Physical Therapist / Minnesota
2026 data Minnesota board official source

Minnesota Physical Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

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Evaluates and treats movement disorders and injuries. Requires doctoral degree.

What the Minnesota data shows for Physical Therapists

Minnesota's path to physical therapist licensure runs through 3,351 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam), plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Minnesota folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)".

The initial price tag is $172, and renewal costs $154 every 2 years. Maintaining the license requires 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

For physical therapists, the reciprocity picture is: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
39/100
Physical Therapist · Minnesota

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,351 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$172
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$77/yr
$154 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
15.0 hrs/yr
30 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Minnesota

Education / Training Hours
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
3,351 hours
Exam Requirement
NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$172
Renewal Fee
$154
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Physical Therapist All Minnesota licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Minnesota licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physical Therapist in Minnesota? ▼
Minnesota's requirements cover 3351 hours of education or training, the NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam) exam, and an initial fee of $172. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Physical Therapist in Minnesota? ▼
Certification as a physical therapist in Minnesota means clearing the state's checklist: 3351 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Minnesota licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Physical Therapist license to Minnesota from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for physical therapists nationally works like this: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ member states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Minnesota. Verify the specifics with the Minnesota licensing board.
Does Minnesota require a background check for Physical Therapist licensing? ▼
Minnesota does require a background check before issuing a physical therapist license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physical Therapist in Minnesota? ▼
To stay licensed as a physical therapist in Minnesota, plan on 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $154.

Related Guides

What to do with this physical therapist license

Physical Therapist in Minnesota, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a physical therapist-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Minnesota's physical therapist requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Physical Therapist in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state physical therapist license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Minnesota's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Minnesota overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Minnesota licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.