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LicenseReciprocity

Physical Therapy License from Illinois to Nebraska: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Physical Therapy) ↗

A physical therapy license transfers from Illinois to Nebraska by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Physical Therapy), verify your Illinois license, and meet Nebraska's endorsement requirements. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is transferred to Nebraska through the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Nebraska also requires the NELAW (Nebraska jurisprudence) examination, and BOTH the NPTE and the NELAW must be passed with a scaled score of 600 or higher BEFORE the licensure application is submitted..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

This direction has a payoff. Illinois is outside the active compact, so you have had no privileges to work with — but Nebraska is an active member. Endorse into Nebraska with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Physical Therapy), establish it as your home state and primary residence, and Nebraska 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, Illinois → Nebraska

Side-by-side: Illinois vs Nebraska (Physical Therapy (PT/PTA)), verified 2026-08-07
Illinois (current)Nebraska (destination)
PT Compact statusLicensure by endorsementPT Compact member — multistate license honored
Application fee$100 (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1340.57(a)(1) sets the application fee for a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license at $100. The separate examination-eligibility fee in that subsection applies only to examination applicants, not endorsement applicants. Renewal is calculated at $30 per year.)$133 (initial license fee stated on the DHHS Physical Therapist application; it drops to $33.25 for licenses issued May-October of odd-numbered years (the tail of the biennium) and is waived entirely for applicants under 26, low-income applicants, and military family members. + $55 Nebraska State Patrol criminal background check fee, which is never waived. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.)
Processing timeneither IDFPR nor 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1340 publishes a processing timeframe for endorsement applicationsDHHS publishes no processing timeframe; it states only that applications are reviewed in the order received and that verification of non-citizenship documents through Homeland Security may take up to 30 days
Licensing authorityIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation (Illinois Physical Therapy Board)Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Physical Therapy)

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

Step by step

  1. Confirm Nebraska's current requirements on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Physical Therapy) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Physical Therapy) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Pass the NPTE with a scaled score of 600 or higher before submitting the application.
  5. Pass the Nebraska NELAW jurisprudence examination (scaled score 600 or higher) before submitting the application.
  6. Submit official education documents for your physical therapy program.
  7. Submit a full set of fingerprints for a Nebraska State Patrol and FBI criminal background check.
  8. Submit license certifications from every jurisdiction where you hold or have held a credential, even if it is no longer current.
  9. Be at least 19 years old and document U.S. citizenship or lawful presence.
  10. Pay the fees ($133 (initial license fee stated on the DHHS Physical Therapist application; it drops to $33.25 for licenses issued May-October of odd-numbered years (the tail of the biennium) and is waived entirely for applicants under 26, low-income applicants, and military family members. + $55 Nebraska State Patrol criminal background check fee, which is never waived. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.)) and allow DHHS publishes no processing timeframe; it states only that applications are reviewed in the order received and that verification of non-citizenship documents through Homeland Security may take up to 30 days.

Official links

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Physical Therapy) ↗Nebraska application ↗Physical Therapy Licensure Compact ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Nebraska → IllinoisPhysical Therapy in IllinoisPhysical Therapy in NebraskaAll physical therapy statesThe PT Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Nebraska accept a Illinois physical therapy license?

A physical therapy license transfers from Illinois to Nebraska by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Physical Therapy), verify your Illinois license, and meet Nebraska's endorsement requirements. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is transferred to Nebraska through the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Nebraska also requires the NELAW (Nebraska jurisprudence) examination, and BOTH the NPTE and the NELAW must be passed with a scaled score of 600 or higher BEFORE the licensure application is submitted..

Do I retake the NPTE moving from Illinois to Nebraska?

No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is transferred to Nebraska through the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Nebraska also requires the NELAW (Nebraska jurisprudence) examination, and BOTH the NPTE and the NELAW must be passed with a scaled score of 600 or higher BEFORE the licensure application is submitted..

What does the move cost?

$133 (initial license fee stated on the DHHS Physical Therapist application; it drops to $33.25 for licenses issued May-October of odd-numbered years (the tail of the biennium) and is waived entirely for applicants under 26, low-income applicants, and military family members. + $55 Nebraska State Patrol criminal background check fee, which is never waived. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) (initial license fee stated on the DHHS Physical Therapist application; it drops to $33.25 for licenses issued May-October of odd-numbered years (the tail of the biennium) and is waived entirely for applicants under 26, low-income applicants, and military family members. + $55 Nebraska State Patrol criminal background check fee, which is never waived. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).

How long will it take?

DHHS publishes no processing timeframe; it states only that applications are reviewed in the order received and that verification of non-citizenship documents through Homeland Security may take up to 30 days — DHHS publishes no processing timeframe; it states only that applications are reviewed in the order received and that verification of non-citizenship documents through Homeland Security may take up to 30 days.

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]