This page covers New York licensing boards, scope of practice rules, interstate compacts, and the regulatory environment governing healthcare practice in New York State.
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions
Unlike most states where healthcare licensing is managed by a Department of Health, New York licenses healthcare professionals through the New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of the Professions. NYSED oversees licensing for physicians (MD and DO), physician assistants, nurse practitioners and registered nurses, dentists and dental hygienists, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, respiratory therapists, optometrists, podiatrists, and dozens of other professions. The Office of the Professions processes applications, administers (or recognizes) licensing examinations, investigates complaints, and enforces professional standards. Website: op.nysed.gov. Phone: (518) 474-3817.
This unique regulatory structure means that healthcare licensing in New York is governed by the Board of Regents and the Education Department rather than a health department, which affects how licensing rules are adopted and modified. Students planning to practice in New York should familiarize themselves with the Office of the Professions website, which contains detailed information about licensing requirements, application procedures, and scope of practice regulations for each profession.
Physician Licensing
New York physician licensing requires graduation from an LCME-accredited (MD) or COCA-accredited (DO) medical school, completion of at least one year of accredited residency training (full licensure requires completion of the entire residency), passage of USMLE® Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 (for MD graduates) or COMLEX-USA® Level 1, Level 2-CE, and Level 3 (for DO graduates), and application through NYSED. New York does not currently participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), which is a significant difference from neighboring Connecticut. This means that physicians who want to practice in New York must obtain a New York-specific license, and physicians licensed in other states cannot use compact privileges to practice in New York. This affects telemedicine practice: out-of-state physicians providing telehealth services to New York patients generally need a New York license. See our Physician career page.
Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
New York grants reduced practice authority to nurse practitioners, which means NPs must maintain a collaborative practice agreement with a physician. This is a notable difference from states like Connecticut that grant NPs full practice authority (independent practice without physician collaboration). Under New York law, NPs can diagnose, treat, prescribe medications (including controlled substances), and manage patient care, but must have a written collaborative agreement with a qualified physician that defines the scope of the NP’s practice. The collaborative agreement does not require the physician to be physically present but does establish a formal supervisory relationship. Advocacy organizations (the NPA of New York State and national NP organizations) have been working to advance legislation that would grant full practice authority to NPs in New York, but as of this writing, the collaborative agreement requirement remains in effect. This regulatory distinction is important for students choosing between NP and PA pathways, as it affects practice autonomy. See our NP career page and PA vs. NP comparison.
Physician Assistant Practice
New York PAs practice under a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician. The supervisor does not need to be physically present at all times, but the practice agreement must define the scope of practice, prescribing authority, and supervision arrangements. New York PAs have prescribing authority for medications including controlled substances (Schedules II through V). PA licensing requires graduation from an ARC-PA accredited program, passing PANCE®, and application through NYSED. See our PA career page.
Nursing Licensure
New York does not currently participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). This means that nurses licensed in other states cannot use a multistate license to practice in New York; they must obtain a separate New York nursing license. Similarly, New York nurses who want to practice in compact states must obtain that state’s multistate license (or individual state license). This is a significant consideration for nurses interested in travel nursing, telehealth, or practicing across state lines. Legislation to join the NLC has been introduced in the New York legislature multiple times but has not yet passed, largely due to opposition from NYSNA (the state nurses’ union), which has expressed concerns about out-of-state nurses competing for New York jobs and about maintaining New York’s licensing standards. Students planning nursing careers should understand that New York’s non-compact status limits geographic flexibility compared to compact member states. See our RN career page.
Other Healthcare Profession Licensing
Physical Therapists: New York PTs have direct access, meaning patients can see a PT without a physician referral for evaluation and up to 10 visits or 30 days (whichever comes first) before a referral is required for continued treatment. New York does not currently participate in the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact. Licensing requires a DPT degree, passing the NPTE®, and NYSED application. Pharmacists: Licensed through NYSED after PharmD completion, NAPLEX, and MPJE (New York jurisprudence exam). New York pharmacists have expanded clinical roles including immunization authority and collaborative drug therapy management. Psychologists: Licensed through NYSED after doctoral degree, supervised experience, and EPPP. New York does not currently grant prescribing privileges to psychologists. Clinical Social Workers (LCSW): Licensed through NYSED after MSW, 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, and passage of the ASWB Clinical Exam.
Interstate Compacts Summary
New York’s participation in interstate licensing compacts is more limited than some neighboring states. As of this writing, New York does not participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), or the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PTLC). New York does participate in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) for telehealth psychology services and the EMS Compact (REPLICA) for EMT and paramedic practice. The limited compact participation reflects New York’s historically protective approach to professional licensing, which prioritizes state-level regulatory control. For students planning to practice in multiple states or provide telehealth across state lines, New York’s non-participation in major compacts is an important career planning consideration.
Why Regulations Matter for Students
Understanding New York’s regulatory landscape helps you make informed decisions about your education and career. The NP collaborative agreement requirement, New York’s absence from the nursing and medical compacts, and the unique NYSED licensing structure all have practical implications for your scope of practice, geographic flexibility, and professional autonomy after graduation. Students who plan to practice in New York should understand these rules; students who plan to practice elsewhere should compare New York’s regulations with those of their target state. The regulatory environment affects not only what you can do as a practitioner but also your job satisfaction, earning potential, and career flexibility. We encourage students to research the regulatory environment in any state they are considering for practice. See our Healthcare Careers hub for profession-specific scope of practice information.
For students early in their education, the details of licensing examinations and application procedures are less immediately relevant than the broad scope of practice landscape. However, understanding that New York has more restrictive compact participation and NP scope of practice rules than some neighboring states helps you make informed decisions about where to attend school, where to train, and where to build your career. These regulatory differences are one of the reasons we encourage students to explore the state resource pages for each state they are considering.
References
NYSED Office of the Professions. “Licensed Professions.” NYSED, 2025. http://www.op.nysed.gov/. Accessed March 2026.
IMLC. “Member States.” IMLC, 2025. https://www.imlcc.org/. Accessed March 2026.
NCSBN. “Nurse Licensure Compact.” NCSBN, 2025. https://www.ncsbn.org/nlc.htm. Accessed March 2026.
NPA of New York State. “Scope of Practice.” NPA, 2025. Accessed March 2026.