Physical Therapy License from California to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) ↗
A physical therapy license transfers from California to Arkansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health), verify your California license, and meet Arkansas's endorsement requirements. 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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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This direction has a payoff. California is outside the active compact, so you have had no privileges to work with — but Arkansas is an active member. Endorse into Arkansas with the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health), establish it as your home state and primary residence, and Arkansas becomes your springboard: from there you can buy compact privileges into every other active member state without another full license. Your NPTE score transfers through the FSBPT; you do not re-sit the exam.
What changes, California → Arkansas
| California (current) | Arkansas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement | PT Compact member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $450 (nonrefundable $300 application processing fee + $150 initial license fee (both required to obtain the license) = $450. A $49 fingerprint hard-card fee and the $50 CAL-JAM exam fee (paid to FSBPT) are separate. California is not a PT Compact state, so there is no compact-privilege fee.) | $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 | 6–7 weeks (the Board acknowledges receipt within 30 days and states a license is generally issued within 45 days (about 6-7 weeks) after all deficiencies are satisfied and scores are received) | 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. |
| Licensing authority | Physical Therapy Board of California (Department of Consumer Affairs) | Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arkansas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) (application linked below).
- 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
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Arkansas accept a California physical therapy license?
A physical therapy license transfers from California to Arkansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health), verify your California license, and meet Arkansas's endorsement requirements. 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)..
Do I retake the NPTE moving from California to Arkansas?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. 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)..
What does the move cost?
$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 will it take?
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..
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)
- Physical Therapy Board of California — US-Educated PT/PTA Applicant (Endorsement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PTBC — Endorsement Application Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PTBC — Endorsement Examination Information (CAL-JAM) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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