Cross State Licensing

Registration for Out-of-State Mental or Behavioral Health Providers Seeking to Provide Services via Telehealth Prior to Licensure in Connecticut

Public Act 24-110, An Act Concerning Telehealth, allows certain mental or behavioral health providers currently licensed in another US state to provide mental or behavioral health care in Connecticut via telehealth while seeking a Connecticut license.

A provider seeking to practice in Connecticut via telehealth prior to licensure must:

• Be licensed in another US state, territory, or the District of Columbia in the profession for which the provider seeks a license in Connecticut;
• Register with the Department of Public Health as a “telehealth registrant’;
• Apply for a Connecticut license no later than 60 days after registering; and
• Complete the application process no later than 60 days after applying.

The registration and application process must be completed online.  The Department of Public Health must receive the provider’s telehealth registrant application prior to June 30, 2025.

See the CT Department of Public Health Telehealth Registrant Behavioral Health website for additional information and licensure categories eligible to provide mental or behavioral health care via telehealth while seeking a Connecticut license.

SOURCE: CT Department of Public Health Telehealth Registrant Behavioral Health. (Accessed Feb. 2025).

A telehealth provider includes, on or before June 30, 2025, an appropriately licensed, certified or registered physician, naturopath, registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, psychologist, marital and family therapist, clinical social worker, master social worker, alcohol and drug counselor, professional counselor, dietitian-nutritionist, nurse-midwife, behavior analyst, music therapist or art therapist, in another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia who:

• provides mental or behavioral health care through the use of telehealth within such person’s scope of practice and in accordance with the standard of care applicable to the profession
• maintains professional liability insurance, or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice, in an amount that is equal to or greater than that required for similarly licensed, certified or registered Connecticut mental or behavioral health care providers
• registers with the Department of Public Health, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, as a provider of mental or behavioral health care in the state through the use of telehealth prior to providing telehealth to a patient in the state, and
• submits an application to the Department of Public Health for a license, certificate or registration as a mental or behavioral health care provider pursuant to title 20 not later than sixty days after registering with the department pursuant to clause (iii) of this subparagraph and completes the application process for such license, certificate or registration not later than sixty days after submitting such application.

Subject to compliance with all applicable federal requirements, state licensing standards, state telehealth laws or any regulation adopted thereunder, a telehealth provider may provide telehealth services pursuant to the provisions of this section from any location to a patient in any location.

Any Connecticut entity, institution or health care provider, that engages or contracts with a telehealth provider who is licensed, certified or registered in another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia to provide health care or other health services, but who is not licensed, certified or registered by the Department of Public Health to provide such care or services, shall verify that the telehealth provider has registered with the Department of Public Health pursuant to subparagraph (B)(iii) of subdivision (12) of subsection (a) of this section. The department shall (1) verify the credentials of such telehealth provider in the state in which such provider is licensed, certified or registered, (2) ensure that such telehealth provider is in good standing in such state, and (3) confirm that such telehealth provider maintains professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice in an amount that is equal to or greater than that required for similarly licensed, certified or registered health care or other services health provider in the state.

The Commissioner of Public Health shall issue a decision on each application for a license, certificate or registration made by a health care provider pursuant to subparagraph (B)(iv) of subdivision (12) of subsection (a) of this section not later than forty-five days after the completion of the application process for such provider. Notwithstanding any provision of this section, a health care provider who is not licensed, certified or registered as a health care provider by the Department of Public Health pursuant to title 20 shall not provide mental or behavioral health care through telehealth in the state if such provider is on the list of excluded individuals or entities posted in the federal online database maintained by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The commissioner may prohibit a health care provider who is not licensed, certified or registered as a health care provider by the Department of Public Health pursuant to title 20 from registering with the department pursuant to subparagraph (B)(iii) of subdivision (12) of subsection (a) of this section or suspend or revoke a provider’s registration made pursuant to said subparagraph, if such provider does not meet any of the requirements set forth in this section or act in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of section 19a-14.

SOURCE: CT General Statute 19a, Sec. 906 as amended by HB 5198 (Public Act 24-110 – 2024 Session). (Accessed Feb. 2025).

The Department of Public Health may establish a process of accepting an applicant’s license from another state and may issue that applicant a license to practice medicine in the state without examination, if certain conditions are met.

SOURCE: CT General Statutes Chapter 370, 20-12. (Accessed Feb. 2025).