Physical Therapy License from Pennsylvania to Alaska: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Yes, for working in Alaska — both Pennsylvania and Alaska are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Pennsylvania is your primary state of residence and your Pennsylvania license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Alaska without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Alaska, you will need an Alaska license once Alaska becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Both Pennsylvania and Alaska are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Pennsylvania is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Alaska Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) — you buy an Alaska compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Pennsylvania license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Alaska may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your Pennsylvania license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Alaska rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Alaska.
What changes, Pennsylvania → Alaska
| Pennsylvania (current) | Alaska (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) |
| Application fee | $30 (49 Pa. Code section 40.5 sets 'Application for licensure by examination/endorsement' at $30 for a physical therapist; initial application for PTA certification by examination or endorsement is also $30. Related items in the same fee rule: biennial PT renewal $90, licensure through foreign training $45, temporary licence $15, verification of licensure $15, certification of examination scores or licensure $25. Criminal history record checks and the 3-hour child abuse training are billed separately by their providers.) | $350 ($150 nonrefundable application fee + $200 initial biennial license fee (both required to obtain the license) per application 08-4916 and 12 AAC 02.320; a separate $75 fingerprint processing fee also applies ($425 total). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | Neither the Board's regulations nor the Department of State's physical therapist licensure snapshot states a processing timeframe | the Division states average processing time varies by program and publishes no set timeframe; a license issues only after all documents and the criminal background check are complete |
| Licensing authority | Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Department of State) | Alaska Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Alaska 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 Alaska: purchase a PT Compact privilege for Alaska through the compact commission and complete any Alaska jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Alaska: apply for an Alaska license with the Alaska Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Alaska accept a Pennsylvania physical therapy license?
Yes, for working in Alaska — both Pennsylvania and Alaska are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Pennsylvania is your primary state of residence and your Pennsylvania license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Alaska without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Alaska, you will need an Alaska license once Alaska becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Pennsylvania to Alaska?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is transferred electronically to the Board via the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Alaska also requires a completed PT Jurisprudence Questionnaire (form 08-4883) rather than a separate proctored law exam.
What does the move cost?
If you are buying an Alaska compact privilege to work while living in Pennsylvania: the commission's uniform fee plus Alaska's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Alaska license by endorsement: $350 ($150 nonrefundable application fee + $200 initial biennial license fee (both required to obtain the license) per application 08-4916 and 12 AAC 02.320; a separate $75 fingerprint processing fee also applies ($425 total). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Alaska jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the Division states average processing time varies by program and publishes no set timeframe; a license issues only after all documents and the criminal background check are complete.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Alaska Board of PT/OT — Physical Therapist License by Credentials Application (08-4916, rev. 09/19/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 12 AAC 02.320 — Physical therapy fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PT Compact — member states map ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 49 Pa. Code section 40.16 - Licensure by endorsement (Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- 49 Pa. Code section 40.5 - Fees (Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PA Department of State - Physical Therapist Licensure Snapshot (State Board of Physical Therapy) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- 49 Pa. Code Chapter 40 Subchapter A - Physical Therapists (section list) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]