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WA
Telehealth licensure

Washington

Telehealth licensure requirements, DEA controlled substance prescribing rules, WA PMP registration requirements, and compliance checklist for physicians practicing telehealth in Washington. Verified May 2026.

IMLC compact member
No separate out-of-state registration
No prior in-person visit required
$490 renewal fee

Licensure

Telehealth-specific license ✓ Not required — standard license
IMLC compact pathway ✓ Yes — IMLC member
Informed consent ✓ Not required
Audio-only permitted ✓ Permitted
Medicaid parity ✓ Yes — parity in effect
Out-of-state registration ✓ Not required
Renewal fee $490
Source: Washington Medical Commission

Controlled substance prescribing

Telehealth prescribing ✓ Permitted
Prior in-person visit ✓ Not required
DEA special registration ✓ Not required
Schedule II (stimulants, opioids) ✓ Permitted
Buprenorphine (MAT) ✓ Permitted
Stimulants (ADHD) ✓ Permitted
Benzodiazepines ✓ Permitted
Ryan Haight: COVID-era DEA telehealth prescribing extension in effect; permanent rule pending
State note: WA PMP registration required. One-time 1-hour CME required if prescribing opioids.

Prescription monitoring program

Program name WA PMP
Registration required Required before prescribing
Required for schedules Schedule II–V
Must query WA PMP before prescribing Schedule II–V. One-time 1-hour opioid CME required.
WA PMP — registration info ↗
Frequently asked

Washington telehealth licensure — common questions

Does Washington require a separate telehealth license? +

No — Washington does not require a separate telehealth-specific license. A standard Washington medical license covers telehealth practice.

Is Washington a member of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)? +

Yes — Washington is an IMLC member. Eligible physicians can obtain a Washington license through the compact's expedited pathway using their State of Principal License.

Can physicians prescribe controlled substances via telehealth in Washington? +

Yes — telehealth prescribing is permitted in Washington. No prior in-person visit is currently required under active DEA telehealth extensions. COVID-era DEA telehealth prescribing extension in effect; permanent rule pending

Does Washington require PMP/PDMP registration for telehealth physicians? +

Yes — Washington requires physicians to register with the WA PMP before prescribing Schedule II–V controlled substances. Must query WA PMP before prescribing Schedule II–V. One-time 1-hour opioid CME required.

Is audio-only telehealth permitted in Washington? +

Yes — Washington permits audio-only (phone) telehealth encounters without video.

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Related reading
DEA Telehealth Prescribing Extension DEA Permanent Telehealth Rule 2026 Controlled Substance Telehealth Rules 2026 IMLC: 43 States Now in Compact
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StateLicensure is a regulatory research platform — not a legal service. Data is sourced from official state boards, DEA, and CMS, and updated as rules change. For compliance decisions with regulatory consequences, confirm requirements directly with your state board.