Congratulations. A score of 600 or higher means you've passed the NPTE, but the exam is one requirement of your license, not the license itself. Here's what to do next, and how to add more states later.

What happens after you pass the NPTE?

FSBPT sends your passing score automatically to the state you chose when you registered, on the day your result posts. You then finish licensure directly with that state's board, which may require other steps such as a jurisprudence exam. To practice in more states, you either transfer your score for a new license ($90 per transfer) or, in PT Compact member states, buy a compact privilege.

That process is set out in FSBPT's NPTE Candidate Handbook and After Exam page.

Step 1: Finish your license with your state

  • Your score goes to the board automatically. You don't need to order anything.
  • Contact the board directly to complete licensure. FSBPT's Handbook tells passing candidates: "Make sure to contact your jurisdiction directly to complete the licensure process."
  • Expect state-specific steps. These can include official transcripts or proof of graduation (especially if you tested before graduating), background checks, fees, or a jurisprudence exam on state practice law. Your board's application lists what applies.
  • Download your free score report within 30 days of it posting, for your records. After that, an Individual Score Report costs $90.

Step 2: Getting licensed in another state

Each state issues its own license. To apply in a second state, send your NPTE score through FSBPT's Score Transfer to State service on your dashboard. Transfers are electronic and immediate, though the board may take time to access your score, and each costs $90. Licensing boards accept only an official FSBPT score transfer, not your personal score report or Performance Feedback Report. You'll also need to submit that state's licensure application.

Step 3: Consider the PT Compact

The Physical Therapy Licensure Compact lets a PT or PTA licensed in one member state practice in other member states with a "compact privilege," instead of a separate license. According to the Compact, 38 member states currently issue and accept privileges. You need a valid license in your home member state, proof of residency there, and no recent discipline.

From the Compact's process and requirements page, to be eligible you must:

  • hold a valid PT or PTA license in your home state, which must be a member state;
  • have a valid driver's license proving permanent residency in that home state;
  • have no active encumbrances or disciplinary actions in the past two years; and
  • want to practice in another member state.

Each privilege costs a state fee plus a $45 Commission fee (for example, $130 in total for a PT privilege in Alabama), and some states require you to pass a jurisprudence exam first. Privileges are linked to your home-state license, so you only need to meet your home state's continuing competence requirements.

Which states are in the PT Compact?

From the Compact's state map, checked September 30, 2026:

  • Member states issuing and accepting privileges (38): Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
  • Legislation enacted, not yet issuing (3): Maine, Michigan, Rhode Island.
  • Legislation introduced (2): Illinois, Massachusetts.
  • Not members (10): California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Wyoming.

Membership changes as states pass legislation, so check the Compact's map before you plan a move.

Keep your NPTE records

  • Save your free score report before its 30-day window closes.
  • Keep your FSBPT login. You'll use it for score transfers and compact privileges.
  • Note your license renewal date and continuing competence requirements; your board sets both.

Frequently asked questions

Am I licensed as soon as I pass the NPTE?

No. Passing the NPTE is one requirement. Your state board issues your license once you've met all of its requirements, which may include a jurisprudence exam and documentation.

How much does an NPTE score transfer cost?

$90 per transfer, requested through the Score Transfer to State service on your FSBPT dashboard. Transfers are electronic and immediate.

Does my NPTE score expire?

We haven't found an expiration date for NPTE scores in FSBPT's candidate materials. Each state sets its own licensure requirements, so if you passed some time ago, ask the board where you're applying.

Can a new graduate use the PT Compact right away?

Only once you hold a valid license in your home state, and your home state must be a Compact member. You also need a driver's license showing residency there and no disciplinary action in the past two years.

Is California in the PT Compact?

No. According to the Compact's map, California, Florida, New York and several other jurisdictions are not members, so practicing there requires a separate license.

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Sources

Every figure on this page comes from the primary sources below, checked on September 30, 2026. If an official source changes, it overrides this page.

  1. NPTE Candidate Handbook, Version 2025.02 — Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
  2. After Exam — FSBPT
  3. PT Compact Process & Requirements — Physical Therapy Licensure Compact
  4. PT Compact Map (States by Category) — Physical Therapy Licensure Compact