I really never thought about getting licensed in other states until I seriously started contemplating getting off of insurance. Also, as therapists I feel like there is this rhetoric out there that it is either so hard to get licensed in another state or that it is not worth it. I am here to tell you, if you are a therapist considering getting licensed in another state; it's not that bad, nor hard.

Hardest part about getting licensed in Virginia?

The hardest part, truly, was actually reading on the website all the stuff I needed to do. That was first and foremost the hardest thing. That's actually the worst part of applying to any state, especially if you are a tired therapist. Another part that was "hard" was getting your ID verified online, which all and all was not that hard. It was just tedious. Ultimately the thing that makes subsequent licensing hard is the tedious nature of it. Virginia so far was straight through, and I believe because I have been licensed in CA for almost 10 years, it made it easier.

Should you get licensed in another state?

My first instinct is of course, why not?! But the reality is is that it is costly, requires work to maintain, requires work to get referrals in that state, and requires you to keep up with information about the state, including changes in laws and ethics. That makes it sound potentially unattractive, however, I do think the part that sounds most attractive as a therapist, is the potential freedom you get from being in licensed in another state.

Things to consider if you are in California

If you are licensed in CA you will most likely have a much easier time getting licensed in other states. And, it will be even easier for you once you have been licensed 5-7 years. This is a chart I have been using to make it easier for myself, click here.

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