Can I see a telehealth doctor licensed in another state?

Usually only if that doctor is also licensed in the state where you are sitting during the visit. For licensing purposes, a telehealth visit takes place where the patient is, not where the clinician is. A physician in Chicago can treat you by video while you are at home in Detroit only if they hold a Michigan license, and the same rule follows you when you travel.

Why the patient's location decides it

Each state licenses its own physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and each defines practicing medicine within its borders. State medical boards, and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), which represents them, have long taken the position that care delivered to a patient in a state is practice in that state, however it is delivered. A video call does not move the visit to the clinician's office.

That is why a legitimate telehealth practice asks where you are before every visit, not just at sign-up. It is not paperwork for its own sake. It determines whether the clinician is legally allowed to treat you at that moment.

Where you live matters less than where you are. A Michigan resident spending a week in Ohio is, for that week, a patient in Ohio. A California resident on a work trip to Illinois is a patient in Illinois. Your home address and your insurance card do not change that.

How multi-state practices handle it

Telehealth practices that serve several states generally do it by having clinicians licensed in each of those states. Aone, for example, serves patients located in Michigan, Illinois and California, which is why we ask where you are and why the clinician who sees you must hold a license in that state.

You are entitled to know your clinician's name, credentials and states of licensure, as we cover in your rights as a telehealth patient. Every state board publishes a free license lookup. In Michigan it is run through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, in Illinois through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and in California through the Medical Board of California for physicians. Checking takes about two minutes.

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) is an agreement among member states that gives qualifying physicians a faster route to licenses in other member states. A physician with a qualifying license in their home state applies once through the compact, and each additional member state then issues its own license.

Two points are often misunderstood:

• It is not a national license. The physician still ends up holding a separate license in each state, still pays each state's fees, and is still subject to each state's medical board.
• It covers physicians only. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants have their own licensing rules and their own compact efforts, which are at different stages.

Most states now participate. Illinois joined in 2015 and Michigan has also joined. California is not a member. Membership changes, so check the compact's participating states list at imlcc.com or ask the relevant state medical board for current status.

Other routes some states allow

A few states have created narrower options. Florida, for example, lets out-of-state clinicians register to provide telehealth to Florida patients without a full Florida license, subject to conditions. Some states have exceptions for consultations between physicians, for limited follow-up with existing patients, or for specific situations. These vary widely, are often narrow, and change. Do not assume one applies to you. Verify with the board in the state you will be in.

If you travel or split your year

This is where the location rule surprises people most. A patient treated by a Michigan-licensed clinician who spends the winter in Arizona or Florida generally cannot keep having video visits with that clinician from there, unless the clinician is licensed there too or a specific exception applies.

Practical options if you will be away:

• Schedule around the trip. Book follow-ups for before you leave and after you return.
• Ask for enough supply. Your clinician may be able to plan prescriptions so you are covered while away, where that is clinically appropriate and permitted.
• Ask about other licenses. Some clinicians are licensed in more states than the practice advertises.
• Plan a local option. For anything urgent while away, use a clinician licensed where you are. See telehealth, urgent care or the ER for how to choose.

College students face the same issue. A student from Illinois attending school in Indiana is, during the semester, a patient in Indiana.

Why you should not give a different location

It can be tempting to say you are at home when you are not, to keep a scheduled visit. Do not. The clinician's license, the emergency plan for the visit and sometimes the legality of a prescription all depend on your real location. If something goes wrong during the visit, the clinician needs to know where to send help. A practice that tells you not to worry about where you are is not protecting you.

Prescriptions across state lines

A prescription written by a clinician licensed in one state can often be filled at a pharmacy in another, but pharmacy rules are set state by state, and controlled substances carry extra restrictions. If you need a refill while traveling, call the pharmacy first. Our post on what to do if a pharmacy won't fill a telehealth prescription covers the usual problems, and controlled medications have additional federal rules covered in the 2026 controlled substances post.

Residency-based programs, such as medical cannabis

Medical cannabis adds a second layer. Michigan, Illinois and California each run their own program, and eligibility is tied to state residency as well as to the clinician's license. A certification for one state's program does not enroll you in another's. If you are moving or splitting time between states, check the program rules for each, starting with our Michigan page if that is your home state.

If you are not sure whether a practice can see you where you are, ask before you book. A clear answer to "which states are your clinicians licensed in?" is one of the easiest ways to judge a telehealth service.

Questions patients ask us

Does my telehealth doctor need a license in my state?

Generally, yes. State medical boards treat telehealth as practicing medicine in the state where the patient is physically located during the visit. So a clinician must hold a license in that state, unless a specific exception applies. Your home address and insurance do not change this. Where you are sitting at the time of the visit is what counts.

Can I keep my telehealth visits while I am on vacation in another state?

Only if your clinician is licensed in the state you are visiting, or that state has an exception that applies to you. Many do not. Schedule follow-ups for before and after the trip if you can, ask your clinician whether supply can be planned around it, and use a local clinician for anything urgent while away.

What is the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact?

The IMLC is an agreement among member states that gives qualifying physicians a faster way to obtain licenses in other member states. The physician still ends up with a separate license in each state and remains subject to each state's medical board. It does not create a national license, and it applies to physicians, not nurse practitioners or physician assistants.

Is California part of the medical licensure compact?

No. California is not a member of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, so physicians must obtain a California license through the Medical Board of California in the usual way. Membership in the compact changes over time, so check the participating states list at imlcc.com or contact the state's medical board for current status.

How do I check where my telehealth clinician is licensed?

Ask the practice for the clinician's full name and states of licensure, then use each state board's free online lookup. In Michigan that is through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, in Illinois through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and in California through the Medical Board of California for physicians. Lookups show license status and public discipline.

What if I live in one state and work in another?

The rule is the same: the visit takes place where you are when it happens. If you join a video visit from your office across the state line, the clinician needs to be licensed in that state. If your clinician is licensed only in your home state, take the visit from home.

Can I just say I am at home when I am traveling?

Please do not. Your clinician's legal ability to treat you, the emergency plan for the visit and sometimes the validity of a prescription all depend on your real location. If something goes wrong during the visit, the clinician needs to know where to send help. A practice that tells you location does not matter is not protecting you.

Can an out-of-state prescription be filled where I am traveling?

Often, but not always. Pharmacy rules are set state by state, and controlled substances face additional federal and state restrictions. Call the pharmacy before you go and ask whether they can fill a prescription from your prescriber. Bringing enough supply for the trip, where appropriate, avoids most problems.

Do college students need a clinician licensed where they attend school?

Yes, for visits taken while at school. A student from Illinois attending college in Indiana is, during the semester, a patient in Indiana for telehealth purposes. Students who want to keep a hometown clinician can schedule visits for school breaks, or look for a clinician licensed in both states.

Which states does Aone serve?

Aone serves patients located in Michigan, Illinois and California at the time of their visit. We ask where you are before each visit because the clinician who sees you must be licensed in that state. If you will be traveling during your treatment, tell us early so follow-ups can be planned around it.