Definitive Directory of New York Professions Requiring a PLLC, PC, DPC, or LLP

If you are planning to open a private practice or professional firm in New York and want personal liability protection, you cannot simply form a standard Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Business Corporation (Inc.). Under New York law, licensed professionals must form a New York PLLCs or other specialized professional entities to offer their services to the public while protecting their personal assets.

This page serves as a definitive 2026 directory of the New York professionals that require a PLLC, PC, DPC, or LLP. If your specific profession is on this list, operating through a standard LLC or corporation is a violation of state law that can lead to severe fines, license suspension, and even imprisonment.

The “Corporate Practice of Professions” Doctrine

New York strictly enforces the “Corporate Practice of Professions” doctrine. This legal framework ensures that only individuals who are licensed, regulated, and professionally accountable to the state can own and manage a business that provides professional services. The doctrine prevents unlicensed individuals or business investors from prioritizing corporate profits over professional ethics and patient care. (For information on how unlicensed investors can legally partner with professionals, see the MSO Model section below.)

A Note on Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships: It is legally permissible to operate your practice as a basic sole proprietorship or a general partnership. However, doing so is highly discouraged because it leaves your personal assets (like your home and personal savings) completely exposed to business debts, lease liabilities, and lawsuits.

If you want to protect your personal assets by forming a formal business entity, Title 8 of the New York Education Law dictates that you must form a specific professional entity. These include:

• PLLC: Professional Service Limited Liability Company
• PC: Professional Service Corporation
• LLP: Registered Limited Liability Partnership
• DPC: Design Professional Corporation

Directory: Which Professions Require a Professional Entity in NY?

Below is the complete, categorized list of the specific professionals who must obtain state pre-approval and form a professional entity to legally operate a protected practice in New York State. If the practitioner’s title differs from the statutory license category, the official NYSED profession is listed in parentheses.

Note: If you do not see your specific license listed above, or you wish to verify statutory classifications, you can review the official NYSED Office of the Professions directory.

Multi-Profession Practices: Can Different Professionals Partner Up?

Many professionals want to open multi-disciplinary practices (for example, a physical therapist and an acupuncturist partnering to open a wellness clinic). New York has strict rules regarding whether different licensed professionals can co-own the same business entity:

• Professional Corporations (PCs): PCs generally cannot have owners with different professions. All shareholders in a standard PC must be licensed in the exact same profession.
• Design Professional Corporations (DPCs): DPCs are specialized entities strictly for the design fields (Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, and Geology). DPCs can be multi-profession, provided the offered services are strictly limited to those recognized design professions. Furthermore, DPCs offer a rare exception to the general ownership rules: they can have less than 25% of their ownership held by non-licensed individuals (such as an office manager or CFO), provided specific corporate governance requirements are met.
• PLLCs and LLPs: These entities generally allow for multi-profession ownership, provided that all owners are licensed professionals and the entity legally offers the services for which the owners are licensed.

The “Strict Prohibition” Exceptions for Co-Ownership:
Even within PLLCs and LLPs, New York law absolutely forbids multi-profession co-ownership if the entity will practice any of the following specific professions. If your practice involves any of these, all co-owners must share the exact same license:

• Certified Behavior Analyst Assistants
• Creative Arts Therapists (LCAT)
• Dentists
• Licensed Behavior Analysts
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
• Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
• Mental Health Counselors (LMHC)
• Physicians (MD or DO)
• Psychoanalysts
• Veterinarians

The Single-Owner Exception (For PCs and PLLCs):
There is a major exception to these strict rules. If the professional entity has only one owner, that PLLC or PC can be legally set up to practice all of the professions that the single owner is individually licensed in. For example, if a single individual is dual-licensed as both a Physician (MD) and an Acupuncturist, their single-member PLLC or PC can legally provide both medical and acupuncture services.

Partnering with Unlicensed Individuals (The MSO Model)

Because of the corporate practice rules, unlicensed individuals—including business investors, marketing experts, or even a professional’s spouse or family member—cannot own any percentage of a standard New York professional entity (PLLC or PC, with the sole exception of a minority interest in a DPC).

To legally navigate this, many practices use the Management Services Organization (MSO) model. This is the industry-standard structure used by some of the largest urgent care chains and primary care groups in New York. Under this model:

• The Professional Entity (PLLC/PC) is owned 100% by the licensed professional and provides all clinical care.
• The MSO (Standard LLC or Business Corporation) is owned by the unlicensed partners, spouse, or investor group. The MSO provides branding, office space, non-clinical staffing, and billing in exchange for a management fee.

Common MSO Application: MedSpas. Modern MedSpas often use this dual-entity approach. The MSO (the Corporation or LLC) handles the “Beauty & Appearance Enhancement” side (salon/spa services that do not require NYSED licensing), while the PLLC handles medical-grade treatments (like Botox or laser therapy) performed by licensed clinicians.

Exceptions: Which Licensed Jobs Do NOT Need a Professional Entity?

One of the most common myths in New York business law is that “if you need a license, you need a PLLC.” This is false. The requirement to form a professional entity generally only applies to professions licensed under Title 8 of the NYSED Education Law (plus attorneys).

If your specific profession is not on the list above, you likely do not need to form a professional entity, even if you hold a state or municipal license. The following professionals are perfectly legal to operate through a standard LLC or Business Corporation:

• Skilled Trades & Home Services: Plumbers, electricians, and home inspectors are heavily licensed (either by the Department of State or local municipalities), but they do not fall under the strict corporate practice doctrine. They can use standard LLCs or corporations.
• Beauty & Appearance Enhancement: Cosmetologists, estheticians, nail specialists, hair stylists, and barbers are licensed by the NY Department of State (NYDOS) and can freely form standard LLCs or corporations to operate their salons or spas.
• Real Estate Professionals: Real estate brokers and salespersons are licensed by NYDOS and typically operate through standard LLCs.
• Other State-Licensed Roles: Private investigators, notary publics, and talent agents are all licensed or commissioned by the state, but do not require a PLLC.
• Coaches & Consultants: Because “coaching” (e.g., life coaches, business coaches) is not a state-licensed medical or therapeutic practice, coaches do not form PLLCs. *(Note: If you are a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who also offers coaching, you must be incredibly careful not to blur the lines of your licensed practice).*
• Bookkeepers and Unlicensed Accountants: Only Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and Public Accountants (PAs) require professional entities. General bookkeepers and tax preparers can use standard LLCs.

Did You Accidentally Form a Standard LLC?

If your profession is on the required list above and you are currently operating your practice through a standard LLC, you are in violation of New York law. To be compliant, you’ll need to form a New York PLLC.

After the PLLC is formed, you’ll have to decide what to do with the LLC. Dissolving the LLC to start over can result in the loss of your business bank accounts, your Employer Identification Number (EIN), and your credentialing. Fortunately, New York allows for a legal remedy. While you cannot simply “convert” an LLC into a PLLC, you can execute a Statutory Merger to seamlessly transition your practice without losing your EIN or operational continuity. Learn exactly how this works in our guide: How to Convert an LLC to a PLLC via Statutory Merger.