Physical Therapy License from Ohio to District of Columbia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health) ↗
Yes — both Ohio and District of Columbia are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Ohio is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in District of Columbia now; if you are moving your residence to District of Columbia, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare District of Columbia your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
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Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
Both Ohio and District of Columbia are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Ohio is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health) — you buy a District of Columbia compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Ohio license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: District of Columbia may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your Ohio license does. If you are genuinely relocating to District of Columbia rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into District of Columbia.
What changes, Ohio → District of Columbia
| Ohio (current) | District of Columbia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | PT Compact member — multistate license honored | PT Compact member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $100 (OAC 4755-4-01(B)(1) (effective August 21, 2025) caps the initial licensing fee - the fee an endorsement applicant pays - at one hundred dollars, and states that the current amount is published on the Board's website. otptat.ohio.gov and codes.ohio.gov were unreachable from the research environment on 2026-08-07, so only the rule maximum is given rather than an unverified exact figure. Biennial renewal is likewise capped at $100. The BCI/FBI criminal records check is billed separately by the record providers. This is not the PT Compact privilege fee.) | $264 ($264 combined application and license fee paid online (DC Health licensing portal), per the DC endorsement checklist; a separate $50 criminal background check fee is paid online with the application. Licenses run biennially, expiring Jan 31 of odd-numbered years. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | Neither the Ohio Revised Code nor the Board's rules state a processing timeframe; OAC 4755:2-1-01(E) provides only that an application still incomplete one year after filing is abandoned. | DC Health does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications. |
| Licensing authority | Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board (OTPTAT Board) - Physical Therapy Section | District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia: apply for licensure by endorsement with the District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (DC Health) when you move.
- Declare District of Columbia as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete District of Columbia'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 District of Columbia accept a Ohio physical therapy license?
Yes — both Ohio and District of Columbia are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Ohio is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in District of Columbia now; if you are moving your residence to District of Columbia, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare District of Columbia your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Ohio to District of Columbia?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is verified through FSBPT (via the FSBPT ID on the NPTE score report). DC also requires the District of Columbia Jurisprudence Examination, which is registered for and taken through FSBPT..
What does the move cost?
If you are buying a District of Columbia compact privilege to work while living in Ohio: the commission's uniform fee plus District of Columbia's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full District of Columbia license by endorsement: $264 ($264 combined application and license fee paid online (DC Health licensing portal), per the DC endorsement checklist; a separate $50 criminal background check fee is paid online with the application. Licenses run biennially, expiring Jan 31 of odd-numbered years. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) ($264 combined application and license fee paid online (DC Health licensing portal), per the DC endorsement checklist; a separate $50 criminal background check fee is paid online with the application. Licenses run biennially, expiring Jan 31 of odd-numbered years. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any District of Columbia jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs DC Health does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications. (DC Health does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications.).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- DC Health — Physical Therapist New License Application (Endorsement) Checklist ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- D.C. Code § 3-1205.07 — Reciprocity and endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PT Compact — member state map ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Ohio OTPTAT Board - Physical Therapy Laws and Rules, effective April 3, 2026 (LSC-authenticated ORC and OAC text: OAC 4755:2-1-01, 4755:2-1-03, 4755:2-1-04, 4755-3-05, 4755-4-01, 4755-4-02) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- FSBPT - NPTE Score Transfer Service ↗ (accessed 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]