Physical Therapy License from Virginia to Arizona: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy ↗
Yes — both Virginia and Arizona are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Virginia is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Arizona now; if you are moving your residence to Arizona, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Arizona your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
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Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
Both Virginia and Arizona are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Virginia is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy — you buy a Arizona compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Virginia license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Arizona may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your Virginia license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Arizona rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Arizona.
What changes, Virginia → Arizona
| Virginia (current) | Arizona (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | PT Compact member — multistate license honored | PT Compact member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $140 (licensure-by-endorsement application fee for a physical therapist under 18VAC112-20-27 (most recently amended June 18, 2025); the PTA endorsement fee is $100. Active PT renewal is $135 biennially. The $50 compact privilege fee and the $75 direct access certification fee in the same section are separate charges. Criminal background check costs are not included.) | $190–$260 (original-license application fee per A.A.C. R4-24-107: $260 if applying Sep 1 (even year)-Aug 31 (odd year), $190 if applying in the second half of the biennial cycle; an endorsement is filed as an original-license application. Statutory cap is $300 (A.R.S. 32-2029). AZLAW exam fees (~$65 to FSBPT + ~$29.50 to Prometric) are separate. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | the Board publishes no processing timeframe; its FAQ states only that an application remains valid for one year before a new application and fee are required | the Board's statutes and rules do not state a processing timeframe |
| Licensing authority | Virginia Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health Professions) | Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arizona 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 Arizona: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy when you move.
- Declare Arizona as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete Arizona'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 Arizona accept a Virginia physical therapy license?
Yes — both Virginia and Arizona are members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Virginia is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Arizona now; if you are moving your residence to Arizona, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Arizona your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Virginia to Arizona?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is verified/transferred to the Board via the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Arizona also requires passing the AZLAW jurisprudence exam (50 questions; a scaled score of 600 to pass)..
What does the move cost?
If you are buying a Arizona compact privilege to work while living in Virginia: the commission's uniform fee plus Arizona's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Arizona license by endorsement: $190–$260 (original-license application fee per A.A.C. R4-24-107: $260 if applying Sep 1 (even year)-Aug 31 (odd year), $190 if applying in the second half of the biennial cycle; an endorsement is filed as an original-license application. Statutory cap is $300 (A.R.S. 32-2029). AZLAW exam fees (~$65 to FSBPT + ~$29.50 to Prometric) are separate. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) (original-license application fee per A.A.C. R4-24-107: $260 if applying Sep 1 (even year)-Aug 31 (odd year), $190 if applying in the second half of the biennial cycle; an endorsement is filed as an original-license application. Statutory cap is $300 (A.R.S. 32-2029). AZLAW exam fees (~$65 to FSBPT + ~$29.50 to Prometric) are separate. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Arizona jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the Board's statutes and rules do not state a processing timeframe (the Board's statutes and rules do not state a processing timeframe).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-24-107 — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-24-201 — Application for a Physical Therapist License ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- A.R.S. 32-2029 — Board of Physical Therapy fees (statutory cap) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PT Compact — member states map ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 18VAC112-20-27 - Fees (Virginia Board of Physical Therapy) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- 18VAC112-20-65 - Requirements for licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Virginia Board of Physical Therapy - Licensure FAQ ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PT Compact - how to get privileges (state fee and jurisprudence table) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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