Licensure guide · Florida
How to get a Florida physical therapy license
Physical therapists in Florida are licensed by the Florida 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
- A physical therapy degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Foreign-trained applicants need a credential evaluation showing equivalent education. [2]
- National exam
- The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT); scores must be transferred from FSBPT to the board. The NPTE fee to FSBPT is $485. [2]
- State law exam
- Yes. Exam applicants must also pass the Florida Laws and Rules exam, registered through FSBPT ($65 fee to FSBPT). Passing it is also a requirement for the PT temporary permit. [2]
- Required courses
- A 1-hour HIV/AIDS course is required at the first renewal only, not before initial licensure. Every renewal also requires a 2-hour Prevention of Medical Errors course. [3]
- Background check
- Required. Applicants must submit electronic fingerprints through an FDLE-approved Livescan provider for a Florida and national criminal history check; the applicant pays the cost. [2]
- Fees
- $180 application and licensing fee to the Board of Physical Therapy. Exam applicants also pay FSBPT $485 for the NPTE and $65 for the Florida Laws and Rules exam, plus Prometric fees; endorsement applicants pay FSBPT a $90 score transfer fee. [2]
- Where to apply
- Apply online through the Florida Department of Health MQA Online Services Portal (create a new applicant account). [5] Open the application →
- Processing time
- The board says to allow up to 10 business days for initial review of a new application. Under Florida law, initial review must happen within 30 days, and a MOBILE endorsement license is issued within 7 days after all requirements are met. [2]
Moving to the state
Already licensed somewhere else?
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.
- Licensed in another state
- Through the MOBILE Endorsement pathway (s. 456.0145, F.S.): an active, unencumbered license in another U.S. jurisdiction, a passing national exam score, at least two years of active practice in the last four, and no recent discipline. Applicants request license verification from each state and an NPTE score transfer from FSBPT. [2]
- Interstate compact
- Florida is not a PT Compact member. Florida passed a compact law (SB 7016), but the Compact Commission found that it conflicts with the model statute, so Florida PTs cannot get compact privileges and other states' PTs cannot use compact privileges in Florida. [4]
Before your full license
New graduates and clinical fellows
- Temporary or provisional license
- A temporary permit is available to graduates of approved U.S. programs who have not yet passed the NPTE. They must pass the Florida Laws and Rules Examination, carry malpractice insurance, and work under the direct supervision of a licensed PT. The permit is valid for six months from graduation. [2]
After you are licensed
Keeping the license active
- Renewal
- Licenses renew every two years (biennially). Current PT licenses expire at midnight Eastern Time on November 30, 2027. [3]
- Continuing education
- 24 contact hours per two-year cycle, including 2 hours of Prevention of Medical Errors each renewal (plus 1 hour of HIV/AIDS at the first renewal). No more than 12 hours may be home study. Licenses issued in the second half of the cycle need only the Medical Errors and HIV/AIDS hours. [3]
Working in Florida
Pay and openings
Physical therapists in Florida earn a mean of $98,510 a year (BLS). Most of our Florida 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 Florida board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.
- [1] https://floridasphysicaltherapy.gov/
- [2] https://floridasphysicaltherapy.gov/physical-therapist/
- [3] https://floridasphysicaltherapy.gov/physical-therapist-renewal/
- [4] https://floridasphysicaltherapy.gov/licensing/
- [5] https://mqa-vo.doh.state.fl.us/datamart/voservicesportal
Other Florida licenses
Physical therapy licenses in other states
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