PSYPACT: How Psychologists Can Practice Across State Lines

Written by: Meghan Gilliland, LCSW, LICSW
Last updated: May 17, 2026
Sources used: PSYPACT, ASPPB, Council of State Governments, and HHS telehealth guidance.

PSYPACT is the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. It gives eligible psychologists a pathway to provide telepsychology across participating jurisdictions and to offer temporary in-person psychological services in participating jurisdictions where they are not separately licensed.

For telepsychology and online psychological services, PSYPACT matters because many clients move, travel, attend college out of state, split time between homes, or need continuity of care with a trusted psychologist.

The most important thing to know is this: PSYPACT is operational, but it is not a national psychology license. Psychologists need the appropriate PSYPACT authorization, must follow the rules of the receiving jurisdiction, and should verify current requirements before relying on PSYPACT for practice.

Current Status

Compact status

Operational

PSYPACT authorizations

APIT for telepsychology and TAP for temporary in-person practice

Applications

Open for eligible psychologists

Provider takeaway

Verify your home state, client location, authorization type, and receiving-state rules before practicing.

Current Status of PSYPACT

As of May 9, 2026, PSYPACT is operational. Eligible psychologists can apply for PSYPACT authorizations that allow telepsychology or temporary in-person practice across participating jurisdictions, as long as they meet compact requirements and follow the rules that apply to each service location.

PSYPACT authorizations are already being issued and can be verified through the official PSYPACT authorization directory. However, participation can change during legislative sessions, so psychologists should verify the current jurisdiction map before relying on any static state list.

Compact status

Operational

Telepsychology authorization

APIT, supported by an ASPPB E.Passport

Temporary practice authorization

TAP, supported by an ASPPB IPC

Participating jurisdictions

43 joined jurisdictions listed by CSG as of this page’s source review

Verification

Authorization status can be checked through the official PSYPACT directory.

Provider takeaway

PSYPACT applies only to eligible psychologists and only within defined compact rules.

Important: This page is for general educational and planning purposes. It is not legal advice. Before making practice decisions, verify current requirements with PSYPACT, ASPPB, your home-state licensing board, and the licensing board in the state or jurisdiction where your client is located.

What Is PSYPACT?

PSYPACT is the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. It is an interstate compact that allows eligible psychologists to practice telepsychology across participating jurisdictions and to provide temporary in-person, face-to-face psychological services in participating jurisdictions where they are not separately licensed.

In plain English, PSYPACT gives eligible psychologists a compact-based pathway to serve clients across participating jurisdictions without obtaining a full separate license in every participating jurisdiction for every covered service.

PSYPACT does not create a national psychology license. It also does not apply to counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, or other non-psychologist providers. Psychologists using PSYPACT still need the appropriate authorization and must follow the rules of the receiving or distant jurisdiction.

Who Does PSYPACT Apply To?

PSYPACT applies to eligible licensed psychologists. It is not a general therapist compact and does not apply to counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, or prescribers.

Licensed psychologists

Psychologists with a full, unrestricted license based on doctoral-level psychology education

Telepsychology pathway

E.Passport from ASPPB plus APIT from the PSYPACT Commission

Temporary in-person pathway

IPC from ASPPB plus TAP from the PSYPACT Commission

Providers may search for this topic using terms like PSYPACT, PSYPACT states, PSYPACT telepsychology, psychologist compact, APIT, E.Passport, IPC, TAP, or temporary authorization to practice.

The key point is that PSYPACT is a psychologist-specific pathway. A provider must meet eligibility requirements, obtain the appropriate ASPPB credential, receive the relevant PSYPACT authorization, and follow the laws and rules of the state or jurisdiction where the client is located or where temporary in-person services are provided.

Which Jurisdictions Participate in PSYPACT?

PSYPACT participation is listed by jurisdiction. Because the map can change during legislative sessions, psychologists should verify the current PSYPACT map or the Council of State Governments database before relying on a static list.

Current PSYPACT jurisdictions

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Maine

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

North Carolina

North Dakota

Northern Mariana Islands

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Jurisdiction status may change. The official PSYPACT map may distinguish enacted, effective, and active legislation. Verify the current map before relying on PSYPACT for practice decisions.

Important: A jurisdiction appearing on a PSYPACT list does not replace the need for proper authorization. Psychologists still need the appropriate PSYPACT authorization and must follow the rules of the receiving or distant jurisdiction.

Understanding PSYPACT’s Scope

PSYPACT can make interstate psychological practice more flexible for eligible psychologists, but it works within a defined set of rules. It is designed for telepsychology and temporary in-person practice across participating jurisdictions, not unlimited practice everywhere.

What PSYPACT allows

Provide telepsychology into participating jurisdictions with APIT
Provide temporary in-person services in participating jurisdictions with TAP
Support continuity of care when clients move or travel among participating jurisdictions
Use compact authorizations instead of separate licenses for covered PSYPACT practice
Verify authorization status through the official PSYPACT directory

What PSYPACT does not do

Create a national psychology license
Authorize practice in non-participating states or jurisdictions
Authorize permanent in-person practice in another jurisdiction
Allow telepsychology from outside the declared home state under APIT
Apply to counselors, social workers, MFTs, or supervised non-psychologist clinicians

PSYPACT Authorizations vs. Getting Licensed in Multiple States

PSYPACT is different from holding individual psychology licenses in multiple states. A full state license remains the broadest form of practice authority in that state.

PSYPACT authorizations are narrower. They can streamline certain cross-state psychological services, but they do not replace ordinary licensure for non-participating states, permanent in-person practice, or practice situations outside PSYPACT’s defined conditions.

Individual state licenses

Apply separately in each state or jurisdiction
Useful for non-PSYPACT jurisdictions
May be needed for permanent in-person practice
Often provide broader authority within that state
May involve separate renewals, fees, and continuing education rules

PSYPACT authorizations

Available only to eligible psychologists
Use APIT for telepsychology and TAP for temporary in-person practice
Require ASPPB credentials such as E.Passport or IPC
Depend on home-state and receiving-state requirements
Do not replace all individual state licenses

What Does PSYPACT Mean for Telepsychology?

PSYPACT is especially relevant to online therapy and telepsychology because many clients are not always in one fixed location. Clients may move, travel, attend college out of state, split time between seasonal homes, or need continuity of care from a psychologist with a specialized focus.

Important reminder

Online therapy is not automatically borderless. For telepsychology, the client’s physical location during the session matters, and PSYPACT also requires the psychologist to be physically located in their declared PSYPACT home state when providing telepsychology under APIT.

Under PSYPACT, the receiving state is the compact jurisdiction where the client or patient is physically located during telepsychology. The psychologist must comply with the laws, rules, and scope-of-practice requirements of that receiving jurisdiction.

If the client is in a non-participating state, or if the psychologist needs to provide telepsychology while physically located outside their declared home state, PSYPACT may not be enough. In those situations, an individual state license or another lawful authorization pathway may still be required.

What Clients Should Know

Clients may hear about PSYPACT and wonder whether it means any psychologist can now provide online therapy across state lines. The answer is no. PSYPACT applies only to eligible psychologists with the correct authorization, and it only works within participating jurisdictions.

If you are looking for a psychologist

Ask whether the psychologist is licensed, PSYPACT-authorized, or otherwise permitted to see clients where you will be located.

If you move or travel

Confirm whether care can continue when your physical location changes.

If you want to verify authorization

Use the official PSYPACT directory and state licensing boards to check current authorization or license status.

Basic Eligibility Considerations for Psychologists

Eligibility can be specific, and psychologists should verify details with PSYPACT, ASPPB, and their licensing boards. In general, PSYPACT is designed for psychologists with full, unrestricted licensure who meet compact-specific credential and authorization requirements.

License status matters

Psychologists generally need a full, unrestricted license to practice psychology based on doctoral-level education in at least one PSYPACT participating jurisdiction.

Home state matters

For telepsychology under APIT, the psychologist must declare a PSYPACT home state and be physically located in that home state while providing services.

E.Passport and APIT matter

To practice telepsychology under PSYPACT, psychologists need an E.Passport from ASPPB and an Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology from the PSYPACT Commission.

IPC and TAP matter

For temporary in-person practice, psychologists need an Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate from ASPPB and a Temporary Authorization to Practice from the PSYPACT Commission.

Education pathways matter

ASPPB has updated educational pathway rules for E.Passport and IPC eligibility. Experienced psychologists with nontraditional training histories should review current ASPPB guidance carefully.

Verify eligibility

Because eligibility questions can be specific, psychologists should verify directly with their licensing board and official compact resources before assuming they will qualify.

PSYPACT Authorizations, Fees, and Renewals

PSYPACT uses a layered authorization structure. For telepsychology, psychologists first obtain an E.Passport from ASPPB and then apply for APIT through the PSYPACT Commission. For temporary in-person practice, psychologists first obtain an IPC from ASPPB and then apply for TAP through the PSYPACT Commission.

Posted fee materials indicate that the E.Passport/APIT telepsychology pathway includes a $440 application payment, while the IPC/TAP temporary-practice pathway includes a $240 application payment. Posted annual renewals total $140 for E.Passport plus APIT and $90 for IPC plus TAP. Fees can change, so psychologists should verify current amounts through ASPPB and PSYPACT before applying.

E.Passport renewals require three hours of annual continuing education relevant to the psychologist’s use of technology in practice. PSYPACT authorizations also require annual renewal, and late renewal fees may apply.

What Psychologists Can Do Now

Whether PSYPACT is useful for your practice depends on your license, your home state, the client’s location, and whether you plan to provide telepsychology, temporary in-person services, or both.

Confirm whether your home state participates. Review the official PSYPACT map and confirm that your declared home state is a participating jurisdiction.
Choose the correct practice pathway. Use the telepsychology pathway for APIT and the temporary in-person pathway for TAP. Some psychologists may need one or both depending on their services.
Verify your eligibility before applying. Review your license status, education pathway, disciplinary history, home-state requirements, and ASPPB credential requirements before relying on PSYPACT.
Use precise marketing language. Do not describe PSYPACT as a national license. List where you are licensed and, when applicable, where you are authorized under PSYPACT.
Build visibility across authorized jurisdictions. PSYPACT can create a pathway to serve more clients, but it does not automatically create referrals. Clear profiles, accurate jurisdiction information, and trusted professional relationships still matter.

Already licensed or PSYPACT-authorized in more than one jurisdiction?

Make your licensed and authorized jurisdictions easier to find on Therapy Expanded. Connect with clients and referral partners who need psychologists available for cross-state care.

Frequently Asked Questions About PSYPACT

What is PSYPACT?

PSYPACT is the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. It allows eligible psychologists to apply for authorization to practice telepsychology across participating jurisdictions and to provide temporary in-person psychological services in participating jurisdictions where they are not separately licensed.

Is PSYPACT only for psychologists?

Yes. PSYPACT applies to eligible licensed psychologists. It does not apply to counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychiatric prescribers, or other non-psychologist providers.

What is APIT?

APIT stands for Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology. It is the PSYPACT Commission authorization that allows eligible psychologists to provide telepsychology across participating jurisdictions.

What is an E.Passport?

The E.Passport is a credential issued by ASPPB. It is a prerequisite for applying for APIT through the PSYPACT Commission.

What is TAP?

TAP stands for Temporary Authorization to Practice. It allows eligible psychologists to provide temporary in-person, face-to-face psychological services in participating jurisdictions under PSYPACT rules.

What is an IPC?

IPC stands for Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate. It is a credential issued by ASPPB and is a prerequisite for applying for TAP through the PSYPACT Commission.

Does my physical location matter when using PSYPACT for telepsychology?

Yes. When providing telepsychology under APIT, the psychologist generally must be physically located in their declared PSYPACT home state.

Does PSYPACT replace getting licensed in multiple states?

No. PSYPACT is a compact authorization pathway, not a national psychology license. Individual state licensure may still be needed for non-participating jurisdictions, permanent in-person practice, or practice situations outside PSYPACT’s rules.

How can clients verify a PSYPACT psychologist?

Clients can use the official PSYPACT authorization directory to check whether a psychologist has current PSYPACT authorization. They may also need to check state licensing boards because the PSYPACT directory is not a comprehensive list of all licensed psychologists.

How many temporary in-person practice days does PSYPACT allow?

Temporary in-person practice under TAP is limited to 30 total calendar days per year in a participating jurisdiction where the psychologist is not separately licensed. Any part of a day may count as a day.

Official PSYPACT Resources

Because PSYPACT rules, participating jurisdictions, fees, and eligibility details can change, psychologists should verify current information through official sources.

Official PSYPACT

Overview of PSYPACT and compact information

PSYPACT Map

Participating jurisdictions and legislative updates

CSG PSYPACT Database

Joined-jurisdiction tracking and compact overview

PSYPACT FAQ

General questions about PSYPACT authorizations

Telepsychology Under PSYPACT

APIT requirements and telepsychology application information

Temporary Practice Under PSYPACT

TAP requirements and temporary in-person practice information

HHS Telehealth Licensure

Federal guidance on cross-state practice

PSYPACT Authorization Directory

Verify current PSYPACT authorization status

ASPPB E.Passport requirements

E.Passport requirements for telepsychology under PSYPACT

ASPPB E.Passport FAQs

Application fees and E.Passport common questions

Plan for Multi-State Practice With Therapy Expanded

PSYPACT may make interstate practice easier for eligible psychologists, but authorization is only one part of building a sustainable online practice.

If you are licensed in more than one jurisdiction, authorized under PSYPACT, or preparing to expand your psychology practice across state lines, Therapy Expanded can help you make your licensed and authorized locations easier to find and build referral relationships with other providers navigating the same landscape.