Physical Therapist states
51
Below median
Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards
Physical Therapist Licensing Requirements by State
Physical Therapist licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.
Physical Therapist across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.
- States regulated
- 51
- Avg initial fee
- $201
- Require an exam
- 100%
- Avg education hours
- 3,459
Board Pathway Strip
Physical Therapist: 51 boards · ~3,459 avg pre-licensure hrs · exam on 100% · background check on 100% · avg first fee $201. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.
- Athletic Trainer
- Certified Nurse-Midwife
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Dietetic Technician
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Physical Therapist vs. every tracked profession
Average confirmed pre-licensure education hours, board-sourced state requirements
3,459 12th of 47 higher than 35 of 47 professions
professions with confirmed education-hour requirements, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more professions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainCredential NCSL and state-board corpus · 2026
Evaluates and treats movement disorders and injuries. Requires doctoral degree.
Physical Therapist initial fees swing $75 (NH) to $346 (CA), a $271 spread across 51 boards ; Athletic Trainer often lands on a different fee band.
Board thresholds for Physical Therapist drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.
Physical Therapist edu hrs
3,459 hrs
Above median
Physical Therapist first fee
$201
Above median
Physical Therapist renewal
$178
Above median
Board gates for Physical Therapist: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 30 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.
Training-hour peers beyond healthcare
Coverage band
- Security Alarm Installer · 51 states
- Amusement Ride Operator · 51 states
- Animal Breeder · 51 states
- Arborist / Tree Surgeon · 51 states
Hour load
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · 3,459 avg hrs
- Occupational Therapist · 3,459 avg hrs
- Speech-Language Pathologist · 3,459 avg hrs
- Physician Assistant · 3,689 avg hrs
Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Physical Therapist
A $271 fee spread for the same credential
Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 75) and California ($ 346) bracket the field, a 4.6× spread for identical practice rights.
NH
New Hampshire
$75 initial licensing fee
CA
California
$346 initial licensing fee
Physical Therapist boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table
51 statesWhat to do with this
Physical Therapist is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.
- Physical Therapist ranks #12 of 47 professions by average pre-licensure education hours -- see how it compares to similar roles. Browse all professions
- #66 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
- Initial fees for Physical Therapist range from $75 (NH) to $346 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide
Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.
Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Physical Therapist requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.