Transfer Your Physical Therapy License to Arkansas: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) ↗
Arkansas issues and accepts compact privileges as an active PT Compact member. If your home state is a member, you can practice in Arkansas on a purchased privilege without a Arkansas license; otherwise, or if you are moving to Arkansas, the route is licensure by endorsement with the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) — $100 (PT Endorsement (Reciprocity) fee is $100 per the Board rules fee schedule (Section VII). A statutory 95% fee reduction cut this to $5 for applications from Jul 1, 2023-Jun 30, 2026; that window closed before this verification date, so the $100 standing fee applies. A $10 online jurisprudence-exam fee and the state/FBI background-check fee are separate. NOT the $50 PT Compact privilege fee.), no NPTE retake, the score transferred through the FSBPT.
Moving to Arkansas from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
PT Compact member — multistate license honored
Whether Arkansas costs you a full license or just a privilege depends on what you are actually doing. Working in Arkansas while your license and residence stay in another member state — a travel assignment, a satellite clinic, telehealth across the line — means buying a Arkansas compact privilege and keeping your home license; Arkansas charges no full-license fee for that path, though it may require its jurisprudence exam first. Relocating to Arkansas is the other case: your residence changes, Arkansas becomes your home state, and that is licensure by endorsement with the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health), after which Arkansas can anchor privileges of its own.
Arkansas joined the PT Compact (Feb 20, 2020) and is an active member, so a PT whose home state is also a compact member may practice in Arkansas on a compact privilege instead of applying by reciprocity. FEE TIMING: the board's current reciprocity application form still displays the $5 reduced fee valid through Jun 30, 2026, but the standing rule fee of $100 governs after that date.
Arkansas requirements at a glance
| Exam | NPTE is not retaken; evidence of the passing score is provided to the Board through the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Arkansas also requires passing its online jurisprudence exam (70% to pass; $10). |
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| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $100 (PT Endorsement (Reciprocity) fee is $100 per the Board rules fee schedule (Section VII). A statutory 95% fee reduction cut this to $5 for applications from Jul 1, 2023-Jun 30, 2026; that window closed before this verification date, so the $100 standing fee applies. A $10 online jurisprudence-exam fee and the state/FBI background-check fee are separate. NOT the $50 PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | no overall timeframe published; the Board notes criminal background-check results take about 2-6 weeks and no license issues until they are received. A 90-day temporary/provisional license is available on request. |
Step by step
- Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a substantially similar, active PT license in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction (not revoked, suspended, or on probation).
- Graduate of a nationally accredited (CAPTE) physical therapy program; official transcript required.
- Pass the Arkansas online jurisprudence exam (70% to pass).
- State and national (FBI) criminal background check through the Arkansas State Police.
- Official verification / letters of good standing from every state where you hold or held a license.
- Pay the fees ($100 (PT Endorsement (Reciprocity) fee is $100 per the Board rules fee schedule (Section VII). A statutory 95% fee reduction cut this to $5 for applications from Jul 1, 2023-Jun 30, 2026; that window closed before this verification date, so the $100 standing fee applies. A $10 online jurisprudence-exam fee and the state/FBI background-check fee are separate. NOT the $50 PT Compact privilege fee.)) and allow no overall timeframe published; the Board notes criminal background-check results take about 2-6 weeks and no license issues until they are received. A 90-day temporary/provisional license is available on request..
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Arkansas:
All 42 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my physical therapy license transfer to Arkansas?
Arkansas issues and accepts compact privileges as an active PT Compact member. If your home state is a member, you can practice in Arkansas on a purchased privilege without a Arkansas license; otherwise, or if you are moving to Arkansas, the route is licensure by endorsement with the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) — $100 (PT Endorsement (Reciprocity) fee is $100 per the Board rules fee schedule (Section VII). A statutory 95% fee reduction cut this to $5 for applications from Jul 1, 2023-Jun 30, 2026; that window closed before this verification date, so the $100 standing fee applies. A $10 online jurisprudence-exam fee and the state/FBI background-check fee are separate. NOT the $50 PT Compact privilege fee.), no NPTE retake, the score transferred through the FSBPT.
Do I have to retake the NPTE to get licensed in Arkansas?
No. NPTE is not retaken; evidence of the passing score is provided to the Board through the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Arkansas also requires passing its online jurisprudence exam (70% to pass; $10).. No state requires a second NPTE.
How much does it cost to transfer a PT license to Arkansas by endorsement?
$100 (PT Endorsement (Reciprocity) fee is $100 per the Board rules fee schedule (Section VII). A statutory 95% fee reduction cut this to $5 for applications from Jul 1, 2023-Jun 30, 2026; that window closed before this verification date, so the $100 standing fee applies. A $10 online jurisprudence-exam fee and the state/FBI background-check fee are separate. NOT the $50 PT Compact privilege fee.) (PT Endorsement (Reciprocity) fee is $100 per the Board rules fee schedule (Section VII). A statutory 95% fee reduction cut this to $5 for applications from Jul 1, 2023-Jun 30, 2026; that window closed before this verification date, so the $100 standing fee applies. A $10 online jurisprudence-exam fee and the state/FBI background-check fee are separate. NOT the $50 PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long does Arkansas take to process an endorsement application?
no overall timeframe published; the Board notes criminal background-check results take about 2-6 weeks and no license issues until they are received. A 90-day temporary/provisional license is available on request. — no overall timeframe published; the Board notes criminal background-check results take about 2-6 weeks and no license issues until they are received. A 90-day temporary/provisional license is available on request..
Is Arkansas in the PT Compact?
Yes — Arkansas is an active member as of 2026-07-21. A PT or PTA whose home state is also a member can buy a Arkansas compact privilege instead of a full license; relocating to Arkansas still requires licensure by endorsement.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Arkansas State Board of PT — Application Instructions for Licensure by Reciprocity (PT) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Arkansas State Board of PT — Rules (Sec. IV Methods of Licensure; Sec. VII Fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PT Compact — member states map ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]