Sunset-Fountain Hills
Telehealth and Temporary Practice

On This Page:

 

PSYPACT

"The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries."  Arizona is a PSYPACT member state under A.R.S. § 32-2087. The PSYPACT Commission is the governing body for PSYPACT.  The Commission authorizes licensed psychologists to provide psychological services via telepractice  (APIT) and/or temporary practice up to 30 days (TAP) into participating states.  For more information and to apply, please visit PSYPACT.    

 

Telehealth

  • Telehealth practice is a policy area experiencing rapid change, and anyone interested in practicing in this manner into Arizona should seek the counsel of an attorney. 

  • The terms Telehealth and Telepractice as used by the Board have similar statutory definitions:

    • A.R.S. § 32-2061(15) states: "'Telepractice' means providing psychological services through interactive audio, video or electronic communication that occurs between the psychologist and the patient or client, including any electronic communication for diagnostic, treatment or consultation purposes in a secure platform, and that meets the requirements of telehealth pursuant to section 36-3602.  Telepractice includes supervision."

    • A.R.S. § 36-3601(4) states:

      4. "Telehealth" means:

      (a) The interactive use of audio, video or other electronic media, including asynchronous store-and-forward technologies and remote patient monitoring technologies, for the practice of health care, assessment, diagnosis, consultation or treatment and the transfer of medical data.

      (b) Includes the use of an audio-only telephone encounter between the patient or client and health care provider if an audio-visual telehealth encounter is not reasonably available due to the patient's functional status, the patient's lack of technology or telecommunications infrastructure limits, as determined by the health care provider.

      (c) Does not include the use of a fax machine, instant messages, voice mail or email.

  • If you are an Arizona licensed psychologist or behavior analyst, it is your responsibility to know the laws under which you are authorized to practice. The language within the Board's chapters can be found on the Board's website under the Statutes and Rules tab, above. Title 36, Chapter 36 of the Arizona revised statutes prescribes other requirements. This may, or may not, constitute a complete list of requirements to practice via telehealth. Please seek the advice of an attorney. 

  • A Behavior Analyst or Psychologist license issued by this Board authorizes the licensee to provide the services of their profession to clients located within the borders of Arizona in person or via telehealth per the laws governing their professional practice under Title 32, Chapter 19.1 et al. and Title 36, Chapter 36 et al. (Telehealth Practices)

  • If inquiring whether you are able to provide psychological or behavior analytic services via telepractice into another state, please contact that jurisdiction's licensing board/entity as laws and regulations vary from state to state. 

     

Telehealth Registry

Out-of-state licensed psychologists or behavior analysts who are not licensed in Arizona and wish to provide healthcare services via telehealth to client(s) located in Arizona may wish to consider applying for the Telehealth Registry.  This registration is for telehealth only, and is not a license.   For more information regarding application for a full, independent Arizona license, see the Psychologist Applications page or the Behavior Analyst Applications page. 

If you hold an Arizona license, you do not need to be registered in the Telehealth Registry to practice via telehealth into Arizona.  An Arizona license authorizes the licensee to provide their professional services to clients located in Arizona in person or via telehealth, including supervision. 

  • Telehealth Registry approval does NOT authorize a behavior analyst to provide supervision services to a trainee (see A.R.S. § 32-2091.03). You must hold a full, independent license in Arizona to provide in person or remote supervision to a trainee located in Arizona. 
  • The Registry is authorized by A.R.S. § 36-3606.  
  • Visit the Registry Application page to apply.  The application fee is $600. 
  • The registration must be updated annually, and specific reporting is required under A.R.S. § 32-3606(A)(9). There is no cost to update the registration.
  • See A.R.S. § 36-3606 for requirements.  Please note, Board staff cannot provide an interpretation of statutory requirements.  Please do an internet search or consult an attorney regarding terminology in this statute. 

 

    License Exemption Statutes  


    PSYCHOLOGISTS
    • If you are licensed as a psychologist in another state or Canadian province and are inquiring about providing psychological services in or into Arizona for an Arizona client, please note, A.R.S. § 32-2075(A)(4) allows you to practice in or into Arizona for up to 20 days per calendar year.  You are responsible to maintain adequate records and will be expected to provide a copy to the Board in the event of a complaint. (The definition of "client" may be a person or an entity per A.R.S. § 32-2061(4).)
    • A.A.C. R4-26-101(B)(13) defines "day" in the above referenced statute as "eight [8] hours", allowing psychologists to tally hours and minutes up to 160 hours per calendar year, rather than days. Psychologists practicing under the exemption statute in or into Arizona should count both direct and indirect hours providing psychological services for an Arizona-based client in their tally of hours. 
    • The exemption statute is not limited to telepractice. It is also applicable to psychologists licensed in another state who are in Arizona to provide psychological services short-term. 
    • An out of state psychologist temporarily practicing in or into Arizona under the exemption statute is not required to report this to the Arizona Board.  There is no form to fill out. However, in the event of a complaint, adequate records may be required to be submitted to the Board. 

    BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS
    • If you are licensed in another state as a behavior analyst and are inquiring about providing behavior analytic services in or into Arizona for an Arizona client, please note A.R.S. § 32-2091.08 allows you to practice in or into Arizona for up to 20 days per calendar year. You are responsible to maintain adequate records including a detailed log of the number of patients the provider served in this state and the total number days and will be expected to provide a copy to the Board in the event of a complaint.  
    • Whether a behavior analyst licensed in another state provides behavior analytic services in or into Arizona for 1 hour a day or 8 hours a day, the tally is one calendar day. 
    • Please note, BCBA certification is NOT a license. It validates that you have the minimum knowledge and skills for your profession. It does not authorize the practice of behavior analysis in Arizona. If you are practicing behavior analysis in a state that does not offer licensure and you do not hold a license from a state licensing board, you do not meet the criteria for temporary practice in or into Arizona under this exemption statute. 
    • A supervisor must be licensed in Arizona to provide supervision, including remote supervision, of an unlicensed individual providing behavior analytic services in Arizona per A.R.S. § 32-2091.03(A)(2).  Therefore, the exemption statute does not authorize a behavior analyst to provide supervision services to a trainee in Arizona.
    • The exemption statute is not limited to telepractice. It is also applicable to behavior analysts licensed in another state who are in Arizona to provide behavior analytic services short-term. 
    • An out of state behavior analyst temporarily practicing in or into Arizona under the exemption statute is not required to report this to the Arizona Board. There is no form to fill out. However, in the event of a complaint, adequate records will be required to be submitted to the Board. 

     

    State of Emergency Temporary License

    On March 30, 2022, Governor Doug Ducey concluded the COVID-19 state of emergency.  Under A.R.S. § 32-3124(D), the temporary license is no longer valid upon issuance or denial of a full, independent Arizona license.  All active temporary licenses issued during the state of emergency expired on January 1, 2023.  The Board ceased accepting emergency temporary applications on October 1, 2022.  

    For a complete list of emergency temporary licenses issued, please download the directory, below.