The short answer
Remote options include VA telehealth positions, your own practice offering telehealth through VA Community Care or CHAMPVA, and contractor networks that serve Veterans and their families. All of them require a full license in each state where your clients are located, and most expect a private, HIPAA-appropriate setup.
What remote work exists for therapists who want to serve Veterans?
More than most people expect. VA uses telehealth widely, and both VA Community Care and CHAMPVA can pay for telehealth from community providers. The main options:
| Option | Employment type | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| VA telehealth positions | Federal employee | Benefits and structure; VA schedule and systems. See VA Careers. |
| Your own telehealth practice | Self-employed | Full control; you handle CCN contracting, CHAMPVA billing, and authorizations |
| Contractor networks | 1099 contractor | Varies by network; the network handles some or all of the admin |
| Group practices with telehealth | W-2 or 1099 | Varies; some take Veterans' programs, many don't |
What does every remote option require?
- A full license in the client's state. You can only treat clients physically located in states where you're licensed. Some compacts are expanding this. See Counseling Compact, PSYPACT, and the Social Work Compact.
- A private, secure setup. A room where no one overhears, a HIPAA-appropriate video platform, and reliable internet. See HIPAA telehealth setup.
- An emergency plan. Confirm the client's location each session and know local emergency resources.
- Your own malpractice coverage that covers telehealth, if you're a contractor or in private practice.
What should you look for in a remote role?
Remote work can be wonderful or isolating, flexible or rigid. Ask:
- Who sets my hours, and is there a weekly minimum?
- How do referrals reach me?
- Who handles authorizations and billing for VA programs?
- When am I paid, and does a denial affect my pay?
- Who do I contact when something goes wrong?
See Questions to Ask Before Joining a Practice or Platform.
How ValorWell handles this
ValorWell is a fully remote, telehealth-first option. Therapists work from home as 1099 contractors and treat Veterans, spouses, and children of Veterans in the states where they're licensed. ValorWell needs therapists in every state.
- You set your availability and capacity in ValorWell's EHR, and turn new clients on or off any time.
- ValorWell handles credentialing, authorizations, billing, and claims for CHAMPVA and VA Community Care.
- You're paid weekly for sessions you documented that pay period, and denials don't come out of your pay.
- The arrangement is nonexclusive, so it can sit alongside a private practice or another job.
Important limits
- Remote isn't the same as unlimited reach. Your licenses decide where your clients can be.
- 1099 work has no benefits. Factor in health insurance, retirement, and taxes.
- Referrals vary. Demand differs by state and program, and no network can guarantee a full caseload.
- Isolation is real. Build your own peer consultation. VA's free PTSD Consultation Program is one resource.