Physical Therapy License from Texas to Iowa: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Yes, for working in Iowa — both Texas and Iowa are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Texas is your primary state of residence and your Texas license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Iowa without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Iowa, you will need an Iowa license once Iowa becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Both Texas and Iowa are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Texas 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 an Iowa compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Texas 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 Texas 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, Texas → Iowa
| Texas (current) | Iowa (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) |
| Application fee | the non-refundable application fee is set by the Executive Council in 22 TAC 651.2 (Physical Therapy Board Fees); ECPTOTE publishes no amount on its own pages and links out to the Texas Secretary of State TAC viewer, which is a JavaScript portal that could not be retrieved on 2026-08-07, so no figure is asserted here. The fee is WAIVED for military service members, military spouses and military veterans. Separate from this: the PT Compact privilege costs $50 to Texas plus the Commission's fee, and the FSBPT score transfer costs $90 | $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 | ECPTOTE states it is not publishing current processing times because of high application volume; the only fixed period in rule is that an application for licensure is valid for one year after the board receives it | the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners) | 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 home-state license is active and unencumbered and that your home state is your primary state of residence.
- To work in Iowa: purchase a PT Compact privilege for Iowa through the compact commission and complete any Iowa jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Iowa: apply for an Iowa license with the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Iowa accept a Texas physical therapy license?
Yes, for working in Iowa — both Texas and Iowa are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Texas is your primary state of residence and your Texas license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Iowa without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Iowa, you will need an Iowa license once Iowa becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Texas 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 an Iowa compact privilege to work while living in Texas: 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.).
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.
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)
- Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners Rules (November 2025) - 22 TAC 329.1 General Licensure Requirements and 329.6 Licensure by Endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- ECPTOTE - PT Apply by Endorsement (application steps) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- ECPTOTE - PT Compact page (Texas privilege fee and TX JAM requirement) ↗ (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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