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LicenseReciprocity

Physical Therapy License from California to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) ↗

A physical therapy license transfers from California to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division), verify your California license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. NPTE is not retaken; you request FSBPT to send an official copy of your NPTE score directly to the Board. Georgia additionally requires passing the Georgia Jurisprudence Assessment Module (GA JAM), administered by FSBPT..

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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 Georgia is an active member. Endorse into Georgia with the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division), establish it as your home state and primary residence, and Georgia 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 → Georgia

Side-by-side: California vs Georgia (Physical Therapy (PT/PTA)), verified 2026-08-07
California (current)Georgia (destination)
PT Compact statusLicensure by endorsementPT 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.)$85 ($75 physical therapist application fee plus the $10 paper-application processing fee; the Board states the online application is NOT available to endorsement/reciprocity applicants, so the $5 online processing fee does not apply. Fingerprint/background-check costs are paid separately to the vendor, and the GA JAM is $65 paid to FSBPT. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.)
Processing time6–7 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)3–5 weeks (the Board states individual application documents are generally reviewed within 15 business days (~3 weeks), and up to 25 business days (~5 weeks) when deficiencies are found; applications requiring full Board review take longer and must be complete two weeks before a meeting)
Licensing authorityPhysical Therapy Board of California (Department of Consumer Affairs)Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Georgia sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Georgia's current requirements on the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Hold a current license in good standing and have practiced in another jurisdiction within the past 2 years.
  5. Have an official transcript sent directly from your CAPTE-accredited program showing graduation date and degree conferred.
  6. Pass the Georgia Jurisprudence Assessment Module (GA JAM) through FSBPT.
  7. Complete a fingerprint background check through the GAPS Applicant Processing Service (Idemia/Fieldprint).
  8. Have license verification sent directly to the Board from every state where you have ever been licensed.
  9. Document 26 hours of continuing education completed within the past 2 years.
  10. Pay the fees ($85 ($75 physical therapist application fee plus the $10 paper-application processing fee; the Board states the online application is NOT available to endorsement/reciprocity applicants, so the $5 online processing fee does not apply. Fingerprint/background-check costs are paid separately to the vendor, and the GA JAM is $65 paid to FSBPT. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.)) and allow 3–5 weeks (the Board states individual application documents are generally reviewed within 15 business days (~3 weeks), and up to 25 business days (~5 weeks) when deficiencies are found; applications requiring full Board review take longer and must be complete two weeks before a meeting).

Official links

Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) ↗Georgia application ↗License verification ↗Physical Therapy Licensure Compact ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Georgia → CaliforniaPhysical Therapy in CaliforniaPhysical Therapy in GeorgiaAll physical therapy statesThe PT Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Georgia accept a California physical therapy license?

A physical therapy license transfers from California to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division), verify your California license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. NPTE is not retaken; you request FSBPT to send an official copy of your NPTE score directly to the Board. Georgia additionally requires passing the Georgia Jurisprudence Assessment Module (GA JAM), administered by FSBPT..

Do I retake the NPTE moving from California to Georgia?

No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; you request FSBPT to send an official copy of your NPTE score directly to the Board. Georgia additionally requires passing the Georgia Jurisprudence Assessment Module (GA JAM), administered by FSBPT..

What does the move cost?

$85 ($75 physical therapist application fee plus the $10 paper-application processing fee; the Board states the online application is NOT available to endorsement/reciprocity applicants, so the $5 online processing fee does not apply. Fingerprint/background-check costs are paid separately to the vendor, and the GA JAM is $65 paid to FSBPT. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) ($75 physical therapist application fee plus the $10 paper-application processing fee; the Board states the online application is NOT available to endorsement/reciprocity applicants, so the $5 online processing fee does not apply. Fingerprint/background-check costs are paid separately to the vendor, and the GA JAM is $65 paid to FSBPT. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).

How long will it take?

3–5 weeks (the Board states individual application documents are generally reviewed within 15 business days (~3 weeks), and up to 25 business days (~5 weeks) when deficiencies are found; applications requiring full Board review take longer and must be complete two weeks before a meeting) — the Board states individual application documents are generally reviewed within 15 business days (~3 weeks), and up to 25 business days (~5 weeks) when deficiencies are found; applications requiring full Board review take longer and must be complete two weeks before a meeting.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]