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LicenseReciprocity

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

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Hawaii Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) ↗

A physical therapy license transfers from Georgia to Hawaii by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Hawaii Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division), verify your Georgia license, and meet Hawaii's endorsement requirements. NPTE is not retaken; Hawaii licenses out-of-state applicants under its 'exam waiver' provision once the FSBPT Score Transfer Service sends the passing score directly to the Board. Hawaii has no separate state jurisprudence exam for licensure..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Moving from Georgia into Hawaii leaves the compact behind: Hawaii has not joined the compact, so no Georgia privilege reaches it. You transfer by licensure by endorsement with the Hawaii Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) — your NPTE score moves through the FSBPT rather than being retaken, and Hawaii adds its own jurisprudence exam and background check. Your Georgia license and any privileges you hold elsewhere stay valid as long as your residence remains in Georgia; file Hawaii's application before you rely on income there.

What changes, Georgia → Hawaii

Side-by-side: Georgia vs Hawaii (Physical Therapy (PT/PTA)), verified 2026-08-07
Georgia (current)Hawaii (destination)
PT Compact statusPT Compact member — multistate license honoredLicensure by endorsement
Application 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.)$185–$300 (exam-waiver (endorsement) applicants pay a bundled total that depends on the licensing year: $185 if licensed in an EVEN-numbered year ($50 application + $85 license + $50 Compliance Resolution Fund) or $300 if licensed in an ODD-numbered year ($50 application + $85 license + $100 CRF + $65 half renewal). The $50 application fee is non-refundable. A temporary license costs an extra $50.)
Processing time3–5 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 publishes no processing timeframe; it states only that an application is abandoned and destroyed if the license process is not completed within one year of filing (HAR 16-110-10(d))
Licensing authorityGeorgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division)Hawaii Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division)

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

Step by step

  1. Confirm Hawaii's current requirements on the Hawaii Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Hawaii Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
  4. Have a certified transcript sent directly to the Board from your CAPTE-accredited physical therapy program.
  5. Request the FSBPT Score Transfer Service to forward your NPTE score directly to the Board.
  6. Have every state or territory where you hold or held a license complete the Board's Verification of License form and send it directly.
  7. Provide a Social Security Number and be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the United States.
  8. Mail the completed application and fees to the Board of Physical Therapy, DCCA-PVL Licensing Branch.
  9. Pay the fees ($185–$300 (exam-waiver (endorsement) applicants pay a bundled total that depends on the licensing year: $185 if licensed in an EVEN-numbered year ($50 application + $85 license + $50 Compliance Resolution Fund) or $300 if licensed in an ODD-numbered year ($50 application + $85 license + $100 CRF + $65 half renewal). The $50 application fee is non-refundable. A temporary license costs an extra $50.)) and allow the Board publishes no processing timeframe; it states only that an application is abandoned and destroyed if the license process is not completed within one year of filing (HAR 16-110-10(d)).

Official links

Hawaii Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) ↗Hawaii application ↗License verification ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Hawaii → GeorgiaPhysical Therapy in GeorgiaPhysical Therapy in HawaiiAll physical therapy statesThe PT Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Hawaii accept a Georgia physical therapy license?

A physical therapy license transfers from Georgia to Hawaii by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Hawaii Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division), verify your Georgia license, and meet Hawaii's endorsement requirements. NPTE is not retaken; Hawaii licenses out-of-state applicants under its 'exam waiver' provision once the FSBPT Score Transfer Service sends the passing score directly to the Board. Hawaii has no separate state jurisprudence exam for licensure..

Do I retake the NPTE moving from Georgia to Hawaii?

No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; Hawaii licenses out-of-state applicants under its 'exam waiver' provision once the FSBPT Score Transfer Service sends the passing score directly to the Board. Hawaii has no separate state jurisprudence exam for licensure..

What does the move cost?

$185–$300 (exam-waiver (endorsement) applicants pay a bundled total that depends on the licensing year: $185 if licensed in an EVEN-numbered year ($50 application + $85 license + $50 Compliance Resolution Fund) or $300 if licensed in an ODD-numbered year ($50 application + $85 license + $100 CRF + $65 half renewal). The $50 application fee is non-refundable. A temporary license costs an extra $50.) (exam-waiver (endorsement) applicants pay a bundled total that depends on the licensing year: $185 if licensed in an EVEN-numbered year ($50 application + $85 license + $50 Compliance Resolution Fund) or $300 if licensed in an ODD-numbered year ($50 application + $85 license + $100 CRF + $65 half renewal). The $50 application fee is non-refundable. A temporary license costs an extra $50.).

How long will it take?

the Board publishes no processing timeframe; it states only that an application is abandoned and destroyed if the license process is not completed within one year of filing (HAR 16-110-10(d)) — the Board publishes no processing timeframe; it states only that an application is abandoned and destroyed if the license process is not completed within one year of filing (HAR 16-110-10(d)).

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]