing Fees — Cosmetologists; Barbers) · verified Sep 7, 2026
No person shall operate a salon or shop anywhere in the District without first having obtained the appropriate Business licenses, registrations, and/or certificates. Each salon or shop owner shall apply for and obtain from the Board a salon or shop license that shall be issued without examination. A license shall be obtained for each place of business and the appropriate fee shall be paid for each license.
17 DCMR § 3716.1, .3, .5 (Barbershops and Cosmetology Salons) · verified Sep 7, 2026
Beauty and Grooming Services License to operate a salon or shop in the District shall be issued until the Director of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection has done the following: (a) Determined that the applicant has complied with all applicable laws and regulations enforced by the Department; (b) Verified that the proper barber, cosmetology, or specialty cosmetology professional license required by this chapter has been issued; and (c) Determined that the applicant has paid the applicable fees as established by the Director and has been issued the appropriate Certificate of Occupancy.
17 DCMR § 3716.2 (Barbershops and Cosmetology Salons — Beauty and Grooming Services License) · verified Sep 7, 2026
The following licenses or certificates of registration shall be issued to natural persons as required by the Barber and Cosmetology Board pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 47-2853.08: among them Esthetician, which shall authorize the holder to engage in the practice of esthetics; Master esthetician, which shall authorize the holder to engage in the practice of master esthetics; and Barber, Cosmetology, or Specialty Cosmetology Shop and Salon Owner;
17 DCMR § 3702.1 (Licenses Required) · verified Sep 7, 2026
A pharmacist shall direct and supervise the compounding, repackaging, or prepackaging of drugs and make the final verification of the prepackaged product and document the verification. A pharmacy shall keep a log of drugs that have been compounded, repackaged, or prepackaged under a pharmacist's supervision.
22-B DCMR § 1911.8-.9 (Packaging and Handling of Drugs and Medical Devices) · verified Sep 7, 2026
"Practice of pharmacy" means the interpretation and evaluation of prescription orders; the dispensing and labeling of drugs, devices, and biologicals; the compounding of drugs as authorized by federal and District law;
D.C. Code §3-1201.02(11)(A)(i) (“Practice of pharmacy” defined) · verified Sep 7, 2026
How other states answer this
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related District of Columbia questions
- Is an exam required before a patient can be treated in District of Columbia?
- Can the pre-treatment exam be done by telehealth in District of Columbia?
Get District of Columbia changes as they publish
We scan the District of Columbia legislature and licensing boards daily, plus the FDA and the Federal Register. Free weekly Brief — what changed, in plain language, with the source.
Free · unsubscribe in one click · we never sell your address
← All District of Columbia rules and changes · MedSpaRadar is regulatory monitoring and reference, not legal, medical, or compliance advice. Verify against the linked primary source and consult qualified counsel before acting — rules change and turn on your specific facts. Legislative data via LegiScan (CC BY 4.0).