Physical Therapy License from South Dakota to Alabama: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Yes, for working in Alabama — both South Dakota and Alabama are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If South Dakota is your primary state of residence and your South Dakota license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Alabama without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Alabama, you will need an Alabama license once Alabama becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Both South Dakota and Alabama are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If South Dakota is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Alabama Board of Physical Therapy — you buy an Alabama compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your South Dakota license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Alabama may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your South Dakota license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Alabama rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Alabama.
What changes, South Dakota → Alabama
| South Dakota (current) | Alabama (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) |
| Application fee | $120 (application fee payable to the SD Board of Physical Therapy per the Board's published licensing-requirements checklist; fingerprint/DCI background-check costs and the $90 FSBPT score-transfer fee are separate. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) | $100 (online application fee for a PT (same fee for endorsement or exam) per the Board fee schedule; annual PT renewal is $130; a fingerprint-based background-check fee applies separately. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | the Board publishes no overall processing timeframe; it states only that DCI background-check processing averages 3-4 weeks and is outside the Board's control, and that late fingerprint submission delays application review | the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | South Dakota Board of Physical Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health) | Alabama Board of Physical Therapy |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Alabama 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 Alabama: purchase a PT Compact privilege for Alabama through the compact commission and complete any Alabama jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Alabama: apply for an Alabama license with the Alabama Board of Physical Therapy; a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Alabama accept a South Dakota physical therapy license?
Yes, for working in Alabama — both South Dakota and Alabama are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If South Dakota is your primary state of residence and your South Dakota license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Alabama without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Alabama, you will need an Alabama license once Alabama becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from South Dakota to Alabama?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is sent to the Board via the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Alabama also requires passing the Alabama Physical Therapy Jurisprudence Examination (AL JAM) with at least 80% correct.
What does the move cost?
If you are buying an Alabama compact privilege to work while living in South Dakota: the commission's uniform fee plus Alabama's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Alabama license by endorsement: $100 (online application fee for a PT (same fee for endorsement or exam) per the Board fee schedule; annual PT renewal is $130; a fingerprint-based background-check fee applies separately. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Alabama jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Alabama Board of Physical Therapy — Licensing Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Board of Physical Therapy — Fee Schedule ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PT Compact — member states map ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SD Board of Physical Therapy - Licensing Requirements (application checklist and fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- SD Board of Physical Therapy - board home page ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact - state status list (Physical Therapy Compact Commission) ↗ (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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