Physical Therapy License from Washington to Alaska: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Yes, for working in Alaska — both Washington and Alaska are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Washington is your primary state of residence and your Washington license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Alaska without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Alaska, you will need an Alaska license once Alaska becomes your home state.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Compact privilege — work there without a second license
Both Washington and Alaska are active PT Compact members, so this is a privilege move, not a license move. If Washington is your home state and primary residence and your license there is active, you do not apply to the Alaska Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) — you buy an Alaska compact privilege through the commission and practice on it, with your Washington license staying in place. Two caveats worth planning around: Alaska may require its jurisprudence exam before the privilege issues, and the privilege lapses the moment your Washington license does. If you are genuinely relocating to Alaska rather than working there temporarily, the privilege model doesn't fit — you would change your home state by endorsing into Alaska.
What changes, Washington → Alaska
| Washington (current) | Alaska (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PT Compact status | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) | Licensure by endorsement · PT Compact privilege (not a license) |
| Application fee | $80 (original application fee for a physical therapist under WAC 246-915-990 (PTA initial application is $75); active license renewal is $100 annually. Fingerprint/background-check surcharges are separate. NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) | $350 ($150 nonrefundable application fee + $200 initial biennial license fee (both required to obtain the license) per application 08-4916 and 12 AAC 02.320; a separate $75 fingerprint processing fee also applies ($425 total). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.) |
| Processing time | the Department publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications; it warns only that delayed responses lengthen the wait. Military spouses may qualify for expedited processing | the Division states average processing time varies by program and publishes no set timeframe; a license issues only after all documents and the criminal background check are complete |
| Licensing authority | Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health) | Alaska Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Alaska 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 Alaska: purchase a PT Compact privilege for Alaska through the compact commission and complete any Alaska jurisprudence requirement.
- Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
- If you are moving your primary residence to Alaska: apply for an Alaska license with the Alaska Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Alaska accept a Washington physical therapy license?
Yes, for working in Alaska — both Washington and Alaska are active members of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact (PT Compact). If Washington is your primary state of residence and your Washington license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Alaska without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Alaska, you will need an Alaska license once Alaska becomes your home state.
Do I retake the NPTE moving from Washington to Alaska?
No — the NPTE is taken once and your score transfers through the FSBPT. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is transferred electronically to the Board via the FSBPT Score Transfer Service. Alaska also requires a completed PT Jurisprudence Questionnaire (form 08-4883) rather than a separate proctored law exam.
What does the move cost?
If you are buying an Alaska compact privilege to work while living in Washington: the commission's uniform fee plus Alaska's privilege fee. If you are relocating and taking a full Alaska license by endorsement: $350 ($150 nonrefundable application fee + $200 initial biennial license fee (both required to obtain the license) per application 08-4916 and 12 AAC 02.320; a separate $75 fingerprint processing fee also applies ($425 total). NOT the PT Compact privilege fee.).
How long will it take?
A compact privilege issues quickly once your eligibility and any Alaska jurisprudence exam are cleared — usually faster than a full license. A relocation endorsement runs the Division states average processing time varies by program and publishes no set timeframe; a license issues only after all documents and the criminal background check are complete.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Alaska Board of PT/OT — Physical Therapist License by Credentials Application (08-4916, rev. 09/19/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 12 AAC 02.320 — Physical therapy fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PT Compact — member states map ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- WA DOH - PT/PTA Licensing Information ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WA DOH - Substantially Equivalent States (PT) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WAC 246-915-990 - Physical therapist fees ↗ (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]