Licensure guide · Delaware

How to get a Delaware physical therapy license

Physical therapists in Delaware are licensed by the Examining Board of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers. 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: U.S.-educated applicants must have an official transcript showing a physical therapy degree from a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE); a transitional DPT degree is not accepted, and foreign-educated applicants need a credential evaluation. [2]
National exam: Physical therapists must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE); the passing score is 600, the criterion-referenced score set by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. [3]
State law exam: Delaware does not require an examination on Delaware law and regulations for physical therapist licensure, and the TOEFL is not required. [3]
Required courses: All physical therapist applicants must hold current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, and online CPR courses are not accepted. [2]
Background check: Applicants must complete a new State of Delaware and FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check; checks completed for any other purpose, such as employment or licensure in other states, are not accepted. [2]
Fees: The Physical Therapist license application fee is $193, and the temporary license application fee is $40. [4]
Where to apply: Applications are submitted online through DELPROS (Delaware Professional Regulation Online Services), which requires a DELPROS user account. [2] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

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.

Licensed in another state: Physical therapists already licensed in another jurisdiction apply by reciprocity, having their national exam scores sent from their original state of licensure or FSBPT and proving completion of two hours of ethics training related to physical therapy practice. [2]
Interstate compact: Delaware is listed as a member state of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, and the PT Compact Commission lists its 38 member states as actively issuing and accepting compact privileges. [6]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Applicants awaiting the NPTE who have been offered a job in Delaware may get a temporary license, good for 90 days, and must work under direct supervision; it expires immediately if the applicant fails the exam. [3]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Physical therapist licenses must be renewed in DELPROS every two years and expire on January 31 of odd-numbered years. [5]
Continuing education: Physical therapists generally must complete 3.0 continuing education units (CEUs) every two years, including 0.2 units (two hours) of ethics and a CPR course that counts for 0.1 unit; the first renewal is prorated. [3]

Working in Delaware

Pay and openings

Physical therapists in Delaware earn a mean of $108,470 a year (BLS). Most of our Delaware 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 Delaware board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Delaware licenses

Physical therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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