Physical Therapy License from Maryland to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Yes, for working in Georgia — both Maryland and Georgia are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Maryland is your primary state of residence and your Maryland license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Georgia without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Georgia, you will need a Georgia license once Georgia becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Both Maryland and Georgia are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Maryland is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) — you buy a Georgia compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Maryland license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Georgia may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your Maryland license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Georgia rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Georgia.
What changes, Maryland → Georgia
| Maryland (current) | Georgia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) |
| Application fee | $150 (non-refundable $150 application fee for Licensure by Endorsement (both U.S.-graduate and foreign-educated tracks), payable by credit or debit card only. The MD JAM fee is paid separately to FSBPT and the criminal history records check is paid separately to DPSCS. NOT the PT Compact privilege 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.) |
| Processing time | up to 14 weeks (the Board states the application process can take up to 60 business days (~12 weeks) because of response times from outside organizations, plus up to 10 business days (~2 weeks) to complete full licensure once all criteria are met; no minimum is published. Only Licensure by Examination applicants may request a temporary 90-day license.) | 3–5 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) |
| Licensing authority | Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (Maryland Department of Health) | Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Georgia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your home-state license is active and unencumbered and that your home state is your primary state of residence.
- To work in Georgia: purchase a PT Compact privilege for Georgia through the compact commission and complete any Georgia jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Georgia: apply for a Georgia license with the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia accept a Maryland physical therapy license?
Yes, for working in Georgia — both Maryland and Georgia are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Maryland is your primary state of residence and your Maryland license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Georgia without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Georgia, you will need a Georgia license once Georgia becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Maryland to Georgia?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; you request FSBPT to send an official copy of your NPTE score directly to the Board. Georgia additionally requires passing the Georgia Jurisprudence Assessment Module (GA JAM), administered by FSBPT.
What does the move cost?
If you are buying a Georgia compact privilege to work while living in Maryland: the commission's uniform fee plus Georgia's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Georgia license by endorsement: $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.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Georgia jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs 3–5 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).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy — Fee Schedule ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy — Instruction Sheet for Application for Licensure ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy — FAQ (reciprocity, processing, CE, background check) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact — Compact Privilege Fee, Jurisprudence and Waiver Table ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact — States by Category ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners — Licensing (Licensure by Endorsement requirements, fees, processing time) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners — Physical Therapy Compact Privilege ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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