{"application_form_url":null,"application_portal_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","board_contact_url":null,"board_email":"See board website","board_fax":"N/A (contact by phone)","board_mailing_address":"See board website","board_name":"Pennsylvania Board of Physical Therapy","board_parent_org":"Pennsylvania Department of State","board_phone":"(717) 783-7134","board_physical_address":"See board website","board_source_url":null,"board_url":null,"canonical_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/pennsylvania-pt","ce_requirements_url":null,"common_delays":[{"description":"Failure to use the correct service code or delays in fingerprint processing can stall the application for several weeks.","title":"Background Check Delays"},{"description":"The Board requires the 'Verification of Education' form to come directly from the school; student-submitted transcripts are typically not accepted for this requirement.","title":"Missing Education Verification"},{"description":"Completing a child abuse course that is not specifically approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services for licensing purposes.","title":"Non-Approved Child Abuse CE"}],"compact_member":false,"compact_name":"PT Compact (Physical Therapy Licensure Compact)","compact_privilege_fee":"N/A","created_at":"2026-04-09T17:05:34.583742+00:00","credential_type":"PT, DPT","description":"Apply for a Pennsylvania Physical Therapist credential. Learn about the requirements, NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination), and state fees.","endorsement_application_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","endorsement_fees":{"app_fee":"$100","background_check_fee":"$0 (included in application)","jurisprudence_exam_fee":"$0","total_estimated_cost":"$100"},"endorsement_steps":[{"description":"Ensure you hold a valid, unexpired, permanent license in another state or territory.","title":"Verify Out-of-State License","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Apply via PALS for 'Licensure by Endorsement' and pay the $30 application fee.","title":"Submit Endorsement Application","url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","url_label":"Apply on PALS"},{"description":"Request official verification of licensure from every state where you have ever held a license (active, inactive, or expired) to be sent directly to the PA Board.","title":"Request Letters of Good Standing","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Arrange for your NPTE scores to be transferred to Pennsylvania via the FSBPT Score Transfer Service.","title":"Transfer NPTE Scores","url":"https://www.fsbpt.org","url_label":"FSBPT Score Transfer"},{"description":"Complete the FBI fingerprinting process and the 3-hour child abuse recognition course required for all new PA licensees.","title":"Complete Background Check and CE","url":null,"url_label":null}],"exam_registration_url":"https://www.fsbpt.org","faqs":[{"answer":"All PT licenses expire on December 31 of every even-numbered year.","question":"When do Pennsylvania PT licenses expire?"},{"answer":"30 contact hours are required every biennial cycle, including 2 hours of Law/Ethics and 2 hours of Child Abuse Recognition.","question":"How many CE hours are required for renewal?"},{"answer":"Yes, Pennsylvania fully implemented the PT Compact on July 7, 2025, and now issues and accepts compact privileges.","question":"Does Pennsylvania participate in the PT Compact?"},{"answer":"PTs must apply for a separate Certificate of Authorization, which requires 10 of the 30 CE hours to be in evaluative procedures.","question":"What is required for Direct Access authorization?"}],"fee_payment_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","fingerprint_delay_weeks":"2-4","fingerprint_fee":"$22.60","fingerprint_method_in_state":"LiveScan (IdentoGO)","fingerprint_method_out_of_state":"IdentoGO Out-of-State Live Scan (adds ~$39.95 fee) OR FD-258 hard card via mail (tip: moisturize hands for days prior to reduce smudge rejects)","fingerprint_required":true,"fingerprint_url":"https://www.identogo.com","fingerprint_vendor":"IdentoGO / PA State Police","fingerprint_vendor_url":"https://www.identogo.com/locations/pennsylvania","initial_fee_amount":100.0,"initial_fee_breakdown":"$100 application/license fee","last_updated":"2026-02-25","last_verified":"2026-02-25","license_duration":"2 Years","licensing_pathway":"endorsement","payload_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/api/pennsylvania-pt.json","processing_time":"4 to 6 Weeks","profession":"Physical Therapist","provisional_info":"Many states offer a limited permit or provisional license for new graduates waiting to take the NPTE. Check specific board rules for supervisory requirements.","reciprocity_info":"Physical Therapists licensed in another state can often apply via endorsement by providing license verification and current certification.","renewal_cycle":"Every 2 years","renewal_fee_amount":50.0,"renewal_portal_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","required_documents":[{"description":"Must be completed by the Dean or Registrar of your CAPTE-accredited program and sent directly to the Board.","name":"Verification of Physical Therapy Education Form","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Official scores must be transferred from FSBPT to the Pennsylvania Board.","name":"NPTE Score Report","url":"https://www.fsbpt.org","url_label":"Request Score Transfer"},{"description":"Fingerprint-based background check results processed through IdentoGO.","name":"FBI Fingerprint Background Check","url":"https://www.identogo.com","url_label":"Pre-register for Fingerprints"},{"description":"Proof of completion of a 3-hour Board-approved course in child abuse recognition and reporting.","name":"Child Abuse CE Certificate","url":null,"url_label":null}],"slug":"pennsylvania-pt","state_name":"Pennsylvania","state_slug":"pennsylvania","statutes_url":"https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/049/chapter40/chap40toc.html","steps":[{"description":"Graduate from a CAPTE-accredited physical therapy program and complete a 3-hour Board-approved course in child abuse recognition and reporting.","title":"Complete Education and Initial CE","url":"https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/physical-therapy/physical-therapist-licensure-snapshot.html","url_label":"Licensure Snapshot"},{"description":"Register and pay for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).","title":"Register for the NPTE","url":"https://www.fsbpt.org","url_label":"Register with FSBPT"},{"description":"Create an account on the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) and submit the initial application for licensure by examination with the $30 fee.","title":"Submit PALS Application","url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","url_label":"PALS Portal"},{"description":"Pre-register for fingerprinting through IdentoGO using the service code provided during your PALS application process. This is required for all new applicants as of July 2025.","title":"Complete FBI Background Check","url":"https://www.identogo.com","url_label":"IdentoGO Website"},{"description":"Have your educational institution complete the 'Verification of Physical Therapy Education' form and send it directly to the Board.","title":"Submit Verification of Education","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Sit for and pass the NPTE. The Board will receive your scores directly from FSBPT once they are released.","title":"Pass the NPTE","url":null,"url_label":null}],"temp_license_available":false,"temp_license_duration":"See board","temp_license_fee":"See board","temp_license_processing_time":"See board","updated_at":"2026-05-17T09:04:26.261773+00:00","verify_license_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/#/page/search"}