CurrentOT, Occupational therapistOTA, Occupational therapy assistant
Telehealth
Choose your profession and state in Your lens above, and this page answers for you first.
At a glance
- DC, ChiropractorChiropractorVaries by stateGeneral state telehealth laws, such as Arizona's, cover chiropractors, but chiropractic care is largely hands-on and states differ on what a chiropractor may do remotely, so it depends on the state.
- PT, Physical therapistPhysical therapistWithin scopePhysical therapists may provide care by telehealth, and the rule that recurs across states is that the therapist must be licensed, or hold a compact privilege, where the patient is located.
- PTA, Physical therapist assistantPhysical therapist assistantNot yet covered
- OT, Occupational therapistOccupational therapistWithin scopeOccupational therapists may provide care by telehealth; the occupational therapy licensure compact names telehealth as one of its aims and treats care as happening where the client is located.
- OTA, Occupational therapy assistantOccupational therapy assistantNot yet covered
- AT, Athletic trainerAthletic trainerVaries by stateTelehealth laws such as Arizona's cover athletic trainers, but athletic training remains tied to physician direction and to the state's own rules, so remote practice depends on the state.
- LMT, Massage therapistMassage therapistVaries by stateMassage itself is hands-on and cannot be delivered remotely; where a state's telehealth law covers massage therapists, as Arizona's does, remote work is limited to consultation or self-care instruction.
- CSCS, Strength and conditioning specialistStrength and conditioning specialistNot yet covered
- CPT, Personal trainerPersonal trainerNot yet covered
What it is
Telehealth lets a clinician see you by video call, phone or an app instead of in person. It works well for exercise programs, education and check-ins, but it cannot replace hands-on treatment. In general the clinician must be licensed in the state where you are when the visit happens.
Names across professions
| Profession | Term in practice acts | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Physical therapist | Telehealth; telerehabilitation | Terms used by FSBPT and the research literature |
| Occupational therapist | Telehealth | The occupational therapy licensure compact names it among its aims |
| Across professions | Virtual care | A common general term |
What the bodies say
Check your state
Find your licensing board
Get licensed links to the board for each profession in each state, so you can read its rules or ask it directly.
Go to Get licensedState-by-state detail
This topic varies enough between states to warrant a state table, with the statute and board for each cell.