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LicenseReciprocity

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

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) ↗

Yes — both Montana and Georgia 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 Georgia now; if you are moving your residence to Georgia, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Georgia your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.

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Verdict

Compact multistate — already covered

Both Montana and Georgia 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 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 Montana 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 Montana 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, Montana → Georgia

Side-by-side: Montana vs Georgia (Physical Therapy (PT/PTA)), verified 2026-08-07
Montana (current)Georgia (destination)
PT Compact statusPT Compact member — multistate license honoredPT 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.)$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 timethe 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 completed3–5 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 authorityMontana Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals (formerly the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners), Department of Labor & IndustryGeorgia 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

  1. Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing (check it in the verification system).
  2. If you are moving your primary residence to Georgia: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) when you move.
  3. Declare Georgia as your new primary state of residence on that application.
  4. Complete Georgia's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
  5. 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 Georgia accept a Montana physical therapy license?

Yes — both Montana and Georgia 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 Georgia now; if you are moving your residence to Georgia, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Georgia your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.

Do I retake the NPTE moving from Montana 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 Montana: 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.) ($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) (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.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]