Add a Second State License in SimplePractice
By George Ruan • October 7, 2026
Last reviewed: October 7, 2026.
To add a second state license in SimplePractice, open the clinician’s Settings > Profile > Clinical info, choose Add license under License and degree info, and save the new state’s details. Keep the same clinician profile and NPI. Adding the license records it in your EHR; it does not make you in network with insurers in that state.
Sections
Add the license
Make sure you are editing the clinician who holds the license, especially in a group account.
Go to Settings > Profile > Clinical info. Under License and degree info, select Add license.
Enter the license type, number, expiration date, and state from the board’s record, then Save.
Reopen the section and check each field. Keep the existing license; do not overwrite it.
SimplePractice’s account setup guide and Operations settings reference place license state and expiration under Clinical info. Watch for leading zeros, letter prefixes, and expiration dates that differ by state.
One NPI, one profile
Do not create a second clinician profile or apply for another individual NPI for the new state. CMS explains that an NPI stays the same when your information changes and does not carry location. A duplicate profile splits your schedule, notes, and claims.
What a new state license sets in motion
When a clinician tells us they are now licensed in another state, the EHR update is the small part. In our experience:
Credentialing starts from the license on file. Once the new license is on file, we can start credentialing with payers in that state. Usually nothing more is needed from the clinician at that point.
Payers ask for the license itself. Applications in the new state often need a copy of that state’s license. Payers only get licenses that are actually on file, so a pending application is not enough.
Renewals need updating too. When a license renews, update the expiration in the EHR and in your credentialing records, so payers do not flag it as expired.
Separately, confirm the board’s rules for where the client is located during telehealth, and check NPPES and CAQH for any updates they need. Saving a license in SimplePractice does not update those.
Before the first visit in the new state
Confirm the payer’s participation and effective date for that state before telling a client they are in network. Check the first claim preview: service location, place of service, and billing details should reflect where and how the visit actually happened. If the new state means a different billing entity, see claim rules for multiple tax IDs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does adding a license make me in network in that state?
No. You need to be credentialed with each payer for that state. The license is what lets that process start.
Do I need a new NPI for a second state?
No. Your individual NPI does not change with location. Add the license to your existing profile.
My new license is still pending. Should I add it?
Wait until it is issued. Enter the real number and expiration from the board’s record.
Sources
SimplePractice: Readying your account
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