Physical Therapy License from Montana to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) ↗
Yes — both Montana and Arkansas are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Montana is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Arkansas now; if you are moving your residence to Arkansas, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Arkansas your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
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Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
Both Montana and Arkansas are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Montana is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) — you buy a Arkansas compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Montana license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Arkansas may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your Montana license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Arkansas rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Arkansas.
What changes, Montana → Arkansas
| Montana (current) | Arkansas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | PT Compact member — multistate license honored | PT Compact member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $225 ($100.00 physical therapist application fee (all applicants) + $125.00 out-of-state licence application fee, per the Board's application form (rev. 2025-03-14) and licensing checklist. The department also charges an extra $5.00 litigation-fund fee to applicants and licensees of qualifying boards from 1 July 2025 (HB 227). Jurisprudence re-examination is $25 per retake and a pre-exam temporary licence is $100. Fingerprint background-check costs are separate. This is NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) | $100 (PT Endorsement (Reciprocity) fee is $100 per the Board rules fee schedule (Section VII). A statutory 95% fee reduction cut this to $5 for applications from Jul 1, 2023-Jun 30, 2026; that window closed before this verification date, so the $100 standing fee applies. A $10 online jurisprudence-exam fee and the state/FBI background-check fee are separate. NOT the $50 PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | the Board publishes no processing timeframe for out-of-state applications; it notes only that if all other requirements are met it can issue a provisional licence with a reservation of rights, valid for 60 days, while outstanding licence verifications are completed | no overall timeframe published; the Board notes criminal background-check results take about 2-6 weeks and no license issues until they are received. A 90-day temporary/provisional license is available on request. |
| Licensing authority | Montana Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals (formerly the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners), Department of Labor & Industry | Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arkansas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Arkansas: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (Arkansas Department of Health) when you move.
- Declare Arkansas as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete Arkansas's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
- Keep practicing — your multistate privilege remains valid during the transition (do not let the old license lapse before the new one issues).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Arkansas accept a Montana physical therapy license?
Yes — both Montana and Arkansas are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Montana is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Arkansas now; if you are moving your residence to Arkansas, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Arkansas your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Montana to Arkansas?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; evidence of the passing score is provided to the Board through the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Arkansas also requires passing its online jurisprudence exam (70% to pass; $10)..
What does the move cost?
If you are buying a Arkansas compact privilege to work while living in Montana: the commission's uniform fee plus Arkansas's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Arkansas license by endorsement: $100 (PT Endorsement (Reciprocity) fee is $100 per the Board rules fee schedule (Section VII). A statutory 95% fee reduction cut this to $5 for applications from Jul 1, 2023-Jun 30, 2026; that window closed before this verification date, so the $100 standing fee applies. A $10 online jurisprudence-exam fee and the state/FBI background-check fee are separate. NOT the $50 PT Compact privilege fee.) (PT Endorsement (Reciprocity) fee is $100 per the Board rules fee schedule (Section VII). A statutory 95% fee reduction cut this to $5 for applications from Jul 1, 2023-Jun 30, 2026; that window closed before this verification date, so the $100 standing fee applies. A $10 online jurisprudence-exam fee and the state/FBI background-check fee are separate. NOT the $50 PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Arkansas jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs no overall timeframe published; the Board notes criminal background-check results take about 2-6 weeks and no license issues until they are received. A 90-day temporary/provisional license is available on request. (no overall timeframe published; the Board notes criminal background-check results take about 2-6 weeks and no license issues until they are received. A 90-day temporary/provisional license is available on request.).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Arkansas State Board of PT — Application Instructions for Licensure by Reciprocity (PT) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Arkansas State Board of PT — Rules (Sec. IV Methods of Licensure; Sec. VII Fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PT Compact — member states map ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana Board of Physical Therapy Examiners — Physical Therapist Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist (fees, jurisprudence exam, NPTE 600, fingerprint check) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Montana Board of Physical Therapy Examiners — Application for Licensure, rev. 2025-03-14 ($100 PT + $125 out-of-state licence condition) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Montana DLI — Physical Therapy Licensing (HB 227 $5 fee notice; redirect to the consolidated board) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Montana Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals — License Information (PT renewal 1 April; 60-day provisional licence) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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