Physical Therapy License from North Dakota to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Yes, for working in Washington — both North Dakota and Washington are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If North Dakota is your primary state of residence and your North Dakota license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Washington without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Washington, you will need a Washington license once Washington becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Both North Dakota and Washington are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If North Dakota is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health) — you buy a Washington compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your North Dakota license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Washington may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your North Dakota license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Washington rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Washington.
What changes, North Dakota → Washington
| North Dakota (current) | Washington (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) |
| Application fee | $200 (Non-refundable application fee set by NDAC 61.5-02-03-01(1); the same application fee applies to licensure by endorsement. Annual renewal is $100 for physical therapists ($60 for PTAs) and the late renewal fee is $50. The criminal-history background check is billed separately at cost. The $40 'compact fee' in the same rule is North Dakota's PT Compact privilege fee, not the endorsement application fee.) | $80 (original application fee for a physical therapist under WAC 246-915-990 (PTA initial application is $75); active license renewal is $100 annually. Fingerprint/background-check surcharges are separate. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | Neither the North Dakota Administrative Code nor the Board's rules state a processing timeframe for endorsement applications | the Department publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications; it warns only that delayed responses lengthen the wait. Military spouses may qualify for expedited processing |
| Licensing authority | North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy | Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Washington 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 Washington: purchase a PT Compact privilege for Washington through the compact commission and complete any Washington jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Washington: apply for a Washington license with the Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington accept a North Dakota physical therapy license?
Yes, for working in Washington — both North Dakota and Washington are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If North Dakota is your primary state of residence and your North Dakota license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Washington without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Washington, you will need a Washington license once Washington becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from North Dakota to Washington?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is sent to the Department by the exam host (FSBPT Score Transfer Service). Washington additionally requires out-of-state applicants to pass the Washington PT jurisprudence exam.
What does the move cost?
If you are buying a Washington compact privilege to work while living in North Dakota: the commission's uniform fee plus Washington's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Washington license by endorsement: $80 (original application fee for a physical therapist under WAC 246-915-990 (PTA initial application is $75); active license renewal is $100 annually. Fingerprint/background-check surcharges are separate. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Washington jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the Department publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications; it warns only that delayed responses lengthen the wait. Military spouses may qualify for expedited processing.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- WA DOH - PT/PTA Licensing Information ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WA DOH - Substantially Equivalent States (PT) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WAC 246-915-990 - Physical therapist fees ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact - member state map ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact - how to get privileges (state fee and jurisprudence table) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- North Dakota Administrative Code 61.5-02-03 - Fees (ND Legislative Branch) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- North Dakota Administrative Code 61.5-02-02 - Licensure (general requirements and types of licensure incl. endorsement) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- North Dakota Administrative Code Title 61.5 - ND Board of Physical Therapy (index) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- FSBPT - NPTE Score Transfer Service ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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