Physical Therapy License from Tennessee to Iowa: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) ↗
Yes — both Tennessee and Iowa are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Tennessee is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Iowa now; if you are moving your residence to Iowa, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Iowa your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
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Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
Both Tennessee and Iowa are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Tennessee is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) — you buy a Iowa compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Tennessee license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Iowa may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your Tennessee license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Iowa rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Iowa.
What changes, Tennessee → Iowa
| Tennessee (current) | Iowa (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | PT Compact member — multistate license honored | PT Compact member — multistate license honored |
| Application 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.) | $120 (physical therapist license application fee (non-refundable) charged to the out-of-state endorsement applicant; + $55 non-refundable fingerprint/criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | 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 publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy (Tennessee Department of Health) | Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Iowa sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Iowa: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) when you move.
- Declare Iowa as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete Iowa's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
- 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 Iowa accept a Tennessee physical therapy license?
Yes — both Tennessee and Iowa are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Tennessee is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Iowa now; if you are moving your residence to Iowa, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Iowa your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Tennessee to Iowa?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is submitted to the Board directly by the FSBPT (Score Transfer Service). Iowa does not require a separate state jurisprudence/law exam for licensure..
What does the move cost?
If you are buying a Iowa compact privilege to work while living in Tennessee: the commission's uniform fee plus Iowa's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Iowa license by endorsement: $120 (physical therapist license application fee (non-refundable) charged to the out-of-state endorsement applicant; + $55 non-refundable fingerprint/criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) (physical therapist license application fee (non-refundable) charged to the out-of-state endorsement applicant; + $55 non-refundable fingerprint/criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Iowa jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications (the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Iowa DIAL — Apply for a Physical Therapist License ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Iowa Administrative Code 645 ch. 200 — Physical and Occupational Therapists ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Rules of the Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy, Chapter 1150-01 (December 2025 revision) - Rules 1150-01-.04 Qualifications, .05 Procedures, .06 Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Tennessee Department of Health - Board of Physical Therapy ↗ (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 Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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