Physical Therapist / New York
2026 data New York board official source

New York Physical Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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

What the New York data shows for Physical Therapists

To practice as a physical therapist in New York, the state licensing board requires 3,589 documented education or training hours, a passing score on NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam). A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under New York's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)".

Budget $237 to get started, plus $208 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. 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
34/100
Physical Therapist · New York

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
3,589 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$237
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$104/yr
$208 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 New York

Education / Training Hours
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
3,589 hours
Exam Requirement
NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$237
Renewal Fee
$208
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 New York licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with New York licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physical Therapist in New York? ▼
In New York, the license path calls for 3589 education/training hours, a passing score on NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam), and a $237 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Physical Therapist in New York? ▼
Certification as a physical therapist in New York means clearing the state's checklist: 3589 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The New York licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Physical Therapist license to New York from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for physical therapists: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ member states. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the New York licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does New York require a background check for Physical Therapist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the physical therapist licensing process in New York. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physical Therapist in New York? ▼
New York ties continued physical therapist licensure to 30 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $208 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this physical therapist license

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

  • See how New York'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 New York's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. New York overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the New York 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.