Therapists: A Complete 2026 Career Guide

# Therapists Complete 2026 Career Guide

Role Overview

Therapists are licensed mental health professionals who help individuals, couples, families, and groups work through emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges. The title "therapist" spans several licensed disciplines, including clinical mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, clinical psychologists, and addiction counselors. Each has its own licensing pathway and scope of practice, but all share the same core function: creating a structured space where people can understand and change how they think, feel, and behave.

The day-to-day work varies by setting and specialization, but most therapists spend the majority of their time in direct client contact. Intake assessments, individual therapy sessions (typically 45 to 60 minutes), couples or family sessions, and progress documentation make up the bulk of clinical hours. Between sessions, therapists review notes, plan interventions, consult with supervisors or colleagues, and manage caseloads. In private practice, therapists also handle billing, insurance claims, and client communications.

Therapists work in settings that range from community mental health centers and hospital outpatient clinics to schools, corporate Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), and independent private practices. The clients they serve span every demographic: children with behavioral disorders, veterans with PTSD, couples navigating divorce, adults managing depression, and adolescents struggling with identity. Someone in this role has a direct, measurable impact on people's ability to function, form relationships, and lead stable lives. It is serious work, and the people who do it well tend to find it deeply meaningful.

AI & Robotics Threat Level

[AI RISK: Low] Therapeutic work is fundamentally relational. The core of what a therapist does, building trust with a client, reading nonverbal cues, responding to emotional nuance in real time, and adapting a treatment approach mid-session based on what is and is not working, requires human judgment that current AI systems cannot replicate. AI-assisted tools can handle documentation, standardized assessments, and digital therapeutics (such as app-based CBT modules), but they cannot replace the therapeutic relationship. Research on therapy outcomes consistently shows that the alliance between therapist and client predicts results more strongly than the specific modality used. That alliance is a human product.

[ROBOTICS RISK: Low] Robotics has no meaningful presence in therapeutic practice. Some experimental robots are used in elder care and autism therapy as supplemental tools, but they serve as curiosities or adjuncts, not replacements for human therapists. The physical and emotional intimacy of therapy sessions does not lend itself to robotic delivery.

Salary & Compensation

Salaries vary substantially by discipline, setting, and geography. Clinical psychologists, who hold doctoral degrees, earn more on average than licensed professional counselors (LPCs) or licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), who hold master's degrees. Psychologists in private practice or specialized clinical roles in metropolitan areas regularly earn six figures. Therapists in community mental health or nonprofit settings typically earn less but may qualify for loan repayment programs such as those administered through the National Health Service Corps.

Benefits in agency or hospital settings commonly include health insurance, paid time off, retirement contributions, supervision toward licensure, and continuing education stipends. In private practice, therapists are self-employed, which means they build their own benefits packages, handle their own taxes, and set their own schedules and fees. Hourly session rates in private practice typically range from $100 to $250 or more, depending on geography, specialization, and demand.

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (Mental Health Counselors and Therapists, Clinical Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, 2024-2025)

Job Outlook

The job outlook for therapists is strong and is getting stronger. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for mental health counselors to grow 18% from 2023 to 2033, which is more than three times the average for all occupations. Marriage and family therapists are projected to grow 19% over the same period. Clinical psychologists are projected to grow 11%, which is still well above average.

Several forces are driving this demand. Mental health has moved from the margins to the mainstream of healthcare. Insurance companies now cover mental health services more consistently than they did a decade ago, partly because of federal mental health parity laws. The pandemic accelerated awareness of anxiety, depression, and trauma across every age group, and a large cohort of people who sought therapy for the first time in 2020 to 2022 have continued as ongoing clients. Schools are hiring more counselors after years of understaffing. And the aging population creates growing demand for therapists who work with grief, dementia caregivers, and late-life depression.

Shortage areas are particularly acute in rural communities, where there are far fewer licensed therapists per capita than in urban areas. Telehealth has partially addressed this gap, and most therapists now offer video sessions, but licensing laws that restrict practice across state lines remain a barrier. States that have joined the Counseling Compact or Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) allow licensed therapists to practice in multiple states, which is expanding access and increasing demand in states that were previously underserved.

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023 to 2033 projections; HRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis

Education, Training & Certification

The path to becoming a licensed therapist takes time. It is one of the longer career entry timelines in the healthcare field, and skipping steps is not possible. Here is what the realistic path looks like.

Step 1: Bachelor's Degree (4 years)

No specific undergraduate major is required, but psychology, social work, or counseling majors provide the most direct preparation. A bachelor's degree in an unrelated field is fine as long as prerequisite coursework in psychology, statistics, and human development is completed. Cost varies widely: public university programs range from $40,000 to $100,000 total; private programs can exceed $200,000.

Step 2: Graduate Degree (2 to 5 years)

Licensed therapists must hold at least a master's degree. The main disciplines are:

Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 to 72 credit hours, 2 to 3 years)Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (60 credit hours, 2 to 3 years)Master of Social Work (MSW) with a clinical focus (60 to 65 credit hours, 2 years for full-time students)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology (4 to 7 years; required for psychologist licensure)

Graduate programs include supervised clinical practicum hours. Most programs require 700 to 3,000 hours of direct client contact depending on the discipline and state.

Step 3: Supervised Post-Graduate Experience (2 to 3 years)

After earning a graduate degree, aspiring therapists must complete a period of supervised practice under a licensed therapist. This is sometimes called an internship, residency, or supervised hours period. The requirement varies by state and discipline: most states require 3,000 to 4,000 post-degree hours for LPC or LMFT licensure, and 3,000 to 4,000 hours for psychologist licensure.

Step 4: Licensure Exams

Each discipline has its own exam:

NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination) for LPCsAMFTRB (Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards) exam for LMFTsEPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) for psychologistsASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) clinical exam for LCSWs

Step 5: State Licensure

After passing the exam, therapists apply for licensure in the state where they intend to practice. Each state has its own licensing board and requirements, which occasionally conflict with each other, particularly around telehealth and interstate practice.

Continuing Education

All licensed therapists must complete continuing education (CE) hours to maintain their license, typically 20 to 40 hours every two years. CE requirements vary by state and discipline. Many therapists use CE to develop specialization in areas like trauma-informed care, EMDR, play therapy, or substance abuse.

Total timeline from starting undergraduate studies to being independently licensed: 6 to 10 years.

Career Progression

The therapist career arc looks different depending on whether someone stays in agency work or builds a private practice. Here is what a typical progression looks like.

Years 1 to 3: Associate or Pre-Licensed Therapist

You work under a licensed supervisor while accumulating supervised hours toward independent licensure. Your caseload grows from 10 to 20 clients per week. You are learning which modalities fit you, how to manage your own emotional responses to difficult cases, and how to document to insurance or clinical standards. Salary is lower because you are not yet independently licensed, though some agencies offer pay increases as you approach licensure.

Years 3 to 5: Independently Licensed Therapist

Once licensed, you can bill insurance independently, supervise pre-licensed therapists, and carry a full caseload of 25 to 35 clients per week. Many therapists stop here and stay in this stage for their entire career, especially those in private practice who prioritize schedule flexibility and work-life balance over income maximization.

Years 5 to 10: Senior Therapist or Practice Owner

At this stage you have several options. You can move into private practice, where income potential increases significantly but you take on business responsibilities. You can become a clinical supervisor, overseeing the supervised hours of associate therapists. You can move into program management or clinical director roles in agency settings. Or you can specialize in a high-demand area such as trauma, substance abuse, child and adolescent therapy, or eating disorders, which commands higher fees and referrals.

Years 10+: Advanced Practice or Leadership

Senior therapists may open group practices (becoming the owner rather than the only practitioner), become trainers and educators in their modality, publish research, consult with healthcare systems, or transition into academic roles. Some move into executive positions at mental health organizations.

Crossover paths exist into coaching, HR consulting, forensic consulting (working with legal cases), and academic research. An LPC or LMFT can also transition into social work leadership, employee assistance program management, or healthcare administration with additional training.

A Day in the Life

A therapist's workday is structured around client sessions, but there is substantially more work happening before and after each appointment.

A typical day for a therapist in an agency setting starts around 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. with a brief team huddle or individual supervision. From 9:00 a.m. onward, the schedule is built around therapy sessions, usually 45 to 60 minutes each with 10 to 15 minutes between for documentation and transition. A full clinical day might include six to eight client sessions, interspersed with case notes, treatment plan updates, and phone calls to collaterals such as physicians, school counselors, or probation officers.

After the last session, therapists often spend an hour or more writing notes. In agency settings, documentation standards are strict because insurance companies require them. Notes must describe what was discussed, what interventions were used, the client's progress toward treatment goals, and the plan for the next session.

In private practice, the schedule is more flexible. Many private practice therapists see four to seven clients per day and use the remaining time for administrative work, marketing, consultation, or personal development. Some work evenings or weekends to accommodate clients who cannot attend during business hours.

Physical environment depends on setting. Community mental health offices are often functional but plain. Hospital outpatient clinics are clinical. Schools have offices adjacent to student areas. Private practices range from modest suites to high-end offices designed for comfort and privacy.

Therapists do not do heavy physical work, but the job is demanding in ways that are easy to underestimate. Holding emotional space for multiple clients per day, each carrying their own trauma or distress, requires genuine energy management. Many therapists leave work physically tired in a way that is different from physical labor.

Skills That Matter

Technical Skills:

Clinical assessment and diagnosis (using DSM-5-TR or ICD-10 criteria) ability to identify presenting problems and determine appropriate treatmentTreatment planning structuring a logical sequence of therapeutic interventions aligned with client goalsEvidence-based therapeutic modalities proficiency in modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, or Structural Family TherapyCrisis intervention recognizing risk (suicidality, homicide, abuse) and responding with appropriate safety planning and referralDocumentation and clinical record-keeping writing notes that satisfy both clinical and insurance requirementsTelehealth delivery conducting therapy via video platforms competently and securely

Soft Skills:

Emotional regulation managing your own emotional responses so they do not contaminate the therapeutic spaceListening without agenda suspending your own perspective to truly hear what the client is communicating, including what is not being saidBoundary management maintaining appropriate limits around time, availability, self-disclosure, and dual relationshipsEmpathy without rescue genuinely understanding what a client is experiencing without trying to fix it for them or absorbing it yourselfPatience with slow progress accepting that meaningful change is rarely linear and often takes longer than clients or therapists would likeCultural humility recognizing how your own cultural background shapes your perspective and actively working to understand each client's cultural context

Tools & Technology

Therapists use a range of tools in their daily practice, from clinical frameworks to software platforms.

Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems

Platforms such as SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, NextGen Healthcare, Valant, and eClinicalWorks are standard in modern practice. These systems handle scheduling, clinical notes, billing, insurance claims, and client intake forms. Most are cloud-based, which means therapists can access records from any location. Learning the basics takes a few hours; becoming proficient takes a few weeks.

Telehealth Platforms

Zoom for Healthcare, Doxy.me, and SimplePractice's built-in telehealth module are the most common. Therapists must understand HIPAA-compliant setup, which includes using business accounts rather than personal ones, ensuring a private location, and using encrypted connections.

Assessment and Screening Tools

Standardized instruments include the PHQ-9 (depression severity), GAD-7 (anxiety severity), PCL-5 (PTSD symptoms), AUDIT (alcohol use), and DAST (drug use). These are typically administered at intake and at regular intervals to track progress. Many EHR systems include these as built-in templates.

Billing and Insurance Software

Therapists who accept insurance must submit claims using CPT codes (90832, 90834, 90837 for individual therapy; 90846, 90847 for family or couples). Understanding the difference between in-network and out-of-network billing, deductible tracking, and superbill generation is a necessary skill, particularly in private practice.

Clinical Decision Support

While AI-driven tools are emerging, most therapists currently rely on their training, consultation with colleagues, and clinical judgment rather than algorithmic support. Some use practice management software that includes treatment plan templates or outcome tracking dashboards.

Work Environment

Most therapy is conducted in an office setting, one-on-one, in a room designed to be private and comfortable. The office is typically small, soundproofed, and arranged with two chairs (one for the therapist, one for the client). Some offices include a couch, though this is less common in contemporary practice.

Therapists rarely work standard 9-to-5 schedules. Many offer early morning, evening, or weekend slots to accommodate client work schedules. A full-time therapist with a full caseload typically works 35 to 45 hours per week, including evenings. Part-time schedules are common and feasible, particularly in private practice.

Travel is minimal in most therapy roles. However, therapists working in schools, in-home services, or correctional facilities may travel between multiple sites during a workday. Mileage reimbursement policies vary by employer.

Team environments depend on setting. Community mental health agencies typically have clinical teams with regular case conference meetings and group supervision. Hospital outpatient clinics function as part of a broader medical team. Private practice is the most independent, though many private practice therapists belong to peer consultation groups that meet monthly.

Union representation is uncommon for therapists in the United States, particularly in private practice. Agency-based therapists may have union representation in some urban public health systems, but this is not the norm.

Physical demands are low. The job is sedentary. However, therapists who carry high caseloads of trauma survivors or clients in acute distress can experience vicarious trauma (also called secondary traumatic stress), compassion fatigue, and burnout. Self-care is not optional in this profession, it is a professional competency.

Challenges & Drawbacks

The therapist profession has significant rewards, but it also has honest drawbacks that are worth knowing before you invest six to ten years in training.

Emotional toll. Holding space for people's pain is the work, and it takes a real psychological toll. You will hear stories of abuse, loss, violence, and despair. Even therapists who are professionally healthy and well-supervised experience cumulative emotional load. Many therapists reduce their caseloads in their 50s and 60s because the work becomes harder to sustain at the same intensity.

Low pay early in the career. The path to licensure takes years, and during the supervised post-graduate period, salaries are modest. A pre-licensed therapist in community mental health might earn $45,000 to $50,000. Student loan debt from graduate school often exceeds $100,000. The financial math only starts to work well after licensure and building a sustainable practice.

Administrative burden. Insurance billing, documentation, credentialing, and utilization reviews take real time. Many therapists report spending as much time on paperwork as on client contact. This is especially frustrating in agency settings where administrative load is heavy.

Burnout in community mental health. Agency settings often pay less but carry higher caseloads, sicker populations, and higher-acuity clients. Turnover in community mental health is a known problem. Many therapists enter these settings to serve underserved populations and leave within a few years because the pace is unsustainable.

Slow progress. Therapists are trained to be patient, but that patience is tested when clients cancel repeatedly, drop out after two sessions, or make the same choices they swore they would not make. The work does not offer the frequent wins of some other professions. Progress is often invisible week to week.

Licensing restrictions. Practicing across state lines is complicated. Each state has its own license, and the compacts that allow cross-state practice have not yet achieved full adoption. If you want to move or work remotely with clients in different states, you need to navigate a patchwork of regulations.

Who Thrives

You might thrive as a therapist if:

You are genuinely curious about people and find human behavior fascinating rather than predictable or boring.You are comfortable sitting with discomfort, your own and other people's, without rushing to resolve it.You process your own experiences in therapy or supervision and have done significant personal work.You can compartmentalize enough to finish writing your notes after a heavy session and then leave the office without carrying every client's problems home with you.You are comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, because most clients do not fit neatly into diagnostic boxes.You value depth over speed. You would rather understand one person deeply than process a high volume of surface-level interactions.You have a durable sense of purpose. The financial rewards are real but delayed, and the emotional rewards are real but variable. You need to believe the work matters.You are self-directed and comfortable with professional solitude, especially if you end up in private practice.You are a strong reader of context and subtext. What people say and what they mean are often different, and you notice the difference.You can hold your own perspective while genuinely trying on someone else's. You do not enter every session already knowing what the client should do.

How to Break In

Breaking into therapy requires a long runway. Here is a concrete step-by-step approach.

Step 1: Get relevant undergraduate experience

Before committing to graduate school, work or volunteer in a setting where you interact with people in distress. A crisis hotline, a group home, a school counseling office, or a case management role will give you a realistic preview of what the emotional demands of the work feel like. This is also how you build the application profile for a competitive graduate program.

Step 2: Choose your discipline and program carefully

Research the licensing requirements in the state where you plan to practice before choosing a graduate program. An MSW with a clinical concentration is the most versatile degree, opening paths to social work, case management, and mental health counseling. An MA in counseling or marriage and family therapy is more focused but may have narrower scope depending on your goals. A PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology opens the widest range of practice settings (including hospitals and academia) but takes the longest and costs the most.

Accreditation matters. Programs accredited by CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) or COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) are the standard for licensure in most states.

Step 3: Build clinical hours strategically during grad school

Practicum and internship placements are not all equal. A placement in a community mental health center treating high-acuity clients will prepare you for the real world better than a placement in a well-resourced outpatient setting where cases are less complex. Seek out placements that will challenge you and expose you to the populations you want to serve.

Step 4: Plan for the post-graduate supervised hours period

The two to three years after graduation, while you accumulate supervised hours toward licensure, are the period where many aspiring therapists get stuck or frustrated. Research your state's requirements carefully. Some states allow you to count hours from multiple supervised settings; others are more restrictive. Plan your job search around settings that will support your development and your path to licensure.

Step 5: Pass the licensure exam on the first attempt if possible

Exam retakes cost time and money and delay your career start. Take practice exams, use study guides specific to your discipline (the NCMHCE, EPPP, or AMFTRB), and treat exam prep seriously. The investment pays off immediately upon passing.

Step 6: Build your practice or find a setting that fits

Once licensed, you have options: stay in agency work for stability and supervision, join a group practice where you are an employee with a share of overhead, or start your own private practice. Each has trade-offs. Private practice offers the highest income potential and schedule flexibility but requires business skills you were not taught in graduate school. Group practice is a good middle ground.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Choosing a graduate program without verifying it meets your state's licensure requirementsUnderestimating the emotional demands and entering without a personal support structureGoing into significant graduate school debt without a realistic plan for repaymentIsolating in private practice without ongoing consultation or supervision, which increases error and burnout risk

Related Career Alternatives

Self-Assessment Questions

Ask yourself:

Can I spend 45 minutes with someone in genuine distress without trying to fix them, and without it ruining my afternoon?Do I have a personal practice or support system that helps me process difficult emotional material?Am I comfortable with a career where my income is limited by the number of sessions I can conduct in a day?Can I maintain appropriate boundaries with people I genuinely care about, especially if they are going through hard times?Am I willing to invest in graduate education that will not pay off financially for five to eight years?Do I have the patience for a slow-building career where early progress is measured in hours logged, not promotions earned?Am I comfortable working independently and making clinical decisions without a team around me?Do I feel drawn to understanding human behavior at a depth that goes beyond what most people find interesting?

Key Threats to Watch

1. Insurance reimbursement rates have stagnated while costs have not.

Many commercial insurance plans have not increased therapist reimbursement rates in years, even as practice costs (rent, EHR software, liability insurance, continuing education) have risen. This creates margin pressure, particularly for therapists in private practice who are unwilling or unable to raise fees aggressively. Some therapists respond by dropping insurance and going out-of-network, but this limits access for clients who cannot afford higher out-of-pocket costs.

2. AI-powered digital therapeutics are gaining regulatory approval.

Apps such as Pear Therapeutics' reSET and Akili Interactive's EndeavorRx have received FDA clearance for treating substance use disorder and ADHD respectively. These are not therapy replacements, but they do change the competitive landscape for how mild to moderate mental health conditions are treated. The risk to therapists is not replacement but rather pressure from insurers to refer clients to digital tools before or alongside human therapy.

3. Scope of practice expansions are changing the professional landscape.

Psychiatric nurse practitioners in many states are pushing for expanded scope, including full prescribing authority and independent practice, which encroaches on territory previously exclusive to psychiatrists. Optometrists, pharmacists, and other professionals have successfully expanded their scope in the past. If this trend accelerates, the market for therapist-provided services could face new competition.

4. Burnout and attrition are reducing the supply of experienced therapists.

The pandemic-era surge in demand for mental health services coincided with a wave of experienced therapists leaving agency settings for private practice or leaving the field entirely. Community mental health centers, which serve the most vulnerable populations, have been hit hardest. A shrinking supply of experienced therapists in high-need settings is a structural problem that worsens access for those who can least afford to pay out-of-pocket.

Resources & Next Steps

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) administers the NCMHCE and maintains certification standardsAssociation of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) administers the MFT national examAssociation of Social Work Boards (ASWB) administers the social work licensing examsAmerican Psychological Association (APA) professional standards, accreditation, and career resources for psychologistsBLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Mental Health Counselors salary and job outlook dataBLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Clinical Psychologists salary and job outlook dataHRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis workforce supply and demand projectionsPsychology Today Therapist Finder to research how therapists present themselves professionally and understand the competitive landscapeSAMHSA National Helpline for clients seeking treatment resources, and for therapists to understand the referral landscapeNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) research, statistics, and clinical practice guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a therapist and a psychologist?

A psychologist holds a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) and is licensed to administer and interpret psychological testing, which therapists without doctoral degrees cannot do. In most states, both can provide therapy and diagnose. Psychologists typically earn more and have a broader range of career options, but the path is longer and more expensive. Therapists with master's degrees (LPCs, LMFTs, LCSWs) can practice independently and carry full caseloads in a shorter timeframe.

Q: Can therapists prescribe medication?

No. Only psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and in a few states physician assistants with specific credentials can prescribe psychiatric medication. Therapists refer clients to prescribers when medication evaluation is appropriate. This separation is intentional. Most therapeutic modalities do not require medication, and many clients make significant progress without it.

Q: How long does it take to become a licensed therapist?

Plan for six to ten years from starting undergraduate studies to becoming independently licensed. Four years for a bachelor's degree, two to five years for a graduate degree (depending on discipline), and two to three years of supervised post-graduate experience. The timeline is not short, and shortcuts are not available.

Q: Is the cost of graduate school worth it?

It depends on your goals and financial situation. Many therapists graduate with $80,000 to $150,000 in student loan debt. The financial return is positive for those who build sustainable private practices or move into senior clinical or administrative roles. It is harder to justify in community mental health at entry-level salaries. Look into loan repayment programs, public service loan forgiveness (PSLF), and programs that offer tuition assistance in exchange for service commitments.

Q: Can I work as a therapist part-time?

Yes. Part-time practice is common and feasible, particularly in private practice. Many therapists start part-time while building a caseload in their first years after licensure. Some maintain part-time caseloads throughout their careers for lifestyle reasons. The main constraint is that you need enough clients to make part-time income viable, which requires an established referral network.

Q: What happens in therapy sessions, exactly?

Sessions begin with a check-in where the client describes what has been happening since the last session. The therapist listens, asks questions, offers observations, and guides the conversation toward therapeutic goals. Depending on the modality, this might involve structured exercises, role-playing, somatic awareness work, cognitive restructuring, or relational exploration. The therapist's job is to help the client understand patterns, develop new responses, and build momentum toward the changes they want to make.

Q: Do I need to have my own therapy before becoming a therapist?

Most graduate programs require personal therapy or at minimum a psychological evaluation before admission. Even where it is not required, it is strongly recommended. You cannot guide others through emotional territory you have not explored yourself. Therapists who skip this step often burn out or harm clients by projecting their own unprocessed material into the therapeutic relationship.

Q: Is telehealth permanently available for therapy?

Yes, with caveats. During the pandemic, regulations were relaxed to allow therapists to practice across state lines and use consumer video platforms. Most of those emergency provisions have been extended or made permanent. However, practicing in a state where you are not licensed remains illegal, and the interstate compacts have not yet covered all disciplines in all states. If you want to practice remotely, verify your state's current rules before doing so.