Physical Therapy License from Virginia to Colorado: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Yes, for working in Colorado — both Virginia and Colorado are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Virginia is your primary state of residence and your Virginia license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Colorado without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Colorado, you will need a Colorado license once Colorado becomes your home state.
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Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Both Virginia and Colorado 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 Colorado State Physical Therapy Board (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) — you buy a Colorado compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Virginia license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Colorado 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 Colorado rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Colorado.
What changes, Virginia → Colorado
| Virginia (current) | Colorado (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) |
| 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.) | The fee is set administratively by the DORA Director (C.R.S. 12-285-110 provides for 'a fee in an amount determined by the director') and is not stated in the rule; the DORA/DPO fee schedule could not be verified on an accessible official page because dpo.colorado.gov blocks automated access. 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 Division of Professions and Occupations publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications on an accessible page |
| Licensing authority | Virginia Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health Professions) | Colorado State Physical Therapy Board (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Colorado 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 Colorado: purchase a PT Compact privilege for Colorado through the compact commission and complete any Colorado jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Colorado: apply for a Colorado license with the Colorado State Physical Therapy Board (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Colorado accept a Virginia physical therapy license?
Yes, for working in Colorado — both Virginia and Colorado are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Virginia is your primary state of residence and your Virginia license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Colorado without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Colorado, you will need a Colorado license once Colorado becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Virginia to Colorado?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is transferred to the Board through the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Colorado does not require a separate state jurisprudence or law exam for physical therapists.
What does the move cost?
If you are buying a Colorado compact privilege to work while living in Virginia: the commission's uniform fee plus Colorado's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Colorado license by endorsement: The fee is set administratively by the DORA Director (C.R.S. 12-285-110 provides for 'a fee in an amount determined by the director') and is not stated in the rule; the DORA/DPO fee schedule could not be verified on an accessible official page because dpo.colorado.gov blocks automated access. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Colorado jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs The Division of Professions and Occupations publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications on an accessible page.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Colorado State Physical Therapy Board — Licensure Rules 4 CCR 732-1.5 (Cornell LII reproduction of the official regulation) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- C.R.S. 12-285-112 — Licensure by endorsement (Colorado Revised Statutes) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- C.R.S. 12-285-110 — Licensure by examination; fee set by the director ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PT Compact — member state 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 the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]