Over the last few weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases also known as coronavirus skyrocketed. It has spread to all 50 states with numbers growing by hundreds of new cases daily.
COVID-19 State Licensing Requirement Changes
Over the last few weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases also known as coronavirus skyrocketed. It has spread to all 50 states with numbers growing by hundreds of new cases daily.
Due to the increased demand, there is a big shortage of healthcare providers in nearly every state. With current licensing processes and requirements, it will be nearly impossible to license enough providers in a timely manner to cope with the virus.
States Started Issuing Temporary Emergency Licenses
However, in a state of emergency, a lot of individual states have started waiving and simplifying their licensing requirements and offer temporary 30-90 day medical licenses for Physicians, Physician Assistants as well as Nurses. Some states let you practice without applying for the emergency license if you have a license in good standing with another jurisdiction.
The situation is evolving rapidly and more states are expected to update their regulations to simplify the licensing process. As mentioned above, all emergency and temporary licenses will expire within 30-90 days. So if you are planning to practice telemedicine or move to another state in the future, it will be a good idea to apply for 2 licenses- emergency and a full license. Once these steps are complete, you can start practice immediately and by the time your emergency license expires, you will be issued a full license.
Our team has great expertise in navigating all state regulations as well as handling the entire process on your behalf. If you are looking to get licensed, just fill out the form below for a free 15-minute consultation. Below you can find the list of each states licensing regulations in response to COVID-19. We will continue to update it as soon as the situation changes.
COVID-19 State Licensing Requirement Changes
| State | Status | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | No changes to licensing requirements or renewals. | Telemedicine Guidelines |
| Alabama | The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission have adopted emergency administrative rules and procedures allowing for the emergency licensing of qualified medical personnel. These measures will allow physicians and physician assistants who possess full and unrestricted medical licenses from appropriate medical licensing agencies to apply for and receive temporary emergency licenses to practice in Alabama for the duration of the declared COVID-19 health emergency. | Temporary license requirements |
| Arkansas | In an effort to assist with the COVID-19 health crisis, the Arkansas State Medical Board voted to grant emergency temporary licenses to Arkansas medical residents who have completed at least one year of postgraduate training and have the written recommendation of their program director. |
|
| Arizona | Allows ADHS to waive licensing requirements to provide healthcare officials with assistance in delivering services during times of heightened demand.The Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, pursuant to the Declaration of Emergency issued by the Governor … may establish … a process for the temporary waiver of the professional licensure requirements necessary for the implementation of any measures … establish requirements for registering providers with out-of-state licenses who will be permitted to provide services in Arizona with out-of-state licenses. | State resources page |
| California | Any out-of-state personnel, including, but not limited to, medical personnel, entering California to assist in preparation for, responding to, mitigating the effects of, and recovering from COVID-19 shall be permitted to provide services in the same manner as prescribed in Government Code section 179.5. | Emergency declaration |
| Colorado | A physician or physician in training may temporarily practice without a Colorado license or physician training license under the following provisions of C.R.S. §12-240-107(3}: The physician is licensed and lawfully practicing medicine in another state or territory of the United States without restrictions or conditions; does not otherwise have an established or regularly used medical staff membership or clinical privileges in Colorado. A provider with an expired or lapsed license, registration, or certification may operate within a 60-day grace period without being subject to penalties or fines under C.R.S. §12-20-202(1}(e}. Note: Medical professionals must be aware of reimbursement and liability concerns beyond the date of license expiration. |
State resources page |
| Connecticut | Connecticut’s Department of Health has temporarily suspended requirements for licensure, certification or renewal. | Dept of health orderState resources page |
| District of Columbia | Washington D.C.’s Director of the Department of Health has waived requirements for healthcare providers who are properly licensed and in good standing in their home jurisdictions to provide healthcare services without a D.C. license. | Waiver of licensure requirementsEmergency declaration |
| Delaware | Out of state health care providers, including physicians, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physician assistants, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, practical nurses, professional nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and nursing assistants with an active license or certification in good standing in any United States jurisdiction are hereby authorized to provide healthcare services in Delaware. | State resources page |
| Florida | Out-of-state providers may provide care related to COVID-19 as long as they do so for the American Red Cross or the DOH for a period of 30 days, as executed by Florida’s State Surgeon General on March 16th, 2020. | Press releaseArticle |
| Georgia | The Georgia Composite Medical Board is authorized to grant temporary licenses to physicians who apply for a temporary medical license and are currently licensed as a physician in good standing by equivalent boards in another state to assist with the needs of this public health emergency | Emergency license applicationEmergency declaration |
| Hawaii | “Allow out-of-state physicians, osteopathic physicians, and physician assistants to practice in Hawaii without a license; provided that they have never had their license revoked or suspended and are hired by a state or county agency or facility, or by a hospital, including related clinics and rehabilitation hospitals, nursing home, hospice, pharmacy, or clinical laboratory.” | |
| Iowa | Providers can practice medicine/telemedicine in Iowa without an Iowa medical license on a temporary basis to aid in the COVID-19 emergency, if the provider holds at least one active medical license in another state and all medical licenses held by the provider are in good standing, without restrictions or conditions. | Emergency declaration |
| Idaho | During the public health state of emergency, MDs, DOs, and PAs holding a license in good standing from another state or country are permitted to treat patients in Idaho without an Idaho license. This is permitted until the Governor declares that the public health emergency is over. Out-of-state practitioners treating Idaho patients are encouraged to notify the Board of their intent to practice in Idaho. | Temporary license application |
| Illinois | The state is automatically extending licenses through the end of September. Pritzker issued a “call to action” for all former physicians, nurses, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, and respiratory care specialists who have recently left the field for retirement or another reason to “come back and join the fight.” … the state will waive fees and expedite new licensure for all such personnel. |
Emergency declarationReinstatement application |
| Indiana | Suspension of the requirement that a healthcare provider holds an Indiana license if he or she: (1) has an equivalent license from another State, and (2) is not suspended or barred from practice in that State or any State. | Emergency declarationLicense application |
| Kansas | Kansas’ Medical Board is offering an emergency temporary COVID-19 license application. | Emergency license application |
| Kentucky | Kentucky’s Medical Board is offering an emergency temporary COVID-19 license application. | |
| Louisiana | Louisiana’s Medical Board is offering an emergency temporary license. | Emergency license applicationEmergency declaration |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts’ Medical Board is offering an emergency temporary COVID-19 license application. | Emergency license application |
| Maryland | According to Maryland’s Executive Order, out-of-state providers with a valid, unexpired license may engage in the activities authorized under the license at a Maryland healthcare facility. | |
| Maine | In response to the challenges presented by the novel COVID-19 virus, the Governor has issued an Executive Order that allows the Board to expedite the licensure of certain healthcare providers who want to provide services related to COVID-19 during the period of the emergency. | License application |
| Michigan | No change related to licensing. | Emergency declaration |
| Minnesota | No change to licensing requirements or renewals. | |
| Missouri | No change to licensing requirements or renewals. | Emergency declaration |
| Mississippi | Out-of-state physicians are allowed to treat patients in Mississippi with whom they already have a pre-existing doctor-patient relationship. | |
| Montana | No change to licensing requirements or renewals. | Emergency declaration |
| North Carolina | North Carolina’s Medical Board is offering an emergency temporary license application. | Emergency license application |
| North Dakota | According to North Dakota’s Medical Board, out-of-state physicians need to register with North Dakota’s Department of Health and provide the location they intend to assist. | Emergency declaration |
| Nebraska | No changes to licensing requirements or renewals. | Emergency declaration |
| New Hampshire | Out-of-state providers entering New Hampshire to assist in providing COVID-19 related care are permitted to provide services in the same manner prescribed in RSA21-P:41 | Emergency declaration |
| New Jersey | New Jersey’s Medical Board is offering an emergency temporary license application. | Emergency license application |
| New Mexico | The Department of Health and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shall credential out-of-state professionals who can render aid and necessary services during the pendency of this order. NMSA 1978 §§ 12-10-10.1 through 12-10-13. | Emergency declaration |
| Nevada | No change to licensing requirements or renewals. | Emergency declaration |
| New York | Sections 6512 through 6516, and 6524 of the Education Law and Part 60 of Title 8 of the NYCRR, to the extent necessary to allow physicians licensed and in current good standing in any state in the United States to practice medicine in New York State without civil or criminal penalty related to lack of licensure; | |
| Ohio | No changes to licensing requirements or renewals. | Emergency declaration |
| Oklahoma | No changes related to licensing or renewals. Stitt’s order also waives part of Oklahoma state law requiring an existing doctor-patient relationship before telemedicine consultations can be conducted. | Emergency declaration |
| Oregon | Oregon’s Medical Board is offering an emergency temporary license application. | |
| Pennsylvania | A temporary Emergency license is offered. | Temporary license application |
| Rhode Island | No changes related to licensing or renewals in Declaration* *Rhode Island Director of Public Health “if someone has a medical license in good standing in another state, they can practice in RI after filling out a form. Doctors, RN’s, pharmacists, etc. No cost for this new 90-day license” | |
| South Carolina | South Carolina will issue “emergency” nursing and medical licenses to combat the COVID-19 pandemic … The state medical board can expedite temporary licensure for out-of-state physicians, physician assistants, and respiratory care practitioners within 24 hours. | Emergency license application |
| South Dakota | No changes related to licensing or renewals. | Emergency declaration |
| Tennessee | Tennessee’s Medical Board is offering an emergency temporary COVID-19 license application. | Emergency license application |
| Texas | Texas’s Medical Board is offering an emergency temporary visiting practitioner permit application. You must be under the supervision of the Physician who is licensed in Texas. | Emergency license application |
| Utah | No change to licensing requirements or renewals. | |
| Virginia | According to Virginia’s emergency declaration, out-of-state physicians in good standing can perform the work for which they are licensed at hospitals, licensed nursing facilities, and dialysis facilities in Virginia for public health and medical disaster response operations. Out-of-state practitioners must submit name, license type, state of license, and license identification number within a reasonable time to the assisted facility. | Emergency declaration |
| Vermont | No change to licensing requirements or renewals. | Emergency declaration |
| Washington | Washington is offering an emergency temporary volunteer license. | Emergency volunteer license application |
| Wisconsin | No change to licensing requirements or renewals. | Emergency declaration |
| West Virginia | No change to licensing requirements or renewals. | Emergency declaration |
| Wyoming | Wyoming’s Board of Medicine is offering an emergency temporary license application. | Emergency license application |
