Transfer Your Physical Therapy License to New York: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: New York State Board for Physical Therapy (NYSED Office of the Professions) ↗
New York has not joined the PT Compact, so no compact privilege — yours or anyone's — authorizes practice there. Every incoming PT or PTA applies to the New York State Board for Physical Therapy (NYSED Office of the Professions) for licensure by endorsement: $294 (combined fee for licensure and first registration as a physical therapist; the same $294 applies whether you qualify by endorsement or by the standard route (PTA is $103). An optional limited permit costs a further $70, is non-refundable, and is valid 6 months. New York is not a PT Compact state, so no privilege fee exists.), processing the Office of the Professions publishes no processing timeframe for physical therapy applications, with the NPTE score transferred through the FSBPT rather than retaken.
Moving to New York from a specific state?
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Plan the timeline first, because New York recognizes no compact privilege at all. You cannot legally treat a single New York patient — in person or by telehealth — until the New York State Board for Physical Therapy (NYSED Office of the Professions) issues your license, and there is no travel or telehealth shortcut around that. The steps below are the endorsement path, which is the only path into New York.
New York has NOT enacted the PT Compact, so no compact privilege reaches New York and an out-of-state PT may not practice in New York without a New York license. New York's 'licensure by endorsement' is narrower than the word suggests: the Department reserves it for applicants licensed elsewhere who do NOT meet current New York education requirements, and it demands at least 3 years of acceptable practice within the 7 years before applying, verified by supervisors (Form 4) and a colleague (Form 4A). A PT who does meet the current education standard simply applies by the standard route with the same $294 fee, Form 2 education verification, and an FSBPT score transfer. All documentation must reach the Department directly from the issuing entity - anything handed in by the applicant is rejected. A $70 limited permit allows practice under on-site supervision of a New York-licensed PT while the application is pending.
New York requirements at a glance
| Exam | NPTE is not retaken; scores are transferred from FSBPT to the New York State Education Department, which then reviews them to decide whether they are satisfactory. New York has no state jurisprudence or law exam for physical therapists. |
|---|---|
| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $294 (combined fee for licensure and first registration as a physical therapist; the same $294 applies whether you qualify by endorsement or by the standard route (PTA is $103). An optional limited permit costs a further $70, is non-refundable, and is valid 6 months. New York is not a PT Compact state, so no privilege fee exists.) |
| Processing time | the Office of the Professions publishes no processing timeframe for physical therapy applications |
Step by step
- Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Board for Physical Therapy (NYSED Office of the Professions) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New York State Board for Physical Therapy (NYSED Office of the Professions) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Be at least 21 years old and of good moral character as determined by the Department.
- File the Application for Licensure (Form 1) with the $294 licensure and first-registration fee.
- Have license verification (Form 3) sent directly from every jurisdiction in which you are or have been licensed.
- For the endorsement route, document at least 3 years of acceptable physical therapy practice in the 7 years immediately preceding the application, using Form 4 (supervisors) and Form 4A (colleague verification).
- Have education verified on Form 2 by your CAPTE-accredited program, or through an approved credentials verification organization if your program was not CAPTE-accredited.
- Pay the fees ($294 (combined fee for licensure and first registration as a physical therapist; the same $294 applies whether you qualify by endorsement or by the standard route (PTA is $103). An optional limited permit costs a further $70, is non-refundable, and is valid 6 months. New York is not a PT Compact state, so no privilege fee exists.)) and allow the Office of the Professions publishes no processing timeframe for physical therapy applications.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
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Frequently asked questions
Does my physical therapy license transfer to New York?
New York has not joined the PT Compact, so no compact privilege — yours or anyone's — authorizes practice there. Every incoming PT or PTA applies to the New York State Board for Physical Therapy (NYSED Office of the Professions) for licensure by endorsement: $294 (combined fee for licensure and first registration as a physical therapist; the same $294 applies whether you qualify by endorsement or by the standard route (PTA is $103). An optional limited permit costs a further $70, is non-refundable, and is valid 6 months. New York is not a PT Compact state, so no privilege fee exists.), processing the Office of the Professions publishes no processing timeframe for physical therapy applications, with the NPTE score transferred through the FSBPT rather than retaken.
Do I have to retake the NPTE to get licensed in New York?
No. NPTE is not retaken; scores are transferred from FSBPT to the New York State Education Department, which then reviews them to decide whether they are satisfactory. New York has no state jurisprudence or law exam for physical therapists.. No state requires a second NPTE.
How much does it cost to transfer a PT license to New York by endorsement?
$294 (combined fee for licensure and first registration as a physical therapist; the same $294 applies whether you qualify by endorsement or by the standard route (PTA is $103). An optional limited permit costs a further $70, is non-refundable, and is valid 6 months. New York is not a PT Compact state, so no privilege fee exists.) (combined fee for licensure and first registration as a physical therapist; the same $294 applies whether you qualify by endorsement or by the standard route (PTA is $103). An optional limited permit costs a further $70, is non-refundable, and is valid 6 months. New York is not a PT Compact state, so no privilege fee exists.).
How long does New York take to process an endorsement application?
the Office of the Professions publishes no processing timeframe for physical therapy applications — the Office of the Professions publishes no processing timeframe for physical therapy applications.
Is New York in the PT Compact?
No. New York has not joined the compact as of 2026-08-07, so no compact privilege authorizes practice there and endorsement is the only route.
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
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