The Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP) is a person who is licensed or certified to provide behavioral health services and has the necessary skills and abilities to deliver effective and safe services through telehealth technologies. CTPs work in a variety of settings and use one or more modes of technology to deliver services, with videoconferencing being a primary mode of care. Importantly, the CTP credential does not evaluate an individual’s competence to perform specific behavioral health services which are governed and regulated by their master license or credential.
CTP applicants must hold a state license or a recognized behavioral health credential in good standing.
The CTP credential designates competency in the domains of: Clinical Care in a Virtual Environment; Technology and Telepresence; and, Legal and Regulatory Issues in a Virtual Environment.
The “grandparenting period” has been extended for applications for this credential until June 30, 2023. This means that the standards for application are more streamlined to make allowances for persons who have already been offering services through telehealth. There is no certification examination during this period. On July 1, 2023, this period will be closed and full application standards will apply.
DISCLAIMER: The CTP credential does not “authorize” practitioners to provide telehealth services. The credential is a demonstration of competency using telehealth strategies for service delivery within one’s scope of practice. Funders of behavioral health services (state, Medicaid, Medicare, insurance, etc.) may limit the types of services that fall within their payment guidelines, such as clinical services only. This credential offers no guarantee that practitioners holding the CTP credential will be able to bill for telehealth services nor does it allow provision of telehealth across state lines (which is dependent upon regulations in each state.)
CTP Application Documents
Applying for certification is a multi-step process that requires you to submit information and supporting documentation directly to the FCB and to request documentation from other individuals, which they will need to submit directly to the FCB on your behalf.
Please carefully review all the credential documents before applying for certification.
All applicants use the same online application (Standard); however, the requirements for the types of supporting information for various categories of applicants (such as private practitioners) vary in each section of the application. Please carefully review all of the credential documents before applying for certification.
Policy
Mandatory Forms – Select form(s)based on your application type (Standard Applicant or Private Practitioner)
- For Persons Applying as a Standard Applicant
- For Licensed Professionals in Private Practice – CTP Private Practitioner Work Verification Form
How to Apply
- If you don’t already have one, create an online account.
- Create an electronic application for certification (from your online account).
- Complete all required fields of information.
- Upload required documents.
- Pay the certification fee.
- Provide mandatory forms to eligible people to complete and submit to FCB on your behalf.
Key Information
- When the application fee is paid, the FCB assigns the record to a dedicated Certification Specialist, who will serve as the single point of contact for applicants throughout the certification process.
- The credential is awarded after all requirements have been submitted and approved.