Everything a licensed psychologist needs to know about PSYPACT in 2026. The current list of participating states, how the E.Passport and APIT work, who is eligible, and how to start practicing telepsychology across state lines.
Last updated: June 2026. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. PSYPACT membership changes as states enact legislation. Always verify current status using the official PSYPACT map at psypact.gov and confirm your authorization through the PSYPACT Commission before practicing.
What is PSYPACT?
PSYPACT, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, lets a licensed psychologist practice across state lines in participating states without obtaining a separate full license in each one. It became operational in 2020 and is now the most established of the three behavioral health compacts, well ahead of the Counseling Compact and the Social Work Licensure Compact.
For psychologists, this is a practical tool you can use today across most of the country. Instead of holding individual licenses in every state where you want to see clients, you maintain your home state license and obtain authorization to practice in the other participating states through the compact’s system.
PSYPACT is the psychology equivalent of the cross-state pathways covered in our broader interstate compacts guide and our telehealth across state lines guide. If you are not a psychologist, PSYPACT does not apply to you, and you should start with those guides instead.
PSYPACT participating states in 2026
As of June 2026, 42 jurisdictions are full participating members where PSYPACT authorizations are valid: 40 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The participating states are:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
A few states have enacted PSYPACT but are not yet fully effective. Montana enacted PSYPACT legislation in 2025 with an effective date still to be determined. Until a state is fully effective and adopted by the PSYPACT Commission, authorizations are not yet valid there, so do not rely on a state until it appears on the official participating list.
Several states have introduced PSYPACT legislation but have not enacted it, which means they are considering joining but are not yet participating. As of 2026 these include Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, and New York. Introduced is not the same as participating, and you cannot practice under PSYPACT in a state that has only introduced a bill.
The following states and jurisdictions have neither enacted nor introduced active PSYPACT legislation: Alaska, California, Guam, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To see clients located in these states, a psychologist needs a full license there.
Because legislation moves throughout the year, treat any printed list as a snapshot. The authoritative, continuously updated source is the official map at psypact.gov, which we recommend checking before you rely on a state.
How PSYPACT works: E.Passport, APIT, and TAP
PSYPACT operates through a credentialing system run by the PSYPACT Commission, and there are two distinct authorizations depending on the kind of practice you want to do.
The foundation is the E.Passport, issued by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. The E.Passport verifies that you meet the compact’s requirements and is the credential you build your authorizations on.
For telepsychology, you obtain the Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology, known as APIT. This is what most psychologists want. APIT authorizes you to provide telepsychology services to clients located in other participating states.
For temporary in person work, you obtain a Temporary Authorization to Practice, known as TAP. TAP allows face to face practice in another participating state for a limited period, typically up to 30 days per calendar year. TAP is built on the Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate rather than the telepsychology authority.
Both authorizations are valid for one year and must be renewed annually. The distinction matters: APIT covers your virtual practice, TAP covers short term in person work, and they are not interchangeable.
Who is eligible for PSYPACT?
PSYPACT is for licensed psychologists only. It does not cover counselors, social workers, or other behavioral health professions, each of which has its own compact or pathway.
To use PSYPACT you generally need to hold an active, unencumbered license as a psychologist in a participating home state, hold a doctoral degree in psychology, and meet the compact’s additional requirements verified through the E.Passport process. Your home state license is the anchor for everything: if it lapses or is restricted, your PSYPACT authorizations are affected.
The client’s physical location at the time of the session is what determines whether PSYPACT applies. If your client is located in a participating state and you hold APIT, you are authorized. If your client travels to or is located in a non participating state, PSYPACT does not help you there, regardless of where the client normally lives.
How to get started with PSYPACT
If you are a psychologist who wants to practice across state lines through PSYPACT, the sequence looks like this.
- Confirm your home state is a participating PSYPACT state using the official map. Both your home state and the client’s state must participate.
- Apply for your E.Passport through the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. This is the foundational credential.
- Obtain APIT for telepsychology, or TAP if you need temporary in person practice in another state.
- Verify the state where your client is located is a participating state before each new cross-state client relationship.
- Renew your authorizations annually, since both APIT and TAP expire after one year.
- Track each client’s physical location at the time of service, and document it, since location governs whether your authorization applies.
Keep your cross-state practice current
PSYPACT participation and the rules around telepsychology continue to evolve as more states join. The Wellness Collaborative offers continuing education and resources for clinicians practicing across state lines, including ethics and telehealth CE relevant to compact practice.
Frequently asked questions
How many states are in PSYPACT in 2026? As of June 2026, 42 jurisdictions are full participating members: 40 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Additional states have introduced or enacted legislation but are not yet participating.
Is California in PSYPACT? No. California has not enacted PSYPACT legislation. To see clients located in California, a psychologist needs a full California license.
Is New York in PSYPACT? Not yet. New York has introduced PSYPACT legislation but has not enacted it, so authorizations are not valid there as of 2026.
Does PSYPACT cover in person practice? Yes, but through a separate authorization. The Temporary Authorization to Practice, or TAP, allows limited in person work, typically up to 30 days per year. Telepsychology is covered by APIT.
Can counselors or social workers use PSYPACT? No. PSYPACT is for licensed psychologists only. Counselors use the Counseling Compact and social workers use the Social Work Licensure Compact.
How long does PSYPACT authorization last? Both the E.Passport based authorizations, APIT and TAP, are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.
