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LicenseReciprocity

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

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Montana Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals (formerly the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners), Department of Labor & Industry ↗

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

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Verdict

Compact multistate — already covered

Both Oregon and Montana are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Oregon is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Montana Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals (formerly the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners), Department of Labor & Industry — you buy a Montana compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Oregon license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Montana may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your Oregon license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Montana rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Montana.

What changes, Oregon → Montana

Side-by-side: Oregon vs Montana (Physical Therapy (PT/PTA)), verified 2026-08-07
Oregon (current)Montana (destination)
PT Compact statusPT Compact member — multistate license honoredPT Compact member — multistate license honored
Application fee$187 (OAR 848-005-0020(1) sets the PT/PTA Endorsement Application fee at $187.00 plus the actual cost to the Board of conducting a nationwide background verification. Distinct items in the same rule: PT license renewal $200 (plus workforce survey and background verification costs), PTA renewal $130, military spouse temporary permit $99, temporary permit $50. The PT/PTA compact privilege fee of $102.00 in that rule is the PT Compact privilege charge, not the endorsement 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.)
Processing timeThe Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications in its rules or on its Applying for Licensure page.the 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 completed
Licensing authorityOregon Board of Physical Therapy (Oregon Physical Therapist Licensing Board)Montana Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals (formerly the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners), Department of Labor & Industry

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Montana sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing.
  2. If you are moving your primary residence to Montana: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Montana Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals (formerly the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners), Department of Labor & Industry when you move.
  3. Declare Montana as your new primary state of residence on that application.
  4. Complete Montana'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 Montana accept a Oregon physical therapy license?

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

Do I retake the NPTE moving from Oregon to Montana?

No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. The NPTE is not retaken; FSBPT must verify a passing NPTE score of 600 or higher directly to the Board. Montana also requires a completed open-book state jurisprudence examination (ARM 24.177.501), with a $25 fee for each retake..

What does the move cost?

If you are buying a Montana compact privilege to work while living in Oregon: the commission's uniform fee plus Montana's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Montana license by endorsement: $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.) ($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.).

How long will it take?

A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Montana jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the 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 completed (the 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 completed).

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]