Telehealth Compliance: District of Columbia
Everything you need to know about treating patients in District of Columbia via telehealth.
Last updated: 2026-05-06
Interstate Compact Coverage
District of Columbia is a member of 4 interstate compacts tracked by TeleVerify.
| Compact | Member? | Provider Types |
|---|
| Interstate Medical Licensure Compact | Yes | MD, DO |
| Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact | Yes | PsyD, PhD-Psychology, Psychologist, LP |
| Social Work Licensure Compact | No | LCSW, LICSW, LISW, LISW-CP, LISW-S, LMSW |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | No | RN, LPN, LVN, NP, FNP, PMHNP |
| Physical Therapy Licensure Compact | Yes | PT, DPT, MPT, PTA |
| Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact | No | OT, OTR, OTR/L, OTA, COTA |
| Counseling Compact | Yes | LPC, LMHC, LCPC, LPCC, LCMHC, LPCMH |
| Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact | No | AuD, SLP, CCC-SLP, CCC-A, CF-SLP |
| PA Licensure Compact | No | PA, PA-C |
| APRN Compact | No | APRN, NP, CRNA, CNM, CNS, DNP |
| Dietitians Licensure Compact | No | RD, RDN, LDN, LD |
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact — member. If you hold IMLC authority, you can practice telehealth with patients in District of Columbia without a separate state license.
Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact — member. If you hold PSYPACT authority, you can practice telehealth with patients in District of Columbia without a separate state license.
Social Work Licensure Compact — not a member. Providers relying on ASWB cannot use it to treat patients in District of Columbia. A direct District of Columbia license is required.
Nurse Licensure Compact — not a member. Providers relying on NLC cannot use it to treat patients in District of Columbia. A direct District of Columbia license is required.
Physical Therapy Licensure Compact — member. If you hold PT_COMPACT authority, you can practice telehealth with patients in District of Columbia without a separate state license.
Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact — not a member. Providers relying on OT_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in District of Columbia. A direct District of Columbia license is required.
Counseling Compact — member. If you hold COUNSELING_COMPACT authority, you can practice telehealth with patients in District of Columbia without a separate state license.
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact — not a member. Providers relying on AUDIOLOGY_SLP_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in District of Columbia. A direct District of Columbia license is required.
PA Licensure Compact — not a member. Providers relying on PA_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in District of Columbia. A direct District of Columbia license is required.
APRN Compact — not a member. Providers relying on APRN_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in District of Columbia. A direct District of Columbia license is required.
Dietitians Licensure Compact — not a member. Providers relying on DIETITIANS_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in District of Columbia. A direct District of Columbia license is required.
Apply for Compact Privileges in District of Columbia
District of Columbia participates in 4 interstate compacts. If you hold a qualifying license in another member state, you can start practicing in District of Columbia via compact privilege — often faster and cheaper than full state licensure.
Fee: Application fee varies by state (~$700-$1,000) · Timeline: Typically 2-4 weeks
Requirements: Must hold a full, unrestricted license in a member state. Board certified or within 5 years of residency completion.
Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact
PsyD, PhD-Psychology, Psychologist, LP
Fee: E.Passport fee ~$440 + state fees · Timeline: Typically 1-2 weeks
Requirements: Doctoral-level psychology degree, current ASPPB E.Passport, active license in a PSYPACT state, no disciplinary actions.
Physical Therapy Licensure Compact
PT, DPT, MPT, PTA
Fee: Compact privilege fee ~$75 per state · Timeline: Typically 1-3 business days
Requirements: Must hold an active, unencumbered PT or PTA license in a member state.
Counseling Compact
LPC, LMHC, LCPC, LPCC, etc.
Fee: Compact privilege fee varies by state (check compact website for current portal) · Timeline: Varies — compact in early implementation
Requirements: Must hold a professional counseling license in a member state.
How to Practice Telehealth in District of Columbia
Your path to practicing telehealth with District of Columbia patients depends on your license type. Here are the fastest routes to compliance:
| License Type | Fastest Path | Typical Timeline | Apply |
|---|
| MD, DO | Interstate Medical Licensure Compact compact privilege | Typically 2-4 weeks | Apply via Interstate Medical Licensure Compact → |
| PsyD, PhD-Psychology, Psychologist, LP | Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact compact privilege | Typically 1-2 weeks | Apply via Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact → |
| PT, DPT, MPT, PTA | Physical Therapy Licensure Compact compact privilege | Typically 1-3 business days | Apply via Physical Therapy Licensure Compact → |
| LPC, LMHC, LCPC, LPCC, etc. | Counseling Compact compact privilege | Varies — compact in early implementation | Apply via Counseling Compact → |
| All other provider types | Full DC state license | 4-12 weeks typical | District of Columbia Board of Medicine → |
* Timelines are estimates. Check the relevant board or compact for current processing times.
Direct Licensing Requirements
- Full state license required?
- Yes — a direct District of Columbia license is required for most provider types not covered by an interstate compact.
- Telehealth-specific permit available?
- No.
- Informed consent
- Required prior to providing telehealth services.
- State licensing board
- District of Columbia Board of Medicine
What Happens If You Practice Without Authorization
- Licensing board action
- Treating a patient in District of Columbia without proper authorization can result in a complaint to your licensing board — in your home state, District of Columbia, or both. Outcomes range from a warning letter to license suspension.
- Insurance claim denial
- Payers can deny or claw back reimbursement for sessions where the provider lacked authorization in the patient’s state at the time of service.
- Malpractice coverage gap
- Your malpractice policy may exclude coverage for care delivered in a state where you weren’t authorized to practice. If something goes wrong in that session, you could be uninsured.
How TeleVerify Helps
- Real-time compliance verification before each session
- Covers all interstate compacts plus direct state licensure
- Works with Zoom, Doxy.me, SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, and Jane App
- Auto-updates as compact membership and state rules change
Related States