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State
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Type of Emergency Action
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Description
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| Alabama |
Executive Action/Regulatory Action; Executive Action |
The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners adopted emergency rules to allow for temporary emergency licenses for physicians, physicians assistants and anesthesiologist assistants in the state. The emergency license does not require a fee, is required to be issued within 48 hours and will expire once the Governor-declared state of emergency in the state is over. Alabama's governor issued an update to the state of emergency declaration on May 8, allowing many different types of health providers who are licensed in other states to practice in Alabama as long as their license is roughly equivalent.
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| Alaska |
Legislative Action; Regulatory Action; Regulatory Action |
Alaska's Legislature passed legislation that will take a number of steps related to the state's COVID-19 response, including allowing the state's Division of Professional Licensing the ability to expedite the process of issuing licenses to out-of-state applicants. The legislation is awaiting a signature from the governor. The state Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing issued guidance expanding and easing licensing requirements for telehealth occupations. Finally, the University of Alaska has expedited graduation of nursing students in bachelor and associate programs to allow them to get to work more quickly. The state Board of Nursing has granted these students temporary licenses allowing them to practice for now and take the required licensing exam in the future. |
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Arizona
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Executive Action; Executive Action; Legislative Action
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Allows the Arizona Department of Health and Safety to waive licensing requirements to provide health care officials with assistance in delivering services during times of heightened demand. Another executive action coming out of Arizona directs state agencies and boards to defer requirements to renew a license that has an expiration date between March 1 and Sept. 1, 2020, and will defer requirements to complete continuing education by six months, unless those requirements can be completed online. Legislation was introduced in Arizona on May 19 that would limit the liability of businesses and other institutions if they are sued by an individual who contracted COVID-19 on their premises. The legislation would prevent state licensing bodies from revoking business and/or occupational licenses as a disciplinary action.
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| Arkansas |
Executive Action/Regulatory Action |
The Arkansas State Medical Board is expediting the licensing of health care workers under orders from the state's governor. The Arkansas Department of Health and state Medical Boards are also issuing temporary emergency licenses to medical residents and nursing students and waiving initial licensing fees. |
| California |
Executive Action |
Retired doctors and nurses, as well as medical and nursing students, will be temporarily eligible to practice in the state. An executive order is also temporarily expanding scope of practice for students and nurse practitioners to allow them to provide a broader scope of care to patients in response to COVID-19. |
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Colorado
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Executive Action;Executive Action/Regulatory Action; Regulatory Action
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Colorado's governor is asking for former health care professionals to "reconnect" with past employers to create a reserve bank of workers. Colorado is also taking executive action to allow pharmacists, nurses and doctors licensed in other states to be able to immediately practice in the state through a reciprocal licensing push led by the state’s main licensing authority, the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). DORA has also created an online tool for specific professions regulated by the state allowing licensees and the public to access information regarding emergency licensing orders and guidance for dental professionals, physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other health and non-health professions.
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Connecticut
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Regulatory Action; Regulatory Action;
Executive Action; Executive Action
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The State Department of Health has issued an order temporarily suspending the requirement for licensure, certification or registration for a number of health practitioners. The order lasts for 60 consecutive days and applies to a variety of health professionals such as EMTs, physicians, nurses and respiratory care practitioners. The State Department of Health has also issued an order to suspend licensure renewal requirements for six months after the governor-declared state of emergency expires.
Authorizes the commissioner of Early Childhood to waive certain licensing and other requirements to maintain and increase the availability of child care. Waives certain occupational regulations for pharmacists and face-to-face interview requirements. The governor has also issued an executive order extending temporary permits for certain health care providers and waiving fees. The temporary licenses allow for marital and family therapy associates, professional counselor associates and certain healthcare license applicants and graduates to practice before receiving their state license.
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| Delaware |
Executive Action |
Two emergency orders issued by the state allow for broad powers to temporarily change licensure for health care workers involved in the response to COVID-19 in the following ways: 1) to allow in-state health care providers retired for less than five years to practice, 2) to allow individuals licensed in other states to practice in Delaware, 3) to allow some nursing and medical students to practice without a license and 4) providers involved in COVID-19-related efforts will be considered public employees in order to be protected from liability so long as they are not grossly negligent. |
| District of Columbia |
Executive/Regulatory Action |
The Disctrict of Columbia has waived all licensure requirements for any health practicioners licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction. Licensure, registration or certification requirements, permits and fees are waived for all licensees under a temporary licensure process until the end of the period of public health emergency. |
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Florida
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Executive Action; Regulatory Action
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Florida’s governor issued an executive order allowing medical professionals, social workers and counselors licensed in other states to practice in Florida immediately during this emergency with the condition that their services be rendered free of charge. The state Department of Health has taken some additional actions, including changing in-person licensing requirements for some health professionals to allow them to substitute for remote learning and simulations, expanding the ability for out-of-state licensed professionals to practice telehealth in Florida, and expanding scope of practice for EMTs.
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Georgia
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Executive Action; Executive Action
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Georgia’s governor issued a declaration on March 14 to allow some nurses from other states to get temporary licenses to practice in the state. Then on March 17, the governor acted again to extend the deadline for 3,396 EMTs whose licenses would expire on March 31, 2020, to June 30, 2020.
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| Hawaii |
Executive Action |
An executive order issued by the governor allows health care professionals to engage in telehealth without an in-person consultation or a prior existing physician-patient relationship. The order also enables out-of-state physicians, osteopathic physicians and physician assistants with a current and active license, or those who were previously licensed but who are no longer current and active, to engage in telehealth in Hawaii without a license. |
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Idaho
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Executive Action
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State licensing entities are authorized to temporarily exercise enforcement discretion, implement temporary rules, and waive licensing and related requirements to maximize access to health care services and provide support in response to COVID-19.
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| Illinois |
Executive Action |
Under direction from the state's governor, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is allowing health care workers with expired licenses to temporarily restore them to join the state's health care workforce in response to COVID-19. Doctors and physician assistants who have inactive or expired licenses for less than three years can return to work without paying any licensing fees or updating their continuing education requirements. Nurses and respiratory therapists can do the same as long as they have an inactive or expired license of fewer than five years. |
| Indiana |
Executive Action; Regulatory Action |
Governor Eric Holcomb issued new executive orders aimed at responding to the coronavirus, including one that will extend the renewal deadline for all state occupational licenses by 60 days and prohibiting law enforcement from writing citations for expired licenses during that grace period. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency has created a registry for those who do not hold a valid in-state license but can be mobilized to help fight COVID-19. Out-of-state health care practitioners, retired health care professionals, and recent graduates of accredited medical, registered nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant and respiratory care programs may use the registry and work for 90 days (extendable in 30-day increments) or until the public health emergency is over. |
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Iowa
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Executive Action; Executive Action; Executive Action
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With the issuance of a state public health emergency, parts of Iowa’s Disaster Emergency Plan have been enacted to allow the state to implement a number of public health measures. This includes allowing a variety of medical practitioners to volunteer their skills and services even if their license is inactive or has lapsed. On March 22, the governor issued an additional proclamation allowing licensing boards to grant emergency licenses to applicants even if they do not yet have an initial license if the board determines they have completed sufficient education requirements. This applies to a number of health care professionals, including respiratory therapists, physicians, physician assistants and nurses. Iowa is also allowing for temporary teacher licensure, granting applicants a one-year temporary license if they are unable to complete the requirements for initial licensure due to COVID-19.
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| Kansas |
Executive/Regulatory Action; Executive Action |
The Kansas Board of Healing Arts is issuing temporary emergency licenses to health providers which will allow them to temporarily engage in the practice of their profession related to COVID-19 response efforts. Kansas' governor issued an executive order extending professional and occupational licenses in the state for the duration of the pandemic, waiving late fees and expiration fees as well as extending the deadline for completion of continuing education requirements. |
| Kentucky |
Legislative Action |
The Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation at the end of March 2020 to deal with the state's response to COVID-19. The legislation, among other things, allows the state medical and nursing boards to waive licensure requirements for out-of-state health practitioners and opens up scope of practice for medical students, allowing them to provide more health care services than they would under normal circumstances. The bill also temporarily allows doctors who practice in one medical field to switch over and assist in another if necessary. |
| Louisiana |
Executive Action/Regulatory Action |
Louisiana's governor issued an executive order to give state agencies and licensing boards the authority to adopt temporary rules in order to respond to COVID-19. To get more providers into the field, the state is currently expediting graduation for medical, nursing and other students, expediting licenses for health professionals licensed in other states and asking retired medical professionals to return to practice to help support the state's healthcare systems. Additionally, specifically for nurses, the State Board of Nursing is extending and/or reinstating expired temporary permits for RN applicants and allowing advance practice registered nurses (APRNs) to extend their practice to new sites not previously reported to the board during the public health emergency. |
| Maine |
Legislative Action |
Before adjourning, the legislature passed omnibus coronavirus legislation, significantly expanding the powers of the governor during a public health crisis. One aspect of the bill allows the governor to modify or suspend requirements for occupational licenses if those requirements would hinder an effective emergency response. |
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Maryland
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Executive Action
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Allows health care practitioners licensed in another state to immediately practice in a Maryland health care facility (including hospitals) and extends any licenses that are due to expire during the current state of emergency to be extended until at least the 30th day after the state of emergency is lifted.
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Massachusetts
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Executive Action;Regulatory Action
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Governor Charlie Baker announced nurses and other medical professionals who are licensed in any other state can now be licensed in Massachusetts within a day. Retired physicians will also be allowed to reactivate their license. Beginning on April 5, the State Medical Board will accept applications for emergency temporary 90-day licenses. To qualify, a physician must currently hold an active Massachusetts limited license in good standing and must have completed postgraduate training as outlined in the applicant qualification requirements section of the application.
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| Michigan |
Executive Action |
Michigan is currently pursuing a number of licensing strategies in response to COVID-19, including waiving continuing education requirements for current licensees, expanding scope of practice for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and RNs to allow them to provide more care than they may under typical circumstances, and allowing students who are enrolled in programs to become licensed, registered or certified health professionals to volunteer to work to support the state's COVID-19 response. |
| Minnesota |
Executive Action |
Minnesota's governor issued an executive order temporarily relaxing a number of mandatory licensing requirements in order to help the state respond to COVID-19. This includes pushing back upcoming expiration deadlines and renewal deadlines for health care provider licenses. The State Board of Nursing is also allowing nurses to seek temporary permits to practice without a license for the duration of the declared state of emergency. |
| Mississippi |
Executive Action/Regulatory Action |
Out-of-state physicians may use telemedicine when treating patients in Mississippi without securing a license to practice medicine in the state, provided the out-of-state physician holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state in which he or she practices and is not subject to a disciplinary proceeding. |
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Missouri
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Legislative Action
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HB 2046 would allow individuals licensed in certain trades who move to Missouri to be eligible for state license reciprocity. The individual would need to have had his or her out-of-state license for at least a year and be in good standing. This legislation is still pending.
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| Montana |
Executive Action |
Under an executive order issued by Governor Steve Bullock, health professionals who are licensed in another state can register in Montana to work during the duration of the state's emergency declaration. There are no licensing fees for the emergency registration and providers can begin practicing immediately. |
| Nebraska |
Executive Action |
The governor's Additional Healthcare Workforce Capacity executive order temporarily allows anyone licensed and in good standing in another state across a variety of health care professions to be allowed to immediately practice in the state. The order also allows formerly licensed individuals to renew their license after it has expired without having to provide documentation of continuing education, defers license renewal fees, and opens up scope of practice for a number of health professions, including registered nurses, physical therapists and emergency medical technicians. |
| Nevada |
Executive Action; Executive Action |
All licenses and permits issued by the state that expire or are set to expire during the declared state of emergency will have their expiration dates extended to 90 days past the date the state of emergency is terminated. Nevada's governor has also issued an executive order authorizing licensing entities in the state to waive licensing requirements for medical professionals who have received training in another country, but who are not currently licensed in the U.S. Their credentials would still need to be verified. |
| New Hampshire |
Executive Action;
Executive Action
|
Under the governor's declaration of emergency directive, any out-of-state health care practitioners may practice in New Hampshire to assist with the state's response to COVID-19, provided they are licensed and in good standing in their home state. With this order, the governor also granted the commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services broad authority to waive any of the licensing or credentialing requirements for the occupations regulated by the department to improve access to treatment and protect public health and safety. The Governor also issued n executive order which grants licensed pharmacists the authority to administer COVID-19 tests. |
| New Jersey |
Executive Action;
Regulatory Action
|
New Jersey's governor has issued an executive order addressing the licensing of health care workers in the state in response to COVID-19. The order takes a number of actions, including allowing for temporary reactivation of licenses of recently retired health care professionals and granting temporary licenses to doctors licensed in foreign countries.
Recently, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs announced an extension of temporary licenses through February 28, 2021
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| New Mexico |
Executive Action |
In response to COVID-19, New Mexico's Regulation and Licensing Department Boards & Commissions Division has suspended the requirements for proof of continuing education for those who have licensure expiration dates through June 31 of this year. |
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New York
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Executive Action; Executive Action;
Legislative Action;
Regulatory Action
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New York is asking former doctors and nurses to “reconnect” with their past employers, in order to create a reserve workforce of health care professionals. The state’s Department of Health has also been asked to accelerate the processing of license renewals in order to expedite the process. New York is also allowing people who are not licensed in the state as clinical laboratory technicians, but who "meet the federal requirements for high complexity testing," to be allowed to perform COVID-19 tests. Physicians who are licensed anywhere else in the country will now be eligible to practice in New York; the same goes for nurse practitioners, physicians assistants and nurses. Finally, individuals who are not currently registered as nurses but who meet certain requirements can engage in certain tasks for which one currently must be licensed.
The Governor signed into law Chapter 182 of the Laws of 2020. The new law will allow for continued extension of licensing provisions for healthcare professionals through September 21, 2021. The law also grants the State Education Department the authority to extend limited permits for physicians for another 24 months, effective September 21, 2020.
For professions with continuing education requirements to maintain state licenses, New York will allow all contuining education requirements to be completed as "self-study" through May 1, 2021
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| North Carolina |
Executive/Regulatory Action; Executive Action |
The North Carolina Medical Board typically requires a background check as part of the licensure process. Due to COVID-19, certain agencies and organizations that perform services in association with background checks, including the preparation of fingerprint cards, have temporarily ceased operations. As a result, the board has temporarily suspended the background check requirement for licensure meaning applicants will not need to have a background check at this time to be issued a North Carolina medical license. Additionally, the governor has issued an executive order temporarily waiving licensing requirements for health care and behavioral health care personnel who are licensed in another state to provide services within North Carolina. |
| North Dakota |
Executive Action |
The governor of North Dakota has issued an executive order temporarily suspending certain licensing requirements in state statute to allow individuals with inactive or lapsed licenses to return to work during the state's COVID-19 response. This executive order applies to a variety of health care and behavioral health providers. The order also temporarily suspends the requirements for respiratory care therapists and respiratory care practitioners in the state, directing the state Board of Respiratory Care to grant temporary provisional licenses to applicants. |
| Ohio |
Regulatory Action |
Ohio law allows nurses to practice in the state during a declared emergency without an Ohio license, including the deployment of licensed nurses from other states. In addition, the state Board of Nursing is expediting the issuance of temporary permits, in three business days or less, for applicants. |
| Oklahoma |
Executive Action; Regulatory Action;
Executive Action
|
On April 6, the governor of Oklahoma approved an emergency rule that provides for temporary emergency waivers for the employment of nurse aide trainees in employer-based nurse aide training programs. The rule is intended to improve the state's ability to respond to COVID-19 by bolstering the number of workers who can serve as nurses aides. The Oklahoma Medical Board is also allowing temporary licensure for eligible providers, including doctors, physician assistants, anesthesiologist assistants, physical therapists and occupational therapists who are licensed and in good standing in any other state.
The Governor issued an emergency executive order stating that all licenses due to expire are extended until 14 days after the end of the executive order.
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| Oregon |
Regulatory Action |
The Oregon Medical Board is temporarily allowing physicians and physician assistants who are currently working on temporary licenses to have their licenses extended beyond the statutory maximum of 240 days a year. Retired doctors are able to return to practice if their license has lapsed or they have retired, as long as they were in practice in the previous three years and were in good standing. Finally, the state is allowing physicians and physician assistants with out-of-state licenses to practice in Oregon as long as they are in good standing in their home state. |
| Pennsylvania |
Executive Action;
Regulatory Action
|
The Department of State has suspended or made changes to several licensing rules in the state, including temporarily extending license expiration dates and waiving associated fees, extending temporary nursing practice permits and graduate permits beyond one year, and allowing nursing school graduates who meet certain requirements to immediately apply for a graduate permit in the state.
The Department of Health has continued to make temporary amendments to licensing requirements, including extending renewal deadlines, and extending provisions for distance education.
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| Rhode Island |
Regulatory Action |
Some medical students in the state are being allowed to graduate early in exchange for staying in the state and assisting with the COVID-19 pandemic response. Temporary licenses will be granted to the students allowing them to practice during the declared state of emergency. |
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South Carolina
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Executive Action/Regulatory Action;
Regulatory Action
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The State Medical Board is authorized to expedite temporary licensure for out-of-state physicians, physicians assistants and respiratory care practitioners within 24 hours.
Many boards, such as the Board of Accountancy, are issuing temporary licesne renewal extensions, including examination extensions.
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| South Dakota |
Executive Action |
South Dakota's governor issued an executive order granting full recognition to the licenses held by a medical professional in any of the compact member states in accordance with the Uniform Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). |
| Tennessee |
Executive Action |
Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order implementing a number of actions related to licensing in the state to assist with the response to COVID-19. The executive order extends deadlines for an initial license applicant to pay application fees, provides that application documents do not need to be notarized, gives the commissioner of Health the ability to grant licenses for retired health care professionals, and suspends the requirement for individuals to submit proof of continuing education requirements. |
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Texas
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Executive Action;
Regulatory Action
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The governor has asked the Texas Medical Board and the Texas Board of Nursing to expedite temporary licenses for out-of-state practitioners and to allow for the provision of limited emergency licenses. Doctors retired less than two years may also apply for a temporary license under the new directive.
The Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) extended the expiration dates of all occupational licenses expiring in March through August of 2020 by 30 days. In addition, TCEQ is aware that occupational license holders may be having difficulty completing their continuing education requirements for renewal of their licenses. All license holders are encouraged to seek online training opportunities, when possible.
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| Utah |
Existing Statute; Executive Action |
Utah already had a law on the books allowing for a variety of licensed professionals from other states to practice, provided they are licensed and in good-standing in their home states. The statute also states that upon the declaration of a national, state, or local emergency (including a public health emergency) a variety of requirements for permanent or temporary licensure are suspended for individuals who are licensed in another state for the duration of the state of emergency.
Utah's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing has also scope of practice changes to a number of health care professions in the state, expanding scope of practice for the duration of the declared state of emergency.
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| Vermont |
Executive Action |
The legislature passed emergency legislation that was signed by Governor Phil Scott on March 30, 2020, allowing individuals who are licensed and in good standing elsewhere to practice in the state, and those with expired licenses to return to work during the declared state of emergency. it also provides temporary licenses to students who have graduated from an approved program but have not yet been able to take an exam required by statute due to COVID-19. |
| Virginia |
Executive Action;
Regulatory Action
|
Virginia's governor issued an executive order on April 17 allowing nurse practitioners and doctors licensed in other states to be able to practice in Virginia. The order also allows nurse practitioners licensed in the state with two or more years of clinical experience to practice without a collaborative agreement.
The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation has provided an extension of exam eligibility guidelines, allowing online instruction and providing for a modification of continuing education.
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Washington
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Executive Action;
Regulatory Action
|
The state Department of Health is easing certain licensing requirements under a declared state of emergency. This includes allowing doctors, nurses and other practitioners to work in Washington without an active state license. The allowance applies to health care practitioners now licensed in other states, or those who have inactive Washington licenses. Those eligible can register with the Department of Health as an “emergency volunteer health practitioner.”
The Secretary of Health has extended health profession license expiration dates for licenses up for renewal between April 1 and September 30, 2020.
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| West Virginia |
Executive Action |
West Virginia's governor has issued an executive order making a number of changes to licensing in the state in response to COVID-19. They include suspending the requirement that any medical provider holds an "active, unexpired license" issued by the Board of Medicine to practice, extending the period of time during which medical licenses and educational permits are valid, and suspending the requirements for physician assistants licensure. |
| Wisconsin |
Executive Action;
Regulatory Action
|
On April 6, Governor Tony Evers issued two emergency orders related to health care worker licensure. The first allows health care facilities, providers and emergency medical services flexibility in addressing staffing needs. The order does this by pushing back license renewal deadlines, adjusting the required training hours nurse aides need to practice, and temporarily suspending requirements for resident care staff. The second order allows health care provider licenses that would have expired during the declared public health emergency to remain active until 30 days after the emergency is over and allows individuals who are licensed in other states additional time to apply for a Wisconsin license than they would normally have.
The Department of Safety and Professional Service extended the expiration dates for health professional licesnses until September 30.
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| Wyoming |
Regulatory Action;Regulatory Action |
The Wyoming Board of Medicine is temporarily expediting temporary licenses and extending expiration dates for licenses in need of renewal this year from June 30 to Sept. 20. The board is also allowing doctors with expired licenses to return to practice for the duration of the public health state of emergency. |