Interstate Move, Telehealth, and a Continuing-Education Shortfall
A physical therapist licensed in Louisiana moves her primary residence to Texas. She keeps her Louisiana license and wants to continue treating Louisiana patients by telehealth from her Texas home. She also wants to use the Physical Therapy Compact to avoid applying for a separate Louisiana compact privilege. Her Louisiana renewal is due in three months. She has completed 24 continuing-education hours: 2 hours labeled 'jurisprudence' from an online vendor that is not Board-approved, 4 hours of product-training webinars from a device manufacturer, and 18 hours of approved clinical courses. She believes the compact automatically lets her practice in Louisiana because Louisiana is a compact state. She has not obtained a Texas license and has not changed her address with the Louisiana Board.
1. Can she rely on the compact to treat Louisiana patients from Texas? What must she establish first?
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No, not automatically. The Physical Therapy Compact does not create a universal license. It allows a PT who holds a home-state license in a compact state and meets the compact's requirements to obtain a compact privilege in another compact state. Louisiana participates in the compact, but the therapist must have a qualifying home-state license and must apply for the compact privilege in Louisiana. Because she moved her primary residence to Texas, Texas becomes her home state for compact purposes. If she has not obtained a Texas license, she may not have a valid compact home-state license. She also must update her address with the Louisiana Board, because licensure records and jurisdiction depend on residence and practice location. Until she holds a Texas license and obtains a Louisiana compact privilege, or renews and practices under a valid Louisiana license if the Board permits, she should not treat Louisiana patients by telehealth. Patient location generally determines which state's licensure requirement applies.
2. Are her continuing-education hours sufficient for Louisiana renewal? Explain how each category should be treated.
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Probably not. Louisiana requires 30 contact hours per renewal cycle, with specific mandated categories set by the Board. Her 18 approved clinical hours count. The 4 hours of manufacturer product training are unlikely to count as approved continuing education unless the Board has approved them; vendor product training is often excluded because it is promotional or not independent. The 2 'jurisprudence' hours are also questionable if the vendor is not Board-approved and the course does not meet the Board's jurisprudence requirement. At best she has 18 clearly approved hours; she may have 20 if the jurisprudence course is accepted, but she still falls short. She should obtain additional Board-approved hours before renewal and confirm that any jurisprudence requirement is met through an approved course. If she cannot meet the requirement, she should contact the Board before the deadline rather than renew with false information, which could support a disciplinary complaint.
3. What are the telehealth and licensing risks if she treats Louisiana patients before resolving these issues?
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Telehealth does not escape state licensure. If the patient is physically located in Louisiana, the therapist generally needs a Louisiana license or a valid compact privilege to practice in Louisiana. Practicing on an expired or invalid license, or without the required compact privilege, can be treated as unlicensed practice and can lead to discipline in Louisiana and possibly in Texas. The lack of a Texas license creates a second problem if she is practicing from Texas or holding herself out as a Texas provider. She should not rely on her Louisiana license alone after changing residence without confirming the Board's rules. The safer course is to update her address, obtain the correct home-state license, apply for the compact privilege or renew the Louisiana license as applicable, and document all CE before treating. She should also check telehealth consent, documentation, and privacy requirements.