Which statement about licensure and competence is true?

• A. If something is within the scope of practice, it guarantees competence
• B. Licensure guarantees the ability to practice in any state
• C. The scope of practice defines the services authorized by licensure and may differ by state
• D. Licensure is optional for telehealth

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is that licensure sets what a clinician is legally allowed to do, and that permission is defined by each state. The scope of practice outlines the specific services and activities that licensure covers, and this can vary from state to state. Competence is about actually having the ability and ongoing capability to perform those services safely and ethically; a license by itself does not guarantee you’re competent in every situation. Licensure being tied to a state is why it doesn’t automatically allow practice in another state, especially in telehealth where patient location and state rules matter. So the statement that the scope of practice defines the services authorized by licensure and may differ by state is the accurate one.