Physical Therapist / Virginia
2026 data Virginia board official source

Virginia Physical Therapist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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

What the Virginia data shows for Physical Therapists

To practice as a physical therapist in Virginia, the state licensing board requires 3,405 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 Virginia's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)".

Budget $186 to get started, plus $166 at each renewal 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.

On reciprocity, physical therapists should know: PT Licensure Compact: 30+ member states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
37/100
Physical Therapist · Virginia

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
3,405 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$186
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$83/yr
$166 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 Virginia

Education / Training Hours
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
3,405 hours
Exam Requirement
NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$186
Renewal Fee
$166
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 Virginia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Virginia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physical Therapist in Virginia? ▼
Virginia requires 3405 education/training hours, passing an exam (NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam)), and an initial fee of $186. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Physical Therapist in Virginia? ▼
Certification as a physical therapist in Virginia means clearing the state's checklist: 3405 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Virginia licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Physical Therapist license to Virginia 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 Virginia licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Virginia require a background check for Physical Therapist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the physical therapist licensing process in Virginia. 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 Virginia? ▼
To stay licensed as a physical therapist in Virginia, plan on 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $166.

Related Guides

What to do with this physical therapist license

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

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

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