California
Updated 10/16/2020
** While there is not a temporary practice provision for the masters level professions, under existing long-term rules or under emergency rules during COVID (as described in the September 2020 BBS newsletter "
Discussion of Temporary Law Waivers Due to COVID-19" a licensing waiver/temp practice provision wasn't included) it has been reported to Person Centered Tech by a provider licensed in another state that California BBS directed the provider to contact
EMSA. Through EMSA, the provider received authorization to work with existing clients located in California via teletherapy.
PREVIOUSLY: While the authorization request form (
REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY RECOGNITION OF OUT-OF-STATE MEDICAL PERSONNEL DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY) is for California medical facilities, telehealth agencies contracted with a California medical facility, or a staffing agency providing staffing to California medical facilities -- not individual providers -- and the
AUTHORIZATION POLICY AND PROCEDURE states "
The EMS Authority will only accept requests for out of state medical personnel approval from a California medical facility, telehealth agency contracted with a California medical facility or a staffing agency providing staffing to California medical facilities, that intends to utilize these resources" the EMS approved the provider's application. The provider reported: "the person that I spoke with from EMSA walked me through the process of what needs to be filled out on the form, recognizing that my situation doesn't fit the description on the form due to not having another template available since the current conditions are unprecedented. I believe that the key in my case was that I already had a therapeutic relationship with the client and was providing counseling services to them prior to COVID-19. The person from EMSA did state and reiterate that the approval will only be allowed until the state of emergency is lifted. I would have to keep that in mind and work with my client on finding a counselor within their area... Please know that I'm not guaranteeing that this will work for everyone but I wanted to share my experience in case there are others like me who want to provide continuity of care to their client with similar needs."
This information is provided for informational purposes only, in hopes that it may be helpful and that additional providers may be able to obtain the same approval through EMSA when communicating their particular circumstances.
These are links to any statewide declarations which impact mental health practice in the state — or if we could find no such declaration, it says so.
| Profession |
Temporary Practice or Reciprocal License? |
Special Requirements? |
| Counselors |
No |
N/A |
| Marriage & Family Therapists |
No |
N/A |
| Social Workers |
No |
N/A |
| Psychologists |
Yes | not a PSYPACT or pending PSYPACT state |
Yes |
This table shows what kind of temporary practice rules the state has for each profession. This reflects rules from before COVID-19. This table is about long-term rules and not emergency rules. See our course on cross-border practice for information on how this works.
Counselors
Board Statement on COVID-19
https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/updated_coronavirus_statement.pdf
If a specific profession’s board has put out a statement on the emergency, and we found it, we linked to it here.
Temporary Practice Permitted?
No
A repeat of information from the temporary practice rules table. This reflects rules from before COVID-19. This table is about long-term rules and not emergency rules. See our course on cross-border practice for information on how this works.
Special conditions/requirements?
N/A
A repeat of information from the temporary practice rules table. This reflects rules from before COVID-19. This table is about long-term rules and not emergency rules. See our course on cross-border practice for information on how this works.
Telemental Health Rules Source
https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/2016/1815_ooa.pdf
Where to find rules regarding telemental health for this profession — assuming we could find any. Otherwise, we sometimes use this field to link to rules about licensure requirements (so you can find where the state defines what the rules are for practice from out-of-state professionals).
Marriage & Family Therapists
Board Statement on COVID-19
https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/updated_coronavirus_statement.pdf
If a specific profession’s board has put out a statement on the emergency, and we found it, we linked to it here.
Temporary Practice Permitted?
No
A repeat of information from the temporary practice rules table. This reflects rules from before COVID-19. This table is about long-term rules and not emergency rules. See our course on cross-border practice for information on how this works.
Special conditions/requirements?
N/A
A repeat of information from the temporary practice rules table. This reflects rules from before COVID-19. This table is about long-term rules and not emergency rules. See our course on cross-border practice for information on how this works.
Telemental Health Rules Source
https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/2016/1815_ooa.pdf
Where to find rules regarding telemental health for this profession — assuming we could find any. Otherwise, we sometimes use this field to link to rules about licensure requirements (so you can find where the state defines what the rules are for practice from out-of-state professionals).
Social Workers
Board Statement on COVID-19
https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/updated_coronavirus_statement.pdf
If a specific profession’s board has put out a statement on the emergency, and we found it, we linked to it here.
Temporary Practice Permitted?
No
A repeat of information from the temporary practice rules table. This reflects rules from before COVID-19. This table is about long-term rules and not emergency rules. See our course on cross-border practice for information on how this works.
Special conditions/requirements?
N/A
A repeat of information from the temporary practice rules table. This reflects rules from before COVID-19. This table is about long-term rules and not emergency rules. See our course on cross-border practice for information on how this works.
Telemental Health Rules Source
https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/regulation/2016/1815_ooa.pdf
Where to find rules regarding telemental health for this profession — assuming we could find any. Otherwise, we sometimes use this field to link to rules about licensure requirements (so you can find where the state defines what the rules are for practice from out-of-state professionals).
Psychologists
Board Statement on COVID-19
If a specific profession’s board has put out a statement on the emergency, and we found it, we linked to it here.
Temporary Practice Permitted?
Yes
A repeat of information from the temporary practice rules table. This reflects rules from before COVID-19. This table is about long-term rules and not emergency rules. See our course on cross-border practice for information on how this works.
Special conditions/requirements?
No
A repeat of information from the temporary practice rules table. This reflects rules from before COVID-19. This table is about long-term rules and not emergency rules. See our course on cross-border practice for information on how this works.
Telemental Health Rules Source
https://www.psychology.ca.gov/
Where to find rules regarding telemental health for this profession — assuming we could find any. Otherwise, we sometimes use this field to link to rules about licensure requirements (so you can find where the state defines what the rules are for practice from out-of-state professionals).
