Transfer Your Physical Therapy License to Washington: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health) ↗
Washington is an active PT Compact member, which opens two doors. If your home state is also a compact member and you hold an active license there, you can buy a Washington compact privilege through the commission — a practice authorization, not a Washington license — after meeting any Washington jurisprudence requirement. If you are relocating to Washington, or your home state is not a member, you apply to the Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health) for licensure by endorsement instead: $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.), with your NPTE score transferred through the FSBPT rather than retaken.
Moving to Washington from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
PT Compact member — multistate license honored
Whether Washington costs you a full license or just a privilege depends on what you are actually doing. Working in Washington while your license and residence stay in another member state — a travel assignment, a satellite clinic, telehealth across the line — means buying a Washington compact privilege and keeping your home license; Washington charges no full-license fee for that path, though it may require its jurisprudence exam first. Relocating to Washington is the other case: your residence changes, Washington becomes your home state, and that is licensure by endorsement with the Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health), after which Washington can anchor privileges of its own.
Washington is an ACTIVE PT Compact member, so a PT whose home state is also a member can work in Washington on a compact privilege (the Commission lists a $92 PT/PTA privilege charge and no Washington jurisprudence requirement for the privilege) instead of endorsing. On the endorsement path the Board has deemed all 50 states and DC substantially equivalent for both PT and PTA; applicants must have held that credential at least two years and must submit employer verification of at least 200 hours worked in the profession in the last two years. Aggregator sites list a '$300' Washington application fee - that is WRONG; WAC 246-915-990 sets the original application fee at $80.
Washington requirements at a glance
| Exam | NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is sent to the Department by the exam host (FSBPT Score Transfer Service). Washington additionally requires out-of-state applicants to pass the Washington PT jurisprudence exam. |
|---|---|
| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $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.) |
| 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. |
Step by step
- Confirm Washington's current requirements on the Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Graduate of a CAPTE-accredited physical therapy program, with official transcripts sent directly from the school.
- Pass the Washington PT jurisprudence exam.
- Apply from a state deemed substantially equivalent and hold that credential for at least two years.
- Submit an employer verification form documenting at least 200 hours worked in the physical therapy profession in the last two years.
- Complete the required background screening, including fingerprint-based Washington State Patrol and FBI checks where applicable.
- Complete the one-time three-hour suicide prevention training required of PTs and PTAs.
- Pay the fees ($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.)) and allow 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..
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Washington:
All 42 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my physical therapy license transfer to Washington?
Washington is an active PT Compact member, which opens two doors. If your home state is also a compact member and you hold an active license there, you can buy a Washington compact privilege through the commission — a practice authorization, not a Washington license — after meeting any Washington jurisprudence requirement. If you are relocating to Washington, or your home state is not a member, you apply to the Washington State Board of Physical Therapy (Department of Health) for licensure by endorsement instead: $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.), with your NPTE score transferred through the FSBPT rather than retaken.
Do I have to retake the NPTE to get licensed in Washington?
No. NPTE is not retaken; the passing score is sent to the Department by the exam host (FSBPT Score Transfer Service). Washington additionally requires out-of-state applicants to pass the Washington PT jurisprudence exam.. No state requires a second NPTE.
How much does it cost to transfer a PT license to Washington by endorsement?
$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.) (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.).
How long does Washington take to process an endorsement application?
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 Department publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications; it warns only that delayed responses lengthen the wait. Military spouses may qualify for expedited processing..
Is Washington in the PT Compact?
Yes — Washington is an active member as of 2026-08-07. A PT or PTA whose home state is also a member can buy a Washington compact privilege instead of a full license; relocating to Washington still requires licensure by endorsement.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- 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 - member state map ↗ (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
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]