Licensure guide · District of Columbia

How to get a District of Columbia physical therapy license

Physical therapists in District of Columbia are licensed by the Board of Rehabilitative Therapies. 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 have graduated from a professional physical therapy education program accredited by a recognized agency; foreign-educated applicants must complete an FCCPT Type 1 Review. [2]
National exam: Applicants for licensure by examination must pass a Board-approved national licensure examination in physical therapy; the passing score is set by the body administering the exam. [3]
State law exam: Applicants must pass the District of Columbia Jurisprudence Examination, registering online through FSBPT and uploading the registration confirmation with the application. [2]
Background check: Applicants must complete (or re-do) a criminal background check with the online application and pay a $50 background check fee online. [2]
Fees: The application and license fee is $264, paid online with the application. [2]
Where to apply: New license applications are submitted through DC Health's online licensing application system, linked from the physical therapy licensing page. [7] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

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.

Licensed in another state: Physical therapists licensed in another state apply by endorsement, submitting official license verifications from every state where they have ever held a license and registering for the DC Jurisprudence Examination. [4]
Interstate compact: The District of Columbia participates in the PT Compact; since November 6, 2023, eligible physical therapists and physical therapist assistants can obtain compact privileges in multiple member states using one application. [7]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: An eligible applicant with an active application on file may work under supervised practice, once a Board representative signs the supervised practice form, for a maximum of 90 days; the form is issued only one time. [5]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month, in odd or even years matching the birth year, and are renewed online; the renewal fee is $179, with an $85 late fee during the 60-day grace period. [6]
Continuing education: Physical therapists must complete 40 hours of continuing education per renewal, including 2 hours in LGBTQ topics and 10% (4 hours) in public health priorities, with half of the hours in live programs; first-time renewals are exempt. [6]

Working in District of Columbia

Pay and openings

Physical therapists in District of Columbia earn a mean of $112,400 a year (BLS). Most of our District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other District of Columbia licenses

Physical therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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