The District of Columbia requires that people who work in certain occupations and professions obtain a license to practice in order to ensure the public health, safety, and welfare will be reasonably well protected. This measure certifies that all licensees have acquired a certain level of knowledge in their chosen field. The District of Columbia grants permission to an individual to engage in an occupation after testing to ensure that the individual has attained the minimal degree of competency required in his or her field.

DCRA's Occupational and Professional Licensing Division (OPLD) supports the District's non-health occupational and professional boards, commissions and programs, enforcing regulations and licensing more than 125 occupational and professional licensing categories. The Boards, Commissions and programs are responsible for reviewing applications, administering examinations, responding to certification requests by other jurisdictions, and regulating the practices of individual professions

Occupations and Professional Licenses

Information, applications, and all other materials for each of the occupational and professional licenses are available below. These links will take you away from dcra.dc.gov to Pearson VUE which issues new licenses and processes renewals on behalf of DCRA.

• Certified Public Accountants
• Appraisers
• Architects
• Asbestos Workers
• Athlete Agents
• Barbers
• Boxers, Wrestlers, and Mixed Martial Artists
• Cosmetologists
• Electricians
• Elevator Maintenance (Contractors, Mechanics, Inspectors)
• Funeral Directors
• Interior Designers
• Land Surveyors
• Plumbers
• Professional Engineers
• Real Estate Agents and Property Managers
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics
• Steam Engineers
• Tour Guides
  

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