Physical Therapy License from South Dakota to Maryland: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Yes, for working in Maryland — both South Dakota and Maryland 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 Maryland without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Maryland, you will need a Maryland license once Maryland becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Both South Dakota and Maryland 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 Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (Maryland Department of Health) — you buy a Maryland compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your South Dakota license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Maryland 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 Maryland rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Maryland.
What changes, South Dakota → Maryland
| South Dakota (current) | Maryland (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.) | $150 (non-refundable $150 application fee for Licensure by Endorsement (both U.S.-graduate and foreign-educated tracks), payable by credit or debit card only. The MD JAM fee is paid separately to FSBPT and the criminal history records check is paid separately to DPSCS. 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 | up to 14 weeks (the Board states the application process can take up to 60 business days (~12 weeks) because of response times from outside organizations, plus up to 10 business days (~2 weeks) to complete full licensure once all criteria are met; no minimum is published. Only Licensure by Examination applicants may request a temporary 90-day license.) |
| Licensing authority | South Dakota Board of Physical Therapy (South Dakota Department of Health) | Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (Maryland Department of Health) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Maryland 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 Maryland: purchase a PT Compact privilege for Maryland through the compact commission and complete any Maryland jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Maryland: apply for a Maryland license with the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (Maryland Department of Health); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Maryland accept a South Dakota physical therapy license?
Yes, for working in Maryland — both South Dakota and Maryland 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 Maryland without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Maryland, you will need a Maryland license once Maryland becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from South Dakota to Maryland?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; you request FSBPT to send your exam score to the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, and a passing score is required for full licensure. Maryland additionally requires passing the Maryland Jurisprudence Assessment Module (MD JAM) with a score of 90% or better.
What does the move cost?
If you are buying a Maryland compact privilege to work while living in South Dakota: the commission's uniform fee plus Maryland's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Maryland license by endorsement: $150 (non-refundable $150 application fee for Licensure by Endorsement (both U.S.-graduate and foreign-educated tracks), payable by credit or debit card only. The MD JAM fee is paid separately to FSBPT and the criminal history records check is paid separately to DPSCS. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Maryland jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs up to 14 weeks (the Board states the application process can take up to 60 business days (~12 weeks) because of response times from outside organizations, plus up to 10 business days (~2 weeks) to complete full licensure once all criteria are met; no minimum is published. Only Licensure by Examination applicants may request a temporary 90-day license.).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners — Licensing (Licensure by Endorsement requirements, fees, processing time) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners — Physical Therapy Compact Privilege ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact — Compact Privilege Fee, Jurisprudence and Waiver Table ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact — States by Category ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- 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)
- 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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