Transfer Your Physical Therapy License to District of Columbia: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health) ↗
Yes — District of Columbia participates in the PT Compact as an active member. A PT or PTA whose home state is also a member purchases a District of Columbia compact privilege rather than a second license, keeping their home credential in place; relocating to District of Columbia or coming from a non-member home state means licensure by endorsement through the District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health) ($264 ($264 combined application and license fee paid online (DC Health licensing portal), per the DC endorsement checklist; a separate $50 criminal background check fee is paid online with the application. Licenses run biennially, expiring Jan 31 of odd-numbered years. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.)), NPTE score moved by FSBPT transfer, processing DC Health does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications..
Moving to District of Columbia from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
PT Compact member — multistate license honored
Whether District of Columbia costs you a full license or just a privilege depends on what you are actually doing. Working in District of Columbia while your license and residence stay in another member state — a travel assignment, a satellite clinic, telehealth across the line — means buying a District of Columbia compact privilege and keeping your home license; District of Columbia charges no full-license fee for that path, though it may require its jurisprudence exam first. Relocating to District of Columbia is the other case: your residence changes, District of Columbia becomes your home state, and that is licensure by endorsement with the District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health), after which District of Columbia can anchor privileges of its own.
DC is an ACTIVE PT Compact member, so a PT whose home state is also a member can practice in DC on a compact privilege instead of endorsing. Endorsement applicants must pass the DC Jurisprudence Examination through FSBPT, complete a $50 criminal background check, and (if foreign-educated) an FCCPT Type 1 review. The $264 fee is the combined application and license fee.
District of Columbia requirements at a glance
| Exam | NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is verified through FSBPT (via the FSBPT ID on the NPTE score report). DC also requires the District of Columbia Jurisprudence Examination, which is registered for and taken through FSBPT. |
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| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $264 ($264 combined application and license fee paid online (DC Health licensing portal), per the DC endorsement checklist; a separate $50 criminal background check fee is paid online with the application. Licenses run biennially, expiring Jan 31 of odd-numbered years. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | DC Health does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications. |
Step by step
- Confirm District of Columbia's current requirements on the District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Graduate of a physical therapy program (official transcript; foreign-educated applicants must complete an FCCPT Type 1 review).
- Register for and complete the District of Columbia Jurisprudence Examination through FSBPT.
- Complete a criminal background check (CBC) submitted with the online application.
- Submit license verification from every jurisdiction where you have ever held a professional license.
- Submit the completed online application with a passport-style photo and government-issued photo ID via the DC Health licensing portal.
- Pay the fees ($264 ($264 combined application and license fee paid online (DC Health licensing portal), per the DC endorsement checklist; a separate $50 criminal background check fee is paid online with the application. Licenses run biennially, expiring Jan 31 of odd-numbered years. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.)) and allow DC Health does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications..
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into District of Columbia:
All 42 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my physical therapy license transfer to District of Columbia?
Yes — District of Columbia participates in the PT Compact as an active member. A PT or PTA whose home state is also a member purchases a District of Columbia compact privilege rather than a second license, keeping their home credential in place; relocating to District of Columbia or coming from a non-member home state means licensure by endorsement through the District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health) ($264 ($264 combined application and license fee paid online (DC Health licensing portal), per the DC endorsement checklist; a separate $50 criminal background check fee is paid online with the application. Licenses run biennially, expiring Jan 31 of odd-numbered years. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.)), NPTE score moved by FSBPT transfer, processing DC Health does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications..
Do I have to retake the NPTE to get licensed in District of Columbia?
No. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is verified through FSBPT (via the FSBPT ID on the NPTE score report). DC also requires the District of Columbia Jurisprudence Examination, which is registered for and taken through FSBPT.. No state requires a second NPTE.
How much does it cost to transfer a PT license to District of Columbia by endorsement?
$264 ($264 combined application and license fee paid online (DC Health licensing portal), per the DC endorsement checklist; a separate $50 criminal background check fee is paid online with the application. Licenses run biennially, expiring Jan 31 of odd-numbered years. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) ($264 combined application and license fee paid online (DC Health licensing portal), per the DC endorsement checklist; a separate $50 criminal background check fee is paid online with the application. Licenses run biennially, expiring Jan 31 of odd-numbered years. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long does District of Columbia take to process an endorsement application?
DC Health does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications. — DC Health does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications..
Is District of Columbia in the PT Compact?
Yes — District of Columbia is an active member as of 2026-07-21. A PT or PTA whose home state is also a member can buy a District of Columbia compact privilege instead of a full license; relocating to District of Columbia still requires licensure by endorsement.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- DC Health — Physical Therapist New License Application (Endorsement) Checklist ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- D.C. Code § 3-1205.07 — Reciprocity and endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PT Compact — member state 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]