If you’ve been convicted of a DUI in California but live out of state, you may wonder: Does California allow out-of-state telehealth for DUI charges?
The short, clear answer is: no. California does not permit an out-of-state telehealth provider to satisfy your DUI program requirements.
The state only accepts DUI education or treatment services offered by California-licensed programs, and even then, those services must meet specific regulatory criteria for virtual delivery.
In this article, Downbeach reviews what California allows and doesn’t allow. We will explain why the restriction exists, explore how virtual telehealth options work within state programs, and address common questions someone in your position might have.
The goal is to give you clarity, help you make informed decisions, and avoid wasted time or unaccepted programs.
When someone is convicted of a DUI in California, the court or DMV often requires completion of a state-licensed DUI education, counseling, or treatment program before restoring driving privileges.
If you live out of state, or even far from your court’s jurisdiction, you may hope to complete that requirement remotely through a telehealth provider in your home state. That’s an appealing possibility. But because regulatory compliance matters to courts, licensing boards, and the state, not every program is accepted.
If you choose a provider that isn’t acceptable under California law, you risk having your program rejected, driving privileges withheld or extended, and incurring additional legal entanglements. As an expert in behavioral health content strategy, I emphasize that clarity around what does count is essential for both treatment centers and clients.
California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) licenses all DUI programs and monitors their compliance. California does not license purely internet-based DUI programs that lack a physical location within the state.
Under Title 9, a provider must have a physical address in which DUI services are offered; purely remote programs with no in-state location are not eligible for licensure.
Because of that, a telehealth provider based entirely out of state would be outside the licensing jurisdiction and thus unable to meet state requirements.
That does not mean no telehealth is allowed. California permits virtual services under specific conditions when they are part of an already licensed DUI program. DHCS issued guidance recognizing “virtual services” as allowable, but only when delivered by a licensed program that still retains a physical California presence.
Those programs must still adhere to the same group-session durations, education hour minimums, and regulatory rules as in-person programs.
In practice, this means a California DUI program may offer hybrid or remote delivery (via teleconference, video platforms) for some elements, but part—or even all—of your participation must still operate under their license.
California’s laws are explicit: you cannot satisfy your DUI obligation by enrolling in a fully online program outside the state. Any service that is purely “online DUI school” — without affiliation to a California-licensed provider — is not sufficient under state law.
In fact, many sources caution that “online DUI” offers are misleading because they are not recognized by courts or DMV for license reinstatement in California.
Even under COVID-era flexibilities, fully remote programs were treated as temporary relief measures, not permanent acceptance of out-of-state telehealth as a general rule. Once emergency orders expired, the state returned to enforcing the standard requirements.
If your conviction is in California, you will need to enroll in a DUI program licensed by DHCS. It may be in the county of your conviction (or a nearby county) or one that accepts transfers. Even if you live elsewhere, enrollment must be with a valid California provider.
Some California DUI providers offer remote or hybrid participation, which can mitigate travel burden. For example, certain providers, namely Shanti Recovery and Wellness, allow virtual attendance of group sessions or counseling so long as the provider maintains its in-state license.
If you were hoping to sign up with a telehealth program in your own state and have it count toward your California requirement, that generally will not work. Out-of-state telehealth providers lack a California license, and their service would almost certainly be rejected by the court or DMV for program completion documentation.
In some counties, the court or program may grant transfers or “leave of absence” accommodations for unavoidable travel, but that is very different from wholesale acceptance of an out-of-state program.
While a fully out-of-state telehealth program following a DUI is not permissible, many California DUI programs, including Shanti Recovery and Wellness, adopt hybrid or virtual tools to reduce the load on participants.
Virtual group meetings, secure video counseling, and remote check-ins can be part of service delivery under the licensed provider’s structure. If your provider offers remote options, ask which elements can be done virtually and which still require in-person attendance.
On the surface, forbidding out-of-state telehealth may feel rigid, but there are key reasons:
Because of these rationales, the state draws a clear boundary: virtual is allowed within licensed programs, but out-of-state telehealth as a substitute is not acceptable.
Does California allow out-of-state telehealth for DUI charges? The answer is no, not in the way many people hope. California requires DUI programs to be licensed in the state and does not accept out-of-state telehealth providers to fulfill those obligations.
That said, many California-licensed DUI programs now incorporate virtual elements or hybrid delivery to ease access.
If you live out of state but have a California DUI order, your path forward is to find a valid California program, possibly with virtual components, and verify its licensure. Stick with recognized providers, clarify what is remote vs. in-person, and avoid unverified “online DUI schools” that may not count.
No. California’s regulatory framework disallows a fully remote out-of-state service to satisfy DUI obligations. A licensed California DUI program may offer remote components, but total reliance on an out-of-state telehealth provider is not permitted.
You may still work with your originally assigned California-licensed provider if they allow virtual delivery. But any change requiring a new provider must still use a California-licensed program. You cannot simply switch to a local telehealth provider in your new state.
Be cautious. Many online DUI programs operate without state licensure and are not valid under California law. Even if they appear cheaper or faster, courts and DMV will likely reject their completion certificates.
During the COVID-19 emergency, California issued flexibilities allowing broader use of virtual services. But these were temporary measures, not a permanent allowance of out-of-state telehealth providers. After the emergency period, enforcement reverted to standard rules.
Ask for the program’s DHCS license number, confirm their physical address in California, and check whether they explicitly state they provide virtual or hybrid services under a state license. You can also consult the DHCS or the county alcohol and drug program office to confirm provider legitimacy.
