Cross State Licensing

Pennsylvania issues extraterritorial licenses that allow practice in Pennsylvania to physicians residing or practicing with unrestricted licenses in an adjoining state, near the Pennsylvania boundary, and whose practice extends into Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania bases the granting of this license on the availability of medical care in the area involved, and whether the adjoining state extends similar privileges to Pennsylvania physicians.

SOURCE: PA Statutes Annotated, Title 63 Sec. 422.34(a) and (c)(2). (Accessed Apr. 2025).

An extraterritorial license authorizes a medical doctor who possesses a license to practice medicine and surgery without restriction or an equivalent license, in a state adjoining this Commonwealth, to practice medicine and surgery in this Commonwealth.

(b)  An extraterritorial license will be issued under the following circumstances:

(1)  The applicant shall satisfy the following:

(i)   Possess a license to practice medicine and surgery without restriction or an equivalent license in a state adjoining this Commonwealth.

(ii)   Reside in or maintain an office of practice in the adjoining state near its boundary line with this Commonwealth and desire to extend that practice into this Commonwealth.

(iii)   Submit evidence with the application that the applicant is in compliance with professional liability insurance responsibilities imposed by the MCARE Act.

(iv)   Arrange for the licensing authority of the adjoining state to file a certification with the Board, issued by that licensing authority, attesting to the fact that the applicant is licensed in that state.

(v)   Satisfy the qualifications listed in §  16.12 (relating to general qualifications for licenses and certificates), including having completed at least 3 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with §  16.108 (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement).

(2)  The licensing authority of the adjoining state shall reciprocate by extending the same privileges to medical doctors licensed in this Commonwealth.

(c)  An extraterritorial license is automatically revoked if the licensee relocates a residence or office of practice, the location of which was relevant to the issuance of the license.

(d)  If a medical doctor who holds an extraterritorial license intends to change a residence or office of practice, the location of which was relevant to the issuance of the license, the doctor shall advise the Board, in writing, prior to doing so. If the doctor continues to qualify for an extraterritorial license after the change in residence or office of practice, the doctor may apply for a new extraterritorial license by submitting an application provided by the Board and paying the required fee.

SOURCE: PA Code Title 49, Ch. 17.4, (Accessed Apr. 2026).

How will the use of telemedicine by out-of-state practitioners be impact?

As was the case prior to the pandemic, practitioners wishing to provide services to individuals in Pennsylvania need to be licensed in Pennsylvania in order to practice in Pennsylvania. This holds true whether the provision of services occurs in person or via an electronic interaction such as a telehealth consultation. Practitioners who are not licensed in Pennsylvania and wish to provide services to individuals in Pennsylvania via telemedicine or otherwise may apply for licensure here: https://www.pals.pa.gov

SOURCE: PA Dept. of State, Professional Licensing, Telemedicine FAQ.  (Accessed Apr. 2026).