Physician noncompete laws by state

18 states void noncompetes for physicians, 10 limit them by time, distance, pay or employer type, and the rest leave it to the courts. Every row names the statute and the date it took effect. Checked 2026-09-29.

This is a summary, not legal advice. New laws usually apply only to contracts signed after the effective date. Have a physician contract lawyer read your agreement before you sign.

StateNoncompeteWhat the law saysLawLicensure compactJobs
Alabama Void for physicians Courts treat physicians as professionals exempt from noncompetes. Ala. Code § 8-1-190 et seq. and case law member (faster multi-state licensing) 5
Arkansas Void for physicians Noncompetes with physicians are void. Ark. Code § 4-75-101(k)
from 2025 		law passed, not yet active 4
California Void for physicians Noncompetes are void for nearly all workers, physicians included. Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 16600, 16600.1 not a member 12
Colorado Void for physicians Noncompetes and patient non-solicits for physicians are void, at any income. C.R.S. § 8-2-113 (SB 25-083)
from 2025-08-06 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 3
Delaware Void for physicians Physician noncompetes are void. A contract can still set damages for leaving. Del. Code tit. 6, § 2707 member (faster multi-state licensing) 1
Massachusetts Void for physicians Physician noncompetes are void. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 112, § 12X not a member 19
Minnesota Void for physicians Noncompetes are void for nearly all workers, physicians included. Minn. Stat. § 181.988
from 2023-07-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 30
Montana Void for physicians Noncompetes and patient non-solicits for physicians are void. Mont. Code § 28-2-724
from 2026-01-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 9
New Hampshire Void for physicians Physician noncompetes are void. N.H. Rev. Stat. § 329:31-a member (faster multi-state licensing)
New Mexico Void for physicians Void for employed health care practitioners. Owners of the practice can still be bound. NMSA 1978 § 24A-9-1 et seq. law passed, not yet active 1
North Dakota Void for physicians Noncompetes are void for nearly all workers, physicians included. N.D.C.C. § 9-08-06 member (faster multi-state licensing) 8
Oklahoma Void for physicians Noncompetes are void for all employees. Non-solicits of customers can still apply. Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 219A member (faster multi-state licensing) 8
Oregon Void for physicians Void for medical licensees, with narrow exceptions (for example owners). Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 653.295, 653.297 (SB 951)
from 2025-06-09 		not a member 4
Rhode Island Void for physicians Physician noncompetes and patient non-solicits are void. R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37-33
from 2016-07-12 		law passed, not yet active 3
South Dakota Void for physicians Physician noncompetes are void. S.D. Codified Laws § 53-9-11.1 et seq.
from 2023-07-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 1
Utah Void for physicians Noncompetes for health care workers, physicians included, are void. Utah Code § 34-51-201 et seq.
from 2026-05-06 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 10
Virginia Void for physicians Noncompetes for health care professionals licensed by the Board of Medicine are void. Va. Code § 40.1-28.7:8
from 2026-07-01 		not a member 28
Wyoming Void for physicians Physician noncompetes are void. Wyo. Stat. § 1-23-108
from 2025-07-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 1
Connecticut Limited by state law At most 1 year and 15 miles from the main practice site. Not enforceable if the employer ends the job without cause. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-14p member (faster multi-state licensing) 10
District of Columbia Limited by state law Void unless you are a medical specialist paid $250,000 or more; then up to 2 years. D.C. Code § 32-581.01 et seq.
from 2022-10-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 1
Florida Limited by state law Void only in a county where one employer employs every physician in that specialty. Otherwise courts decide. Fla. Stat. § 542.336 member (faster multi-state licensing) 51
Indiana Limited by state law Void when the employer is a hospital or hospital system. Other employers must offer a buyout. Ind. Code § 25-22.5-5.5 (SEA 475)
from 2025-07-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 8
Iowa Limited by state law Void for University of Iowa Health Care physicians only. Other employers: courts decide. Iowa HF 2254
from 2026 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 7
Louisiana Limited by state law Specialists: ends 5 years after the first contract (primary care 3). Only your parish and two next to it. La. R.S. 23:921 (Act 273)
from 2025-01-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 20
Maryland Limited by state law Void if you earn $350,000 or less. Above that: at most 1 year and 10 miles. Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-716 (HB 1388)
from 2025-07-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 18
Pennsylvania Limited by state law Anything longer than 1 year is void. Void if the employer dismisses you. 35 P.S. §§ 10321-10327
from 2025-01-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 23
Tennessee Limited by state law Allowed within statutory limits on time and distance. Emergency physicians exempt. Tenn. Code § 63-1-148 member (faster multi-state licensing) 10
Texas Limited by state law At most 1 year and 5 miles; buyout capped at 1 year of pay. Void if fired without good cause. Tex. Bus. & Com. Code §§ 15.50, 15.501 (SB 1318)
from 2025-09-01 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 57
Washington Ban coming All noncompetes become void on 2027-06-30. Until then, allowed above the state pay threshold. RCW 49.62 (HB 1155)
from 2027-06-30 		member (faster multi-state licensing) 12
Alaska Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. law passed, not yet active
Arizona Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 12
Georgia Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 9
Hawaii Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. issues compact licenses, cannot be your home state 1
Idaho Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing)
Illinois Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 13
Kansas Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 4
Kentucky Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 8
Maine Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing)
Michigan Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 24
Mississippi Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 4
Missouri Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 4
Nebraska Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing)
Nevada Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing)
New Jersey Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 16
New York Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. not a member (bill introduced) 19
North Carolina Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 15
Ohio Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 16
South Carolina Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. not a member 33
Vermont Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing)
West Virginia Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 17
Wisconsin Courts decide No physician-specific statute. Courts decide case by case whether the time, distance and scope are reasonable. member (faster multi-state licensing) 22

Sources: state statutes and legal trackers linked in each row; licensure compact status from IMLCC. Found an error? Email [email protected].