Guide · Medical oversight
How to choose a good faith exam provider
Choose a good faith exam provider whose clinicians are licensed in your state, who examine clients the way your state requires (often a live video visit, not just a questionnaire), and who give you a clear, signed record you can keep. Price matters, but an exam that would not hold up to your state board costs more than any fee.
This guide lists the questions worth asking any provider, including us, before you send them your clients.
Updated November 3, 2026. General information, not legal advice; rules differ by state.
1. Licensed in your state, every time
The clinician must hold a license in the state where the client is treated. Ask how the provider matches exams to licensed clinicians, what happens when no licensed clinician is available, and whether they cover every state you operate in or plan to.
Also ask which kinds of clinicians examine your clients. Some states allow nurse practitioners or physician assistants to perform the exam; others expect a physician.
2. How the exam is done
Many states expect a real-time evaluation, often by live audio-video, and an online form on its own may not be enough. Ask whether the provider uses live video where your state requires it, how long a typical visit takes, and how the clinician verifies the client's identity.
A provider that offers the same process in every state is worth questioning: state rules differ, and so should the exam.
3. The record you receive
You should get a signed record for each client: the clinician's name and license, the date and method of the exam, the treatments cleared or declined, any conditions for your staff, and how long the clearance is valid. Ask to see a sample before you sign up.
Ask, too, what you do not receive. A client's full health history is protected health information; a good provider keeps it with the clinician and shares only what your staff need to treat safely.
4. Pricing models
Providers usually charge per exam, often somewhere around $25 to $35, and some add a monthly platform fee. Compare the total for your realistic monthly volume, and ask whether you pay for no-shows, cancelled requests or exams that end with "not cleared".
The cheapest exam is only cheap if it is valid for your state and arrives in time for the appointment.
5. How clinicians are paid
Ask whether the clinician is paid the same whether or not they clear the client. A clinician who earns more for approving has an incentive you do not want behind your treatments. A provider that pays a flat fee per exam, whatever the outcome, keeps the decision clinical.
6. Turnaround, privacy and fit with your day
Ask how quickly clients can be seen, what happens if a clinician misses a visit, and how you request exams: a link you send the client, a portal, or an integration with your booking software. Check that video visits run on a platform covered by a HIPAA business associate agreement and that the provider will sign the agreements your practice needs.
What a good faith exam provider does not replace
An exam covers the evaluation and the clinical decision for a client. Depending on your state, you may still need a medical director or supervising practitioner for protocols, supervision of staff and complications. Ask any provider which of those roles they fill, and get it in writing.
Common questions
- Can any telehealth company do my good faith exams?
- Only if its clinicians are licensed in your state and the exam meets your state's rules on how it is performed and documented. Ask for both before you start.
- Is a questionnaire-only good faith exam enough?
- In many states, no. Rules often call for a real-time evaluation by the clinician, frequently by live video. Check your state's requirements and the provider's method.
- What should a good faith exam cost?
- Per-exam prices commonly sit around $25 to $35, and some providers also charge a monthly fee. Compare the total for your volume and what is included, such as no-shows and records.
- How does KiteMD handle good faith exams?
- A clinician licensed in your client's state reviews their health history and, where the state requires it, holds a live Google Meet visit under a HIPAA business associate agreement. You receive the signed outcome in your portal. Clinicians are paid the same flat fee whatever they decide.
Good faith exams from KiteMD
KiteMD runs telehealth good faith exams for med spas: licensed clinicians, a flat fee per exam, clinicians paid the same whatever the outcome, and the signed record in your portal.