Transfer Your Physical Therapy License to Florida: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice (Department of Health) ↗
No compact privilege reaches Florida: it is a non-member state, so the only route is licensure by endorsement through the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice (Department of Health). Expect $180 ($180 total to the Board = $100 endorsement application fee + $75 initial license fee + $5 unlicensed-activity fee (FAC 64B17-2.001). A separate $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee and the electronic-fingerprint fee are additional. Florida is not a PT Compact state, so there is no compact privilege alternative.) and processing of 2–3 weeks (The Board conducts initial review within 10 business days of receipt and issues the license within about 7 days once all requirements are met; this excludes time for NPTE score transfer, license verifications, and fingerprint results.); your NPTE passing score transfers via the FSBPT, so the exam is not repeated.
Moving to Florida from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Plan the timeline first, because Florida recognizes no compact privilege at all. You cannot legally treat a single Florida patient — in person or by telehealth — until the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice (Department of Health) issues your license, and there is no travel or telehealth shortcut around that. The steps below are the endorsement path, which is the only path into Florida.
Florida is NOT a PT Compact member, so an out-of-state PT must obtain a Florida license by endorsement (Florida's MOBILE Act pathway) — there is no compact-privilege option. Florida requires the Florida Laws and Rules (jurisprudence) exam via FSBPT and electronic fingerprinting. Aggregators publish varying fee totals; the operative Board fee is $180 (FAC 64B17-2.001), with a separate $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee.
Florida requirements at a glance
| Exam | NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is moved to Florida via the FSBPT Score Transfer Service (a $90 FSBPT fee). Florida also requires the Florida Laws and Rules (jurisprudence) Examination, taken through FSBPT at a Prometric testing center. |
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| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $180 ($180 total to the Board = $100 endorsement application fee + $75 initial license fee + $5 unlicensed-activity fee (FAC 64B17-2.001). A separate $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee and the electronic-fingerprint fee are additional. Florida is not a PT Compact state, so there is no compact privilege alternative.) |
| Processing time | 2–3 weeks (The Board conducts initial review within 10 business days of receipt and issues the license within about 7 days once all requirements are met; this excludes time for NPTE score transfer, license verifications, and fingerprint results.) |
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice (Department of Health) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice (Department of Health) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an active, unencumbered PT license from another state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory.
- Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and transfer the score via FSBPT.
- Pass the Florida Laws and Rules Examination (Chapters 456 and 486, F.S.) through FSBPT.
- Complete electronic fingerprinting for a criminal background screening.
- Under the MOBILE endorsement pathway, have actively practiced at least two years during the preceding four years with no disciplinary action in the prior five years.
- Submit license verification from each state where a license is or has ever been held.
- Pay the fees ($180 ($180 total to the Board = $100 endorsement application fee + $75 initial license fee + $5 unlicensed-activity fee (FAC 64B17-2.001). A separate $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee and the electronic-fingerprint fee are additional. Florida is not a PT Compact state, so there is no compact privilege alternative.)) and allow 2–3 weeks (The Board conducts initial review within 10 business days of receipt and issues the license within about 7 days once all requirements are met; this excludes time for NPTE score transfer, license verifications, and fingerprint results.).
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Florida:
All 50 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my physical therapy license transfer to Florida?
No compact privilege reaches Florida: it is a non-member state, so the only route is licensure by endorsement through the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice (Department of Health). Expect $180 ($180 total to the Board = $100 endorsement application fee + $75 initial license fee + $5 unlicensed-activity fee (FAC 64B17-2.001). A separate $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee and the electronic-fingerprint fee are additional. Florida is not a PT Compact state, so there is no compact privilege alternative.) and processing of 2–3 weeks (The Board conducts initial review within 10 business days of receipt and issues the license within about 7 days once all requirements are met; this excludes time for NPTE score transfer, license verifications, and fingerprint results.); your NPTE passing score transfers via the FSBPT, so the exam is not repeated.
Do I have to retake the NPTE to get licensed in Florida?
No. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is moved to Florida via the FSBPT Score Transfer Service (a $90 FSBPT fee). Florida also requires the Florida Laws and Rules (jurisprudence) Examination, taken through FSBPT at a Prometric testing center.. No state requires a second NPTE.
How much does it cost to transfer a PT license to Florida by endorsement?
$180 ($180 total to the Board = $100 endorsement application fee + $75 initial license fee + $5 unlicensed-activity fee (FAC 64B17-2.001). A separate $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee and the electronic-fingerprint fee are additional. Florida is not a PT Compact state, so there is no compact privilege alternative.) ($180 total to the Board = $100 endorsement application fee + $75 initial license fee + $5 unlicensed-activity fee (FAC 64B17-2.001). A separate $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee and the electronic-fingerprint fee are additional. Florida is not a PT Compact state, so there is no compact privilege alternative.).
How long does Florida take to process an endorsement application?
2–3 weeks (The Board conducts initial review within 10 business days of receipt and issues the license within about 7 days once all requirements are met; this excludes time for NPTE score transfer, license verifications, and fingerprint results.) — The Board conducts initial review within 10 business days of receipt and issues the license within about 7 days once all requirements are met; this excludes time for NPTE score transfer, license verifications, and fingerprint results..
Is Florida in the PT Compact?
No. Florida has not joined the compact as of 2026-07-21, so no compact privilege authorizes practice there and endorsement is the only route.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Florida Board of Physical Therapy — Physical Therapist (MOBILE endorsement) licensing ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Florida Board of Physical Therapy — Florida PT/PTA Laws and Rules Exam ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Fla. Stat. Ch. 486 (486.031, 486.081) — Physical Therapy Practice Act ↗ (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]