In-Office PCC Options: Choosing the Right Setup for Your Practice

Effective July 2026 · Portrait Legacy

Adding an in-office PCC is one of the biggest operational decisions you'll make for your practice. This article walks you through everything you need to choose the right setup. Your job is to pick the structure that fits — Portrait handles the rest.

In this article:

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility

In-office PCC support is available to Tier 1 Providers and above. Your tier determines your hours, your stipend ceiling, and whether virtual coverage runs alongside your in-office PCC.

Tier	Eligible?	What's available	Virtual coverage
Tier 2 & Tier 3	No	In-office support is not available.	Virtual coverage (up to 40 hrs/week) is your standard benefit.
Tier 1	Yes	Options A & B. Part-time in-office only, up to 24 hrs/week.	Virtual PCC fills the remaining weekdays (up to 3 days, M–F).
Diamond & Diamond+	Yes	Options A & B. Part-time or full-time in-office, up to 40 hrs/week total.	Part-time: virtual fills the remaining weekdays (up to 3 days, M–F). Full-time: no virtual coverage unless your in-office PCC is OOO.
Diamond Elite	Yes	Options A & B. Part-time or full-time in-office. Highest stipend ceiling ($5,000/month full-time).	Part-time: virtual fills the remaining weekdays. Full-time: no virtual coverage unless your in-office PCC is OOO.

How in-office and virtual coverage work together

Every Portrait Legacy Provider is guaranteed up to 40 hours of PCC coverage per week, Monday through Friday. Adding an in-office PCC doesn't change that guarantee — it changes how those 40 hours are distributed across the week.

The rule is simple: your in-office PCC and your virtual PCC never work on the same day. On the days your in-office PCC is in the Studio, Portrait's virtual team is off for your practice. On the days they're not, virtual coverage kicks in automatically.

You set your in-office PCC's days. Portrait handles all virtual scheduling around them.
Part-time in-office (up to 24 hrs/week): virtual fills the remaining weekdays as part of your standard allotment.
Full-time in-office (25–40 hrs/week): your in-office PCC covers all five days, and virtual is not active by default.
Want both running on the same day? That requires a paid add-on (see Available add-ons).

Either way, your practice is covered every weekday — no gaps, no overlap, and no coordination required on your end.

Step 2: Choose your option

There are two ways to bring a PCC into your Studio. The core difference is who employs them.

Option A — Provider-Hired: You hire your own PCC and choose the employee. Portrait advances a stipend and reconciles it against what you actually paid.
Option B — Portrait-Hired: Portrait employs the PCC and places them in your Studio. You work alongside a Portrait employee — you don't manage one. Portrait makes the final hiring call.

	Option A — Provider-Hired	Option B — Portrait-Hired
Employer of record	You (the Provider)	Portrait Health, Inc.
Who chooses the PCC	You	Portrait
Funding	Stipend advance, paid to you on the 15th	PCC rate starting at $20/hr (up to $28/hr for Diamond Elite)
Documentation	Due within 30 days of the advance	Handled by Portrait
Part-time cap	24 hrs/week	24 hrs/week
Full-time cap	40 hrs/week	40 hrs/week
Virtual included	Part-time only — fills remaining weekdays	Part-time only — fills remaining weekdays
Management fee	Waived (Tier 1+)	Waived (Tier 1+)
Healthcare (full-time)	Your responsibility as employer	Covered by Portrait
Overtime cost	Your responsibility as employer	Your responsibility — deducted from your payout

⚠️ Good to know: If Portrait interviews a candidate for an Option B role and determines they aren't the right fit for Portrait employment, you can still choose to hire them under Option A. Portrait-hired PCCs are hired based on Portrait's requirements and needs, and may be asked to support other Providers in an emergency.

Option A: Stipends by tier

Tier	Part-time stipend (up to 24 hrs/wk)	Full-time stipend (25–40 hrs/wk)	Virtual included
Tier 1	$2,000/month	Not available	Part-time only
Diamond	$3,000/month	$4,000/month	Part-time only
Diamond+	$3,000/month	$4,000/month	Part-time only
Diamond Elite	$3,500/month	$5,000/month	Part-time only

How the stipend works:

Portrait advances the full stipend ceiling on the 15th — not what you actually paid.
You submit documentation of what you paid within 30 days.
Miss the 30-day window and the full advance is clawed back. No exceptions.

Option B: Hourly rates by tier

Tier	Max hourly rate	Management fee	Max weekly hours
Tier 1	$23/hr	Waived	24 hrs (part-time)
Diamond / Diamond+	$25/hr	Waived	40 hrs (full-time)
Diamond Elite	$28/hr	Waived	40 hrs (full-time)

Rate elections above $20/hr must be submitted in writing via ticketing before they take effect.
If you drop a tier, your rate reverts to the new tier's ceiling, and you cover any difference on hours already worked.

Available add-ons (Tier 1 and above)

Add-on	Cost	Who it's for
Part-time virtual upgrade	$600/month	Part-time in-office Providers who want full virtual coverage on non-in-office days.
Part-time virtual add-on	$600/month	Full-time in-office Providers who want part-time virtual coverage on top of full-time in-office.
Full-time virtual add-on	$1,000/month	Full-time in-office Providers who want full-time virtual coverage on top of full-time in-office.
Dual function day — monthly	$600/month	In-office and virtual PCC both active on the same day, up to 3 days/week. Requires a clear scope split between the two PCCs.
Dual function day — ad hoc	$200/day	Single-day dual coverage. Max 8 ad hoc days/month. Submit via ticketing at least 2 business days ahead.
Hybrid PCC arrangement	Not available on request	Portrait assigns hybrid arrangements based on operational need only. Please don't submit a request for this.

All add-on costs are deducted from your monthly payout as a line item.
Submit requests at least 10 business days before your desired start date.
Tier 2 and Tier 3 Providers are not eligible for add-ons.

Core rules for in-office PCC arrangements

These standards protect your PCC, your practice, and your partnership with Portrait. They apply to every Provider with a Portrait-hired PCC.

Schedule

Coverage runs Monday–Friday only. No weekends and no Portrait-recognized national holidays.
In-office and virtual PCCs never work the same day. Virtual fills the remaining weekdays automatically.
Portrait manages virtual scheduling. You set your in-office PCC's days.
Part-time = max 24 hrs/week. Full-time = 25–40 hrs/week. These caps are firm.

Communication

All work communication goes through TigerConnect, the designated support channel. No personal phone numbers.
Provider-hired (Option A) PCCs must have their own TigerConnect user.
No contact outside scheduled working hours. After-hours attempts are logged as violations.
Use the priority message feature for medical emergencies only.
Portrait leadership is included in the group chat at all times.

In-Studio safety

Your PCC is never in the Studio when you are not present. This is non-negotiable without prior written agreement.
Your PCC has the right to decline being in the Studio alone. You may not pressure, require, or penalize them for it.
Exceptions require advance documentation via TigerConnect or email, and the PCC must be clocked in.

Overtime is your cost

Any overtime your PCC accrues is deducted from your monthly payout as a line item.
Overtime = more than 8 hours in a single day, or more than the weekly cap.
Providers who consistently generate overtime risk having Option B revoked.
Overtime is never the PCC's fault. It is always a Provider management issue.

Scope of work

PCCs support your practice — they don't grow it. Marketing, outreach, and social media remain your responsibility.
No personal errands, driving, non-clinical tasks, or personal services.
Beauty Bank, memberships, discontinuing care of Clients, and refunds are Provider responsibilities.
Portrait-assigned meetings and training happen during scheduled hours. Don't deprioritize them.

Employment authority

Portrait-hired PCCs are Portrait employees. You are not their employer, manager, or director.
You cannot terminate a Portrait PCC. Submit any concerns in writing to Paola, Sydney, or Mariela.
Attempting to informally end the arrangement without Portrait carries financial liability.
Portrait makes all final employment decisions. Your input matters — but it is not the decision itself.

California labor law requirements

This section applies to every Provider in California who hosts an in-office PCC, under Option A or Option B. Portrait employing your PCC does not transfer California labor obligations away from you — you are responsible for the day-to-day working conditions you create. Failure to comply may result in removal from Option B and termination of your Portrait Legacy agreement. If you're unsure of your obligations, consult legal counsel before accepting an in-office PCC.

1. Minimum wage

The California state minimum wage is $16.90/hr for 2026, regardless of business size.
Many cities set higher local minimums that override the state rate, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland, San Jose, and Santa Monica.
You must pay whichever rate is highest: state, local, or Portrait's contracted rate. Check your city before agreeing to any PCC rate.
Portrait's Option B base rate starts at $20/hr, which exceeds the state minimum — but some local minimums may be higher.

2. Daily and weekly overtime

California overtime triggers after 8 hours in a single workday — stricter than the federal 40-hour weekly standard.
Hours 8–12 in a day are paid at 1.5x the regular rate.
Hours beyond 12 in a day are paid at 2x (double time).
Hours beyond 40 in a week are paid at 1.5x.
All overtime is deducted from your monthly payout. Consistently generating overtime risks losing Option B access.

3. Meal breaks

If your PCC works more than 5 hours in a day, you must provide at least a 30-minute uninterrupted meal break.
If your PCC works more than 10 hours in a day, a second 30-minute meal break is required.
A missed or interrupted meal break means the PCC is owed one hour of pay at their regular rate of pay as a premium. This premium is your financial responsibility and is deducted from your monthly payout.

4. Rest breaks

Your PCC is entitled to a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked (or major fraction thereof).
Rest breaks should fall as close to the middle of each work period as possible.
Missed rest breaks also trigger a 1-hour premium at the regular rate of pay.
You may not ask your PCC to skip or shorten a rest break for any reason, including high Client volume or appointment overruns.

5. Off-the-clock work

California strictly prohibits off-the-clock work in any form. That includes contacting your PCC about work outside scheduled hours, expecting replies to messages sent after their shift ends, or asking them to complete tasks before clocking in or after clocking out.
Portrait logs all after-hours contact attempts.
Off-the-clock work demands are a zero-tolerance violation and trigger immediate escalation.
Any hours worked must be compensated. No exceptions.

6. Paid sick leave

California employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked.
Sick leave can be used for personal illness, preventive care, caring for a family member, or as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Employers may cap accrual at 80 hours and annual usage at 40 hours (5 days).
Under Option B, Portrait manages sick leave as employer of record. You must not create conditions that penalize your PCC for using leave.

7. PTO and accrual

California prohibits use-it-or-lose-it PTO policies. Earned vacation is treated as wages and cannot be forfeited.
Employers may cap total accrual but cannot take away time already earned.
When employment ends, all accrued vacation must be paid out in the final paycheck.
You may not influence or interfere with your PCC's leave scheduling outside of Portrait's approved process.

8. Timekeeping accuracy

California requires accurate records of all hours worked, including daily overtime triggers.
You're responsible for making sure your Studio environment doesn't produce unreported work time — early arrivals, late departures, or working through breaks.
Inaccurate time records expose you to wage claims and Portrait to legal liability. Both carry financial consequences for you.
Questions about timekeeping? Contact your Portrait Department Manager before an issue arises.

California compliance at a glance

Requirement	Standard	Your obligation
Minimum wage	$16.90/hr state (2026); higher in many cities	Make sure your PCC's rate meets or exceeds the applicable local minimum.
Daily overtime	1.5x after 8 hrs/day; 2x after 12 hrs/day	Don't schedule or allow shifts that regularly exceed 8 hours. For Option B, accrued overtime is charged to you.
Weekly overtime	1.5x after 40 hrs/week	Don't request or pressure hours beyond the weekly cap. For Option B, accrued overtime is charged to you.
Meal breaks	30 min after 5 hrs; second 30 min after 10 hrs	Make sure breaks happen. Don't interrupt or discourage them.
Rest breaks	Paid 10 min per 4 hrs worked	Provide uninterrupted rest. Don't ask your PCC to skip it.
Off-the-clock contact	Prohibited in all forms	No work-related contact outside scheduled hours. Zero tolerance.
Paid sick leave	1 hr per 30 hrs worked; up to 40 hrs/yr usage	Don't penalize or retaliate for leave use.
PTO payout	Earned vacation = wages; paid out on separation	No use-it-or-lose-it. For Option B, Portrait handles final payout.
Timekeeping	All hours recorded and compensated	Don't allow or create conditions for unreported work time.

California labor law violations identified by Portrait or reported by a PCC may result in removal from the in-office program, financial penalties, and/or termination of your Portrait Legacy agreement. Portrait is not responsible for legal or financial consequences arising from violations that occur under Provider management. This section is informational and is not legal advice — consult legal counsel for guidance specific to your Studio and city.

Violation consequences: the strike system

Strike	Level	What happens
Strike 1	Written warning	A formal written warning is documented in your Provider file, and you must acknowledge receipt in writing. You'll have a mandatory call with Sydney and Mariela to reset expectations. No financial consequence at this stage.
Strike 2	Formal notice + financial review	A formal notice is issued. Portrait may apply a financial penalty (e.g., one month's PCC cost deducted from your payout) or place you on a 30-day probationary period. PCC reassignment may occur.
Strike 3	PCC benefit suspension	Your PCC benefit is suspended immediately. You're transitioned to an alternate structure or lose PCC access entirely, and Portrait initiates a program fit review that may result in termination from Portrait Legacy.

Zero-tolerance violations bypass the strike system entirely.

These include any form of harassment, discrimination, or hostile behavior toward a PCC; requests that violate state or federal employment law (including off-the-clock work demands); and retaliation against a PCC for reporting a violation to Portrait.

What happens: immediate escalation to Sydney and Mariela, potential same-day PCC removal, and a program termination review within 24 hours.

To begin this process, review the Addendum and then this Article. Then reach out to Paola via email, TigerConnect or ticket to set up a meeting to go over your options and begin the process!

Questions?

Reach out to your Portrait Department Manager, or submit a ticket.