Telehealth Compliance: Hawaii

Everything you need to know about treating patients in Hawaii via telehealth.

Last updated: 2026-06-22

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1 Cross-State Licensing

Whether Hawaii requires a direct state license, and any alternative pathways.

Full state license required?
Yes — a direct Hawaii 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.

How to Practice Telehealth in Hawaii

Your path to practicing telehealth with Hawaii patients depends on your license type. Here are the fastest routes to compliance:

License TypeFastest PathTypical TimelineApply
MD, DOInterstate Medical Licensure CompactTypically 2-4 weeksApply →
All other provider typesFull HI state license4-12 weeks typicalApply →

* Timelines are estimates. Check the relevant board or compact for current processing times.

State registration program

Hawaii offers a registration pathway for out-of-state providers as an alternative to full state licensure.

Hawaii Telehealth Allowance
Allows telehealth from any US location, but controlled substance prescribing requires in-state presence.
Applies to
Non-prescribing providers
Type
Exemption
Requirements
  • US-based
  • No controlled substance prescribing from out of state
Official information & application →
State references
State licensing board

2 Licensure Compacts

Interstate compacts that may let you practice in Hawaii without a separate license.

Hawaii is a member of 1 interstate compacts tracked by TeleVerify.

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
MemberMD, DO

If you hold IMLC authority, you can practice telehealth with patients in Hawaii without a separate state license.

Learn more about the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact →

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact
Not a memberPsyD, PhD, PhD-Psychology, Psychologist, LP

Providers relying on PSYPACT cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact →

Social Work Licensure Compact
Not a memberLCSW, LICSW, LISW, LISW-CP, LISW-S, LMSW

Providers relying on ASWB cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the Social Work Licensure Compact →

Nurse Licensure Compact
Not a memberRN, LPN, LVN, NP, FNP, PMHNP

Providers relying on NLC cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the Nurse Licensure Compact →

Physical Therapy Licensure Compact
Not a memberPT, DPT, MPT, PTA

Providers relying on PT_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact →

Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact
Not a memberOT, OTR, OTR/L, OTA, COTA

Providers relying on OT_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact →

Counseling Compact
Not a memberLPC, LMHC, LCPC, LPCC, LCMHC, LPCMH

Providers relying on COUNSELING_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the Counseling Compact →

Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact
Not a memberAuD, SLP, CCC-SLP, CCC-A, CF-SLP

Providers relying on AUDIOLOGY_SLP_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact →

PA Licensure Compact
Not a memberPA, PA-C

Providers relying on PA_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the PA Licensure Compact →

APRN Compact
Not a memberAPRN, NP, CRNA, CNM, CNS, DNP

Providers relying on APRN_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the APRN Compact →

Dietitians Licensure Compact
Not a memberRD, RDN, LDN, LD

Providers relying on DIETITIANS_COMPACT cannot use it to treat patients in Hawaii. A direct Hawaii license is required.

Learn more about the Dietitians Licensure Compact →

Apply for compact privileges in Hawaii

Hawaii participates in 1 interstate compact. If you hold a qualifying license in another member state, you can start practicing in Hawaii via compact privilege — often faster and cheaper than full state licensure.

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
MD, DO
Apply Now →
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.

4 Online Prescribing

What providers can and cannot prescribe via telehealth, including DEA-restricted substances.

⚖️ Reference information — not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your compliance officer, state licensing board, or a telehealth attorney before relying on this for clinical or business decisions.
Hawaii Medical Board requires in-person evaluation for Schedule II prescribing via telehealth.
Controlled substances
Restricted
Schedule II
In Person Required
Schedule III–V
Allowed
Telehealth-first evaluation
Limited
In-person follow-up required
Conditional

5 Professional Board Standards

State-board-specific standard-of-care, recordkeeping, and technology requirements per credential.

⚖️ Reference information — not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your compliance officer, state licensing board, or a telehealth attorney before relying on this for clinical or business decisions.
MD / DO
Hawaii Medical Board applies in-person standard of care to telehealth practice.
Recordkeeping
7 years
Technology requirements
HIPAA-compliant platform with BAA required.
PsyD / PhD
Hawaii Board of Psychology applies in-person standard to telepsychology practice.
Recordkeeping
7 years
Technology requirements
HIPAA-compliant platform required.
LCSW / LMFT / LPCC
Hawaii licensure boards for clinical social work, counseling, and marriage and family therapy regulate telehealth practice.
Recordkeeping
7 years
Technology requirements
HIPAA-compliant platform required.

6 Modality + Privacy

HIPAA, BAA, audio-only acceptance, and session-recording rules.

⚖️ Reference information — not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your compliance officer, state licensing board, or a telehealth attorney before relying on this for clinical or business decisions.
Federal baseline: HIPAA-compliant platform with a signed Business Associate Agreement is required for telehealth. As of February 2026, CMS requires providers to re-verify patient location at every visit. Audio-only telehealth is broadly accepted under federal rules but some states impose stricter requirements (see Consent section for Hawaii-specific rules).

What Happens If You Practice Without Authorization

Licensing board action
Treating a patient in Hawaii without proper authorization can result in a complaint to your licensing board — in your home state, Hawaii, or both. Outcomes range from a warning letter to license suspension.
Insurance claim denial
Payers may deny or claw back reimbursement for sessions where the provider lacked authorization in the patient’s state at the time of service. A signed compliance record gives you a clear answer if a claim is reviewed.
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.

Know exactly when you can treat a Hawaii patient — in real time, every session.

Your license covers where you are. It doesn't cover where your patient is. TeleVerify verifies your provider-to-patient state match before every telehealth session and produces a cryptographically signed compliance record you can show an auditor, insurer, or state board.

  • Works with Zoom, Doxy.me, SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, Jane App — or any other telehealth platform (video or phone)
  • Tracks all interstate compacts and state-specific registration pathways — auto-updates when rules change
  • Signed, tamper-evident compliance record for every visit
Start free trial →14-day trial · No credit card required

Frequently asked: telehealth compliance in Hawaii

Can I practice telehealth in Hawaii without a Hawaii license?

In Hawaii, providers must hold a valid license in the state where the patient is physically located during the session. Holding a license in another state does not authorize you to treat patients located in Hawaii unless you qualify under an interstate compact or a state-specific telehealth registration pathway.

What interstate compacts does Hawaii participate in?

Hawaii is a member of the following interstate compacts: IMLC. Providers with valid privileges under these compacts can practice in Hawaii without obtaining a separate Hawaii license, subject to active enrollment and good standing.

What are the patient consent requirements for telehealth in Hawaii?

Hawaii requires informed consent prior to telehealth services. Two-party consent state for recording. Audio-only broadly accepted given the state's island geography.

Can I prescribe controlled substances via telehealth in Hawaii?

Hawaii Medical Board requires in-person evaluation for Schedule II prescribing via telehealth.

What are the professional board standards for telehealth in Hawaii?

For MD/DO: Hawaii Medical Board applies in-person standard of care to telehealth practice. For PsyD/PhD: Hawaii Board of Psychology applies in-person standard to telepsychology practice. For LCSW/LMFT/LPCC: Hawaii licensure boards for clinical social work, counseling, and marriage and family therapy regulate telehealth practice.

What technology and privacy requirements apply to telehealth sessions in Hawaii?

Telehealth sessions in Hawaii must use HIPAA-compliant video or audio platforms with a signed Business Associate Agreement. Patient location must be verified at the time of each session, since licensure compliance depends on it. Session recording and audio-only acceptability follow state-specific rules (Hawaii recording rule: two party consent).

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