Licensure guide · Arkansas

How to get a Arkansas physical therapy license

Physical therapists in Arkansas are licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy. Below is what the board requires, from education to renewal, with every requirement linked to the board page it comes from. Checked October 22, 2026.

Step by step

Getting licensed

Education: Applicants must be graduates of a Board-approved physical therapy program in the United States or its territories; graduates of other programs must have their education evaluated for equivalency. [2]
National exam: Applicants must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), administered by FSBPT, with a scaled score of at least 600 on a 200-800 scale. [2]
State law exam: Applicants must pass the Arkansas jurisprudence exam, 20 questions on the Practice Act and Rules taken online, with a passing score of 70% and a $10.00 fee. [3]
Background check: Applicants must apply to the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police for state and national criminal background checks, and no license is issued until the results are received. [2]
Where to apply: Applicants by examination submit the Board's paper application packet with the required forms, fees and documents to the Board. [2] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

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.

Licensed in another state: Physical therapists licensed in another state apply by reciprocity with a $5.00 application fee, a jurisprudence exam certificate, a passing national exam score, verification of every license ever held, and a criminal background check. [4]
Interstate compact: Arkansas is listed among the 38 PT Compact member states, which the compact describes as actively issuing and accepting compact privileges. [6]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: The Board issues a temporary and provisional license on request to applicants holding a substantially similar license in good standing in another jurisdiction; it is valid for 90 days or until the Board decides the application, whichever comes first. [5]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Physical therapist licenses must be renewed annually by March 1. [5]
Continuing education: Physical therapists must complete 2 CEUs (20 hours) each two-year biennium before the odd-numbered-year renewal, no more than 50% online, and passing the jurisprudence exam (counted as 1 online hour) is part of the requirement. [3]

Working in Arkansas

Pay and openings

Physical therapists in Arkansas earn a mean of $98,120 a year (BLS). Most of our Arkansas searches are confidential and never posted; tell us what you want and we will match you quietly.

Sources

Every requirement above was checked against the official page listed here on October 22, 2026. Boards change fees and rules, so confirm with the Arkansas board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Arkansas licenses

Physical therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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