Physical Therapy License from North Carolina to Louisiana: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Yes — both North Carolina and Louisiana are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If North Carolina is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Louisiana now; if you are moving your residence to Louisiana, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Louisiana your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.

No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score must be sent to the Board through the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Louisiana also requires all applicants to pass the Board's free online jurisprudence exam (40 questions from the Practice Act and Rules, 75% to pass)..

If you are buying a Louisiana compact privilege to work while living in North Carolina: the commission's uniform fee plus Louisiana's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Louisiana license by endorsement: $250 (PT license application fee per LAC 46:LIV §501, paid by domestic cashier's check or money order only (personal checks are returned). The $95 'compact state fee' in the same rule is the PT Compact privilege fee, NOT the reciprocity application fee.) (PT license application fee per LAC 46:LIV §501, paid by domestic cashier's check or money order only (personal checks are returned). The $95 'compact state fee' in the same rule is the PT Compact privilege fee, NOT the reciprocity application fee.).

A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Louisiana jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the Board publishes no processing timeframe for reciprocity applications (the Board publishes no processing timeframe for reciprocity applications).