Physical Therapy License from Illinois to New Hampshire: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: New Hampshire Governing Board of Physical Therapists (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) ↗
A physical therapy license transfers from Illinois to New Hampshire by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New Hampshire Governing Board of Physical Therapists (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification), verify your Illinois license, and meet New Hampshire's endorsement requirements. NPTE is not retaken; FSBPT certification of the passing score is the exam requirement. New Hampshire additionally requires the New Hampshire Jurisprudence Assessment Module, completed through the FSBPT JAM service..
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
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 New Hampshire is an active member. Endorse into New Hampshire with the New Hampshire Governing Board of Physical Therapists (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification), establish it as your home state and primary residence, and New Hampshire 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 → New Hampshire
| Illinois (current) | New Hampshire (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement | PT 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.) | $121 (Physical Therapy Governing Board application fee (identical for PT and PTA); renewal and reinstatement are also $121. Paper reciprocity applications must be paid by check or money order to 'Treasurer, State of New Hampshire'. Excludes the applicant's own cost of the FBI criminal history records check. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | neither IDFPR nor 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1340 publishes a processing timeframe for endorsement applications | OPLC publishes no processing timeframe; under Plc 313.07(c) it may issue an 'Active-Provisional' license to an endorsement-qualified applicant who has filed everything and submitted fingerprints while the criminal history results are still outstanding |
| Licensing authority | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation (Illinois Physical Therapy Board) | New Hampshire Governing Board of Physical Therapists (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New Hampshire sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm New Hampshire's current requirements on the New Hampshire Governing Board of Physical Therapists (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New Hampshire Governing Board of Physical Therapists (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Graduate of a CAPTE-accredited or otherwise board-approved physical therapy education program.
- Complete the New Hampshire Jurisprudence Assessment Module through FSBPT.
- Submit an FBI criminal history records check.
- Have letters of verification sent directly to the board from every state where you are or were licensed.
- If applying by reciprocity under RSA 310:17, file the paper Universal Application for Initial Licensure by mail rather than the online application.
- Pay the fees ($121 (Physical Therapy Governing Board application fee (identical for PT and PTA); renewal and reinstatement are also $121. Paper reciprocity applications must be paid by check or money order to 'Treasurer, State of New Hampshire'. Excludes the applicant's own cost of the FBI criminal history records check. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.)) and allow OPLC publishes no processing timeframe; under Plc 313.07(c) it may issue an 'Active-Provisional' license to an endorsement-qualified applicant who has filed everything and submitted fingerprints while the criminal history results are still outstanding.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does New Hampshire accept a Illinois physical therapy license?
A physical therapy license transfers from Illinois to New Hampshire by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New Hampshire Governing Board of Physical Therapists (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification), verify your Illinois license, and meet New Hampshire's endorsement requirements. NPTE is not retaken; FSBPT certification of the passing score is the exam requirement. New Hampshire additionally requires the New Hampshire Jurisprudence Assessment Module, completed through the FSBPT JAM service..
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Illinois to New Hampshire?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; FSBPT certification of the passing score is the exam requirement. New Hampshire additionally requires the New Hampshire Jurisprudence Assessment Module, completed through the FSBPT JAM service..
What does the move cost?
$121 (Physical Therapy Governing Board application fee (identical for PT and PTA); renewal and reinstatement are also $121. Paper reciprocity applications must be paid by check or money order to 'Treasurer, State of New Hampshire'. Excludes the applicant's own cost of the FBI criminal history records check. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) (Physical Therapy Governing Board application fee (identical for PT and PTA); renewal and reinstatement are also $121. Paper reciprocity applications must be paid by check or money order to 'Treasurer, State of New Hampshire'. Excludes the applicant's own cost of the FBI criminal history records check. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
OPLC publishes no processing timeframe; under Plc 313.07(c) it may issue an 'Active-Provisional' license to an endorsement-qualified applicant who has filed everything and submitted fingerprints while the criminal history results are still outstanding — OPLC publishes no processing timeframe; under Plc 313.07(c) it may issue an 'Active-Provisional' license to an endorsement-qualified applicant who has filed everything and submitted fingerprints while the criminal history results are still outstanding.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- NH OPLC - Physical Therapy License Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- NH OPLC - Physical Therapist Initial Application Checklist ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- NH OPLC - New Changes for Reciprocity in New Hampshire (RSA 310:17 qualifying jurisdictions, Plc 313.47) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- NH OPLC - Physical Therapy Applications ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact Commission - Process and Requirements (New Hampshire privilege fees and jurisprudence rule) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- IDFPR — Physical Therapy profession page (CORE applications, endorsement link, license look-up) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- IDFPR — Qualifications for Licensure: Physical Therapist (070), effective 03/2026 ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1340 — Illinois Physical Therapy Act rules (Sec. 1340.50 Endorsement, Sec. 1340.57 Fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact — States by Category ↗ (accessed 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]