Licensure guide · Ohio

How to get a Ohio physical therapy license

Physical therapists in Ohio are licensed by the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board. 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 provide proof of graduation from a professional physical therapy program accredited by a national physical therapy accreditation agency approved by the board's physical therapy section. [2]
National exam: Applicants licensed by examination must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for physical therapists, administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, plus the board-approved Ohio laws and rules examination. [3]
State law exam: All applicants for initial PT licensure must pass the Ohio Jurisprudence Assessment Module (OH JAM), an online 50-question, 90-minute module costing $48; takers must answer 80% of the questions correctly to pass. [4]
Background check: Applicants must submit fingerprints for criminal records checks by the Ohio BCI and the FBI under Ohio Revised Code 4755.70; applicants in Ohio or within 75 miles use WebCheck, and the BCI fee is $22 and the FBI fee $25.25, plus any vendor fee. [5]
Fees: The non-refundable application fee is $100.00, paid by card with the online application. [5]
Where to apply: Applicants register and apply online through the eLicense Ohio system, linked from the board's PT licensing page. [7] Open the application →
Processing time: The board states that applications are reviewed within five business days of submission, after which the applicant is emailed whether the application is approved or more documentation is needed. [11]

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

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.

Licensed in another state: The physical therapy section may issue a license by endorsement to a PT currently licensed in another state whose requirements are substantially similar to Ohio's under Ohio Revised Code 4796.03; applicants out of practice for five or more years must retake the NPTE or complete an approved action plan. [6]
Interstate compact: Ohio participates in the PT Compact under Ohio Revised Code 4755.57; applicants seeking an Ohio compact privilege must pass the Ohio Jurisprudence Assessment Module (JAM) before practicing in Ohio and again before each privilege renewal after the first. [10]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Military members or spouses of military members who hold a license in another state may apply for a seven-year temporary license. [7]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: PT licenses expire January 31 of even-numbered years; renewal opens November 1 before expiration, costs $70 plus a $3.50 eLicense Ohio fee, and late renewal is not allowed. [8]
Continuing education: Physical therapists must complete at least twenty-four units (clock hours) of continuing education each two-year renewal cycle, including at least two hours of ethics through a renewal jurisprudence module; no continuing education is required for the first renewal. [9]

Working in Ohio

Pay and openings

Physical therapists in Ohio earn a mean of $102,740 a year (BLS). Most of our Ohio 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 Ohio board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Ohio licenses

Physical therapy licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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