Physical therapy license requirements vary by state. Physical therapists generally need approved physical therapy education, a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), and any additional requirements set by the state licensing authority. Physical therapist assistants may have different licensure or certification requirements depending on the jurisdiction.
This guide is for PTs and PTAs comparing physical therapy licensure requirements before applying for an initial license, moving to another state, or maintaining an existing license.
Each jurisdiction establishes its own application process and licensing requirements. According to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, requirements may include an approved education program, the national examination, a jurisprudence assessment, a criminal background check, educational credentials, and other state-specific documentation.
For graduates of CAPTE-accredited programs applying for initial licensure by examination, FSBPT currently reports that all 53 jurisdictions in its reference guide require the national exam. However, only 29 list a jurisprudence assessment and 33 list a criminal background check. This is why applicants should not assume one state’s requirements apply everywhere.
The table below summarizes major requirements for the 50 states and Washington, DC. Requirements can change, and individual circumstances may affect eligibility. Always review the licensing board’s current website before you submit an application or pay a fee.
| State | Initial State-Specific Requirements Listed | Temporary Authorization | PT Compact Status | CE / Continuing Competence | Renewal Term |
| Alabama | Jurisprudence | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 10 hrs | 1 year |
| Alaska | Jurisprudence | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 24 hrs | 2 years |
| Arizona | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 20; PTA 10 hrs | 2 years |
| Arkansas | Jurisprudence | No | Active | PT 20; PTA 10 hrs | 1 year |
| California | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Not a member | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| Colorado | Background check | No | Active | PT 30; PTA 20 hrs | 2 years |
| Connecticut | No jurisprudence/background check listed | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 20; PTA 0 hrs | 2 years |
| Delaware | Background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| District of Columbia | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 40 hrs | 2 years |
| Florida | Jurisprudence | Yes, conditional | Not a member | PT/PTA 24 hrs | 2 years |
| Georgia | Jurisprudence | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| Hawaii | No jurisprudence/background check listed | Yes, conditional | Not a member | PT 30; PTA 0 hrs | 2 years |
| Idaho | Jurisprudence | No | Not a member | PT/PTA 16 hrs | 1 year |
| Illinois | No jurisprudence/background check listed | Yes, conditional | Legislation introduced | PT 40; PTA 20 hrs | 2 years |
| Indiana | Background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 22 hrs | 2 years |
| Iowa | Background check | No | Active | PT 40; PTA 20 hrs | 2 years |
| Kansas | No jurisprudence/background check listed | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 40; PTA 20 hrs | 1 year |
| Kentucky | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 30; PTA 20 hrs | 2 years |
| Louisiana | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| Maine | No jurisprudence/background check listed | No | Enacted, not active | Check current board rules | 1 year |
| Maryland | Jurisprudence; background check | No | Active | PT 30; PTA 20 hrs | 2 years |
| Massachusetts | No jurisprudence/background check listed | Yes, conditional | Legislation introduced | PT/PTA 24 CCUs | 2 years |
| Michigan | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Enacted, not active | PT/PTA 24 CCUs | 2 years |
| Minnesota | Background check | Yes, conditional | Not a member | PT 20; PTA 0 hrs | 1 year |
| Mississippi | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 30 CCUs | 1 year |
| Missouri | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| Montana | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 1 year |
| Nebraska | Jurisprudence; background check | No | Active | PT 20; PTA 10 hrs | 2 years |
| Nevada | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 15 hrs | 1 year |
| New Hampshire | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 24 hrs | 2 years |
| New Jersey | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| New Mexico | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Not a member | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| New York | No jurisprudence/background check listed | Yes, conditional | Not a member | PT/PTA 36 hrs | 3 years |
| North Carolina | Jurisprudence; background check | No | Active | PT 30; PTA 20 CCUs | 1 year |
| North Dakota | Jurisprudence; background check | No | Active | PT/PTA 25 CCUs | 1 year |
| Ohio | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 24; PTA 12 CCUs | 2 years |
| Oklahoma | Background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 40; PTA 30 hrs | 1 year |
| Oregon | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 24 hrs | 2 years |
| Pennsylvania | No jurisprudence/background check listed | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| Rhode Island | No jurisprudence/background check listed | No | Enacted, not active | PT/PTA 24 hrs | 2 years |
| South Carolina | Background check | No | Active | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| South Dakota | No jurisprudence/background check listed | No | Active | PT/PTA 15 hrs | 1 year |
| Tennessee | Background check | No | Active | PT 30; PTA 20 hrs | 2 years |
| Texas | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 30; PTA 20 CCUs | 2 years |
| Utah | Background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 40; PTA 20 hrs | 2 years |
| Vermont | No jurisprudence/background check listed | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 24; PTA 16 CCUs | 2 years |
| Virginia | No jurisprudence/background check listed | No | Active | PT/PTA 30 hrs | 2 years |
| Washington | Jurisprudence; background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 32; PTA 24 hrs | 1 year |
| West Virginia | Background check | Yes, conditional | Active | PT/PTA 24 hrs | 2 years |
| Wisconsin | Jurisprudence | Yes, conditional | Active | PT 30; PTA 20 hrs | 2 years |
| Wyoming | Jurisprudence; background check | No | Not a member | PT/PTA 30 CCUs | 1 year |
How to use this table:
“Temporary authorization” means that a jurisdiction has some form of temporary, interim, provisional, or limited authorization for at least one applicant category. It does not mean every applicant is eligible. CE and continuing competence requirements can also include specific course or activity rules beyond the number shown.
FSBPT states that its Licensure Reference Guide is updated with information from jurisdictions, but the individual licensing authority remains the final source for current regulatory requirements.
The correct licensure process depends on your education, current license status, and where you plan to practice.
| Your situation | Pathway to review |
| Applying for your first PT or PTA authorization | Initial licensure by examination |
| Already licensed and moving to another state | Licensure by endorsement or new state licensure |
| Licensed in an eligible Compact home state and practicing in another active Compact state | Compact Privilege |
| Seeking limited authorization before full licensure | Temporary or limited permit, where available |
| Educated outside the United States | Foreign-educated applicant pathway |
| Keeping an existing license active | License renewal and continuing education |
The licensing authority determines which pathway applies. Applicants should review the board website, application instructions, eligibility requirements, and required documentation before submitting an online application or paper application.
For a graduate of a CAPTE-accredited program applying for an initial license, common requirements include completing approved physical therapy education, passing the national exam, submitting an application, and meeting any state-specific requirements.
Some state boards also require transcripts, a jurisprudence examination, criminal background screening, professional regulation disclosures, or other supporting documents.
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education accredits professional PT and PTA education programs in the United States.
Current professional PT programs award the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. However, that does not mean every licensed physical therapist earned a DPT. Clinicians who entered the profession under prior educational standards may hold earlier professional degrees.
The American Physical Therapy Association also provides general information about the physical therapy education pathway. For licensing purposes, applicants should follow the rules of the jurisdiction where they are applying.
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy administers the National Physical Therapy Examination for PT and PTA candidates.
FSBPT currently lists the NPTE registration fee as $485 for both the PT examination and the PTA examination. Applicants may also have separate state application, testing-center, jurisprudence, fingerprinting, or other fees.
Registration for the NPTE does not by itself complete the licensure process. Depending on the jurisdiction, an applicant may need state or FSBPT approval to test and must still submit the documents required for licensure.
Applicants should use their FSBPT online account to review exam registration and testing status. Policies covering score reports, score transfer, a free score report when applicable, or additional services should be verified directly with FSBPT instead of assumed from older application guidance.
The exact application process differs by jurisdiction. A board may request:
When a legal name differs from educational or licensing records, the department may ask for supporting documentation. Depending on its rules, that could include a marriage record, divorce decree, court order, or another accepted legal document.
Payment methods also vary. Some agencies use an online application and electronic payment, while older or specific application processes may allow a check or money order. Applicants should follow the board’s current instructions rather than relying on a prior application form.
Boards also differ in how they acknowledge receipt of an application, provide a receipt, show status in an online account, or allow applicants to contact board staff for additional information.
Physical therapy is regulated at the jurisdiction level. This means each state can establish its own licensure requirements, renewal cycle, application documents, jurisprudence rules, and continuing education requirements.
For example, FSBPT’s current reference guide lists a jurisprudence assessment in 29 jurisdictions and a criminal background check in 33 jurisdictions for CAPTE-accredited graduates applying by examination.
The Illinois licensing process is overseen through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, while other states use independent boards, departments of health, or other professional regulation agencies. Different regulatory structures are one reason the application process is not identical nationwide.
Licensure by endorsement is commonly used when an applicant already holds a physical therapy license in another U.S. jurisdiction and wants authorization in a new state.
Endorsement does not mean that a current license automatically transfers. The new board may require:
FSBPT’s licensure resources for PTs and PTAs can help applicants identify the appropriate licensing authority.
Applicants can also review Flagstar Rehab’s guide on how to verify a physical therapy license using the appropriate state source.
If a jurisdiction requires an official NPTE score transfer, check FSBPT’s current process and fee. Do not assume a previous score report or a free score report satisfies the new board’s requirements.
The Physical Therapy Compact allows eligible PTs and PTAs to obtain a Compact Privilege for practice in participating remote states. A Compact Privilege is not the same as receiving one nationwide physical therapy license.
As of August 2026, the PT Compact lists 38 jurisdictions actively issuing and accepting Compact Privileges. Maine, Michigan, and Rhode Island have enacted Compact legislation but are not yet issuing or accepting privileges. Illinois and Massachusetts have introduced legislation but have not enacted it.
| Term | Meaning |
| Home state | The state tied to the clinician’s qualifying home-state license and Compact residency requirements |
| Remote state | An active Compact state where the clinician wants authorization to practice |
| Compact Privilege | Authorization to practice in one eligible remote state |
A clinician needs a separate Compact Privilege for each remote state where they want to practice. Having a privilege in one remote state does not give automatic access to every other Compact state.
Applicants must also meet the Compact’s eligibility requirements and any applicable remote-state requirements.
Some jurisdictions offer temporary, provisional, interim, or limited authorization, but eligibility varies.
FSBPT’s current temporary licensure data shows that temporary authorization may be available for categories such as:
Some temporary licenses require a supervising physical therapist or other approved supervision. The licensing board determines the required supervision, duration, and conditions.
A temporary license should never be treated as automatic permission to practice while an application is under review. Applicants must receive the required authorization before performing work that requires a license.
Foreign-educated applicants often have additional licensing requirements because their education was not completed through a CAPTE-accredited U.S. program.
According to FSBPT, requirements may include:
FSBPT’s current reference data shows that an educational credentials review is required in 52 jurisdictions for foreign-educated applicants seeking initial licensure by examination.
Some boards accept evaluations from organizations such as the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy, while others specify different approved credentialing services or standards. Applicants should determine which evaluator their board accepts before paying for a review.
Completing a credential evaluation does not by itself determine licensure eligibility. The state licensing authority makes the final decision.
Receiving a license is not the end of the licensure process. PTs and PTAs must maintain their professional authorization according to the renewal cycle established by their state.
Continuing education requirements vary widely. Some jurisdictions use continuing education hours, while others use continuing competence units or another approved system. Requirements can also differ between PTs and physical therapist assistants in the same state.
Before a license expires, clinicians should check:
Do not rely on a general national CE requirement. The board or department responsible for the license should be the source of truth.
Before applying for licensure in another jurisdiction, use this checklist to identify the information you need.
The applicant is responsible for submitting complete and accurate information. The state board determines whether the application has been completed and whether the applicant is eligible to receive a license.
Once your licensing requirements are clear, you may also want to review how PT contract jobs work if you are considering temporary or contract opportunities in another state.
Physical therapy license requirements vary by jurisdiction, so clinicians should verify the rules for the state where they plan to practice. The appropriate process may involve initial licensure, endorsement, a Compact Privilege, temporary authorization, foreign-education review, or renewal. Use the state licensing authority, FSBPT, and the PT Compact as appropriate to confirm current requirements before submitting an application.
Flagstar Rehab connects qualified therapy professionals with employment opportunities as a staffing and recruiting agency. Physical therapists can learn more about Flagstar’s physical therapist staffing services or, once they understand the licensing requirements for the state where they want to work, connect with Flagstar Rehab about therapy job opportunities and placement support.
Physical therapists need valid authorization for the jurisdiction where they practice. Depending on the clinician and state, that may be a full state license or an eligible Compact Privilege. A Compact Privilege is state-specific and is not a nationwide license.
PTA requirements vary by jurisdiction. A state may have its own education, examination, licensure, certification, renewal, or continuing education requirements for physical therapist assistants. Check the licensing authority for the state where you plan to practice.
For graduates of CAPTE-accredited programs applying for initial licensure by examination, FSBPT currently lists the national examination as a requirement in all 53 jurisdictions in its reference guide. State boards can still have additional eligibility and application requirements.
Yes. A physical therapist or PTA may hold licenses in multiple jurisdictions after meeting each jurisdiction’s requirements. Eligible clinicians can also hold Compact Privileges in active Compact states, but those privileges are different from full state licenses.
Use the online verification tool provided by the state licensing authority. Search using the information requested by the board, such as legal name or license number, and review the current license status and expiration date rather than relying on an unofficial directory.