Cross State Licensing

A health care provider licensed in this state may provide health care services within the health care provider’s authorized scope of practice to a patient in this state through telehealth without first conducting an in-person visit.

A physician licensed in another state or an out-of-state member of the physician’s multidisciplinary care team may provide health care services through telehealth to a patient located in the state as provided in this subsection, subject to the investigative and enforcement powers of the department under AS 08.01.087. A member of a physician’s multidisciplinary care team may provide a health care service through telehealth to a patient located in this state if the health care  service, as provided by the multidisciplinary care team, is not reasonably available in the state. A physician shall be [, AND] subject to disciplinary action by the State Medical Board under AS 08.64.333, and a member of the physician’s multidisciplinary care team shall be subject to disciplinary action by the department under AS 08.02.140. The privilege to practice under this subsection extends only to

• ongoing treatment or follow-up care related to health care services previously provided by the physician to the patient and applies only if
  • the physician and the patient have an established physician patient relationship; and
  • the physician has previously conducted an in-person visit with the patient; or
• a visit regarding a suspected or diagnosed life-threatening condition for which
  • the patient has been referred to the physician licensed in another state by a physician licensed in this state and that referral has been documented by the referring physician; and
  • the visit involves communication with the patient regarding diagnostic or treatment plan options or analysis of test results for the life threatening condition; or
• ongoing treatment or follow-up care provided by a physician licensed in another state or a member of the physician’s multidisciplinary care team regarding a suspected or diagnosed life-threatening condition.

If a health care provider determines in the course of a telehealth encounter with a patient under this section that some or all of the encounter will extend beyond the health care provider’s authorized scope of practice, the health care provider shall advise the patient that the health care provider is not authorized to provide some or all of the services to the patient, recommend that the patient contact an appropriate provider for the services the health care provider is not authorized to provide, and limit the encounter to only those services the health care provider is authorized to provide. The health care provider may not charge for any portion of an encounter that extends beyond the health care provider’s authorized scope of practice.

A fee for a service provided through telehealth under this section must be reasonable and consistent with the ordinary fee typically charged for that service and may not exceed the fee typically charged for that service.

SOURCE: AK Statute Sec. 08.02.130, as amended by SB 91 (2024 Session), (Accessed Mar. 2025).

The board may sanction a physician licensed in another state who provides health care services through telehealth (see statute for list of criteria and repercussions).

SOURCE: AK Statute Sec. 08.64.333, (Accessed Mar. 2025).

Emergency Medical Services

An individual certified or licensed under this chapter may practice within the individual’s authorized scope of practice under this chapter through telehealth with a patient in this state if the individual’s certification or license is in good standing.

If an individual certified or licensed under this chapter determines in the course of a telehealth encounter with a patient that some or all of the encounter will extend beyond the individual’s authorized scope of practice, the individual shall advise the patient that the individual is not authorized to provide some or all of the services to the patient, recommend that the patient contact an appropriate provider for the services the individual is not authorized to provide, and limit the encounter to only those services the individual is authorized to provide. The individual certified or licensed under this chapter may not charge for any portion of an encounter that extends beyond the individual’s authorized scope of practice.

A fee for a service provided through telehealth under this section must be reasonable and consistent with the ordinary fee typically charged for that service and may not exceed the fee typically charged for that service.

An individual certified or licensed under this chapter may not be required to document a barrier to an in-person visit to provide health care services through telehealth. The department or the council may not limit the physical setting from which an individual certified or licensed under this chapter may provide health care services through telehealth.

SOURCE: AK Statute Sec. 18.08.100, (Accessed Mar. 2025).

Optometry Board

A person in or outside the state may not practice, attempt to practice, or offer to practice optometry in the state through telehealth without first obtaining a license from the board.

SOURCE: AK Admin Code Title 12, 48.370, (Accessed Mar. 2025).

Psychology

To be eligible to practice telepsychology with clients physically present in this state, a psychologist or psychological associate must meet the requirements under AS 08.01.085 and

• be licensed under AS 08.86.130 as a licensed psychologist or under AS 08.86.160 as a licensed psychological associate; and
• complete general competency training in the practice of telepsychology, totaling a minimum of four hours.

The provision of professional services in this state by a person licensed under AS 08.86 through digital, telephonic, or electronic means, regardless of the location of the client, constitutes the practice of psychology in this state. Licensees are required to comply with all statutes, regulations, and rules of the state where the client is physically located.

SOURCE: AK Admin Code Title 12, 60.405 & 410, (Accessed Mar. 2025).

Professional counselors

Before providing distance professional services, an individual must …

• be either licensed in good standing or working as a supervisee under a board-approved supervisor as set out in AS 08.29.

SOURCE: AK Admin Code Title 12, 62.400, (Accessed Mar. 2025).

Except as provided in (b) of this section, the board may issue a license under this chapter to a person who is licensed in another jurisdiction to practice as a professional counselor or associate counselor if the board finds that the other jurisdiction has substantially the same or higher licensure requirements as this state.

SOURCE: AS 08.29.120 as amended by House Bill 126 (2024 Session, (Accessed Mar. 2025).

When may a physician not licensed in Alaska provide services to a patient located in Alaska? What happens if a patient has a complaint about that care?

• Physicians who are licensed in another state may practice telehealth without an Alaska license if:
  • The physician and patient have an established physician-patient relationship and the physician has previously conducted an in-person examination of the patient; or
    • If the patient has a suspected or diagnosed life-threatening condition for which the patient has been referred by an Alaska-licensed physician to a physician licensed in another state and the visit relates to that condition.
• The State Medical Board has augmented authority to:
  • Sanction the practice of a physician who is practicing telehealth without a license who is found be in violation of law, and
  • Allow the board to recover from a physician the cost of proceedings resulting in a sanction of unlicensed practice under this new provision, including the costs of investigation by the board and department and hearing costs.

My patient is vacationing in Alaska. Do I need an Alaska license to treat them remotely while they are on vacation?

Yes, except as noted directly above relating to when a physician can provide services to a patient located in Alaska without an Alaska license. Alaska laws are based on where the patient receives service. Individual licensing boards may offer special courtesy licenses or opportunities for an out-of-state provider to consult with an Alaska provider if the patient requires special health care services while physically located in our state. For more information on the requirements of these licensed professions, please visit that specific program’s link at the DCCED/CBPL Professional Licensing website to review statutes, regulations, announcements, and more.

Do I need an Alaska license to prescribe to a patient located in the state? Can an out-of-state pharmacy transfer a prescription to an Alaska pharmacy?

Alaska pharmacies may only fill prescriptions issued directly from prescribers who do not hold an Alaska license if that prescription is not a controlled substance.

Unless the out-of-state pharmacy is licensed in the state of Alaska or has entered into a Shared Pharmacy Services Agreement, an Alaska pharmacy may only fill a prescription from a pharmacy licensed in another state that is not an Alaska Schedule I or II controlled substance.

What is the Telemedicine Business Registry, and who has to register?

All businesses engaged in or planning to engage in distance delivery of health care to a patient located in Alaska must register with the state’s Telemedicine Business Registry. A provider who is an employee of a business does not need to individually register; however, the employer does. “Telemedicine services” means the delivery of health care services using the transfer of medical data through audio, visual, or data communications that are performed over two or more locations by a provider who is physically separated from the recipient of the health care services. AS 44.33.381

Do I also need an Alaska business license?

If your business would like to provide telemedicine services to Alaska-based clients, a valid Alaska business license is required before submitting the Telemedicine Business Registry application. To register, please provide your Alaska Business License number on the Telemedicine Business Registry license application. Applications for a business license may be obtained through the Business Licensing Section of this division.

SOURCE:  Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Telehealth Information, (Accessed Mar. 2025).