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LicenseReciprocity

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

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health) ↗

Yes — both Oregon and Tennessee 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 Tennessee now; if you are moving your residence to Tennessee, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Tennessee your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.

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Verdict

Compact multistate — already covered

Both Oregon and Tennessee 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 Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health) — you buy a Tennessee compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Oregon license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Tennessee 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 Tennessee rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Tennessee.

What changes, Oregon → Tennessee

Side-by-side: Oregon vs Tennessee (Physical Therapy (PT/PTA)), verified 2026-08-07
Oregon (current)Tennessee (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.)$260–$305 (Rule 1150-01-.06 fee schedule for a PT: $150 application fee + $100 reciprocity fee + $10 biennial state regulatory fee are due when the application is filed ($260); a $45 license fee is then due before the license is issued, for $305 total. PTA equivalents are $140 + $100 + $10 + $45. Background-check vendor costs and the $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee are separate. 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's rules set no processing timeframe for reciprocity applications; they only require the $45 license fee to be received within 30 days of notification that it is due, or the application file is closed
Licensing authorityOregon Board of Physical Therapy (Oregon Physical Therapist Licensing Board)Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health)

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

Step by step

  1. Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing (check it in the verification system).
  2. If you are moving your primary residence to Tennessee: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health) when you move.
  3. Declare Tennessee as your new primary state of residence on that application.
  4. Complete Tennessee'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 Tennessee accept a Oregon physical therapy license?

Yes — both Oregon and Tennessee 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 Tennessee now; if you are moving your residence to Tennessee, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Tennessee your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.

Do I retake the NPTE moving from Oregon to Tennessee?

No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; passing scores must be sent directly from the examining service to the Board's administrative office (FSBPT Score Transfer Service, $90 per report), and reciprocity candidates must have passed the licensing examination at a criterion-referenced passing point. Tennessee requires no jurisprudence exam to obtain the license, but every renewal cycle 4 of the required continuing-competence hours must be ethics and jurisprudence courses of at least 2 hours each..

What does the move cost?

If you are buying a Tennessee compact privilege to work while living in Oregon: the commission's uniform fee plus Tennessee's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Tennessee license by endorsement: $260–$305 (Rule 1150-01-.06 fee schedule for a PT: $150 application fee + $100 reciprocity fee + $10 biennial state regulatory fee are due when the application is filed ($260); a $45 license fee is then due before the license is issued, for $305 total. PTA equivalents are $140 + $100 + $10 + $45. Background-check vendor costs and the $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee are separate. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) (Rule 1150-01-.06 fee schedule for a PT: $150 application fee + $100 reciprocity fee + $10 biennial state regulatory fee are due when the application is filed ($260); a $45 license fee is then due before the license is issued, for $305 total. PTA equivalents are $140 + $100 + $10 + $45. Background-check vendor costs and the $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee are separate. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).

How long will it take?

A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Tennessee jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the Board's rules set no processing timeframe for reciprocity applications; they only require the $45 license fee to be received within 30 days of notification that it is due, or the application file is closed (the Board's rules set no processing timeframe for reciprocity applications; they only require the $45 license fee to be received within 30 days of notification that it is due, or the application file is closed).

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]