Licensure compacts
Physical Therapy Compact: status in all 50 states and DC
The PT Compact lets physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in one member state practice in other member states under a compact privilege instead of a second full license. For an employer that means a wider candidate pool and a shorter path to a start date, but only in the states that are actually issuing privileges. Here is where every state stands.
38
Issuing privileges
3
Member, not yet issuing
10
Not a member
Source: ptcompact.org, otcompact.gov, aslpcompact.com, checked 2026-09-02. Status changes as legislatures act and as the commission brings states online; the state pages carry the same date.
What it means for hiring
How the PT Compact changes a search
In an issuing state, a candidate licensed in any other issuing state can usually start weeks sooner, and the search can run nationally from day one. In a member state that is not yet issuing, and in every non-member state, an out-of-state hire needs the full state license first, so the search either starts with in-state clinicians or builds licensing time into the offer. We plan every search around the column the state sits in.
Issuing compact privileges (38)
A clinician licensed in another issuing state can obtain a privilege to practice here without a new state license.
| State | What it means for an employer |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Alabama without applying for a new state license. |
| Alaska | Alaska is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Alaska without applying for a new state license. |
| Arizona | Arizona is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Arizona without applying for a new state license. |
| Arkansas | Arkansas is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Arkansas without applying for a new state license. |
| Colorado | Colorado is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Colorado without applying for a new state license. |
| Connecticut | Connecticut is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Connecticut without applying for a new state license. |
| Delaware | Delaware is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Delaware without applying for a new state license. |
| District of Columbia | District of Columbia is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in District of Columbia without applying for a new state license. |
| Georgia | Georgia is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Georgia without applying for a new state license. |
| Indiana | Indiana is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Indiana without applying for a new state license. |
| Iowa | Iowa is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Iowa without applying for a new state license. |
| Kansas | Kansas is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Kansas without applying for a new state license. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Kentucky without applying for a new state license. |
| Louisiana | Louisiana is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Louisiana without applying for a new state license. |
| Maryland | Maryland is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Maryland without applying for a new state license. |
| Mississippi | Mississippi is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Mississippi without applying for a new state license. |
| Missouri | Missouri is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Missouri without applying for a new state license. |
| Montana | Montana is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Montana without applying for a new state license. |
| Nebraska | Nebraska is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Nebraska without applying for a new state license. |
| Nevada | Nevada is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Nevada without applying for a new state license. |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in New Hampshire without applying for a new state license. |
| New Jersey | New Jersey is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in New Jersey without applying for a new state license. |
| North Carolina | North Carolina is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in North Carolina without applying for a new state license. |
| North Dakota | North Dakota is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in North Dakota without applying for a new state license. |
| Ohio | Ohio is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Ohio without applying for a new state license. |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Oklahoma without applying for a new state license. |
| Oregon | Oregon is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Oregon without applying for a new state license. |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Pennsylvania without applying for a new state license. |
| South Carolina | South Carolina is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in South Carolina without applying for a new state license. |
| South Dakota | South Dakota is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in South Dakota without applying for a new state license. |
| Tennessee | Tennessee is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Tennessee without applying for a new state license. |
| Texas | Texas is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Texas without applying for a new state license. |
| Utah | Utah is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Utah without applying for a new state license. |
| Vermont | Vermont is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Vermont without applying for a new state license. |
| Virginia | Virginia is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Virginia without applying for a new state license. |
| Washington | Washington is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Washington without applying for a new state license. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in West Virginia without applying for a new state license. |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Wisconsin without applying for a new state license. |
Member, not yet issuing (3)
The compact has been enacted but privileges are not yet available; an out-of-state hire still needs a full state license for now.
| State | What it means for an employer |
|---|---|
| Maine | Maine has enacted the PT Compact but is not yet issuing compact privileges, so physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed elsewhere still need a Maine license for now. |
| Michigan | Michigan has enacted the PT Compact but is not yet issuing compact privileges, so physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed elsewhere still need a Michigan license for now. |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island has enacted the PT Compact but is not yet issuing compact privileges, so physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed elsewhere still need a Rhode Island license for now. |
Not a member (10)
Every hire licensed elsewhere needs a full state license before starting. Budget the licensing time into the search.
| State | What it means for an employer |
|---|---|
| California | California is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full California license before starting. |
| Florida | Florida is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full Florida license before starting. |
| Hawaii | Hawaii is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full Hawaii license before starting. |
| Idaho | Idaho is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full Idaho license before starting. |
| Illinois | Illinois is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full Illinois license before starting. |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full Massachusetts license before starting. |
| Minnesota | Minnesota is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full Minnesota license before starting. |
| New Mexico | New Mexico is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full New Mexico license before starting. |
| New York | New York is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full New York license before starting. |
| Wyoming | Wyoming is not a member of the PT Compact: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another state need a full Wyoming license before starting. |
For employers
Hiring? Physical therapy, OT and SLP recruiting, run by a clinician.
Employers find us under a lot of names: physical therapy staffing agency, SLP recruiter, OT headhunter, rehab staffing, therapy recruiting firm. What we do is the same under any of them. We work the whole market for PTs, OTs, SLPs and audiologists, screen each one with a licensed speech-language pathologist's eye for the setting and the caseload, and bring you clinicians who have already said yes to a conversation about your organization.
Engagement model
Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.
Speed to first candidates
Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.
Guarantee
Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.
Questions hiring managers and directors of rehab ask us
How does a therapy search with APT Recruiting work?+
It starts with a short call to take the brief: the discipline, the setting, the caseload and productivity expectations, the schedule and the pay range. Because APT is run by a licensed speech-language pathologist, the screen covers clinical fit, not just a license check. We then work your market for PTs, OTs, SLPs or audiologists who match, confirm interest, and send you candidates who have already said yes to a conversation about your organization. Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.
Do you work on contingency or retained?+
Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.
What does it cost to hire through a therapy recruiter?+
Agreed in writing before you see a candidate's details. Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.
Which roles and settings do you cover?+
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, including PTAs, COTAs and SLPAs, plus directors of rehab and other therapy leadership. Settings include hospitals and acute rehab, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient clinics, schools and pediatrics, and telehealth. We also recruit nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Tell us about the role
Or email molly@aptrecruiting.com. Molly reads every brief herself.
Reviewed by a licensed SLP
Molly Salinas, M.S., CCC-SLP
The compact status figures on this page are drawn from public federal sources and reviewed by Molly, a licensed speech-language pathologist who has worked across healthcare settings and founded APT Recruiting. She has recruited therapists for 3 years and works from Austin, Texas. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
Hiring a therapist from out of state?
We will tell you on the first call whether the compact shortens the path, and plan the search around the licensing time if it does not.