Physical Therapist / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania data shows for Physical Therapists

Becoming a licensed physical therapist in Pennsylvania means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,568 training hours, a passing score on NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Pennsylvania regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)".

Upfront cost is $231, with renewal running $203 on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 30-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
34/100
Physical Therapist · Pennsylvania

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
3,568 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$231
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$102/yr
$203 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 Pennsylvania

Education / Training Hours
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
3,568 hours
Exam Requirement
NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$231
Renewal Fee
$203
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 Pennsylvania licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physical Therapist in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania's requirements cover 3568 hours of education or training, the NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam) exam, and an initial fee of $231. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Physical Therapist in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania licenses physical therapists who complete its requirements (3568 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Pennsylvania licensing board.
Can I transfer my Physical Therapist license to Pennsylvania from another state? ▼
For physical therapists, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ member states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Pennsylvania licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Physical Therapist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the physical therapist licensing process in Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania ties continued physical therapist licensure to 30 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $203 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this physical therapist license

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

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

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