-What is an interstate compact?

Interstate compacts are contracts between two or more states creating an agreement on a particular policy issue, adopting a certain standard or cooperating on regional or national matters.

-What states are members of the PT Compact?

The interactive state map lists the states that have enacted PT Compact legislation, member states that are actively issuing and accepting compact privileges, and other states that have introduced legislation to join the PT Compact.

-What is a Compact Privilege?

A Compact Privilege is the authorization to work in a Compact member state other than your home state. To be eligible for a Compact Privilege, you must hold an active PT or PTA license in your home state and meet other eligibility criteria, such as having no disciplinary action against your license for at least two years. When eligibility is verified and all fees are paid, you receive the Compact Privilege and may begin legally working in the other remote state.

-How long is the process to obtain a Compact Privilege?

Eligible PTs and PTAs can obtain Compact Privileges through the Purchase Now link at ptcompact.org. In most cases, Compact Privileges will be issued within minutes of purchase. Note that states may require the successful completion of its jurisprudence exam prior to purchasing a compact privilege which may impact the time to need to complete the process.

-Do I need a separate Compact Privilege for each state in which I want to provide physical therapy services?

Yes. You will need to have a Compact Privilege in each state in which you want to provide physical therapy services. You may have a Compact Privilege or a license to work legally in a member state. You need to hold a license to practice/work in non-member states. It is not a multi-state license.

-Can both physical therapists and physical therapist assistants obtain Compact Privileges?

Yes, eligible PTs and PTAs can purchase Compact Privileges.

-How is a licensee’s home state defined?

As defined by Commission Rules, a licensee’s home state means the person’s true, fixed, and permanent home and is the place where the person intends to remain indefinitely, and to which the person expects to return if absent without intending to establish domicile elsewhere. Special exceptions this rule is provided for active duty military and their spouses.

People seeking a compact privileges will be required to provide their driver’s license information as primary confirmation of home state residence. Additional proof of residency may also be requested by the Commission.

-How is a remote state defined?

A remote state is a PT Compact member state other than the licensee’s home state, where the individual is using or seeking to use the Compact Privilege.

-Can I use a compact privilege to practice/work in my home state?

No, a regular license is required to practice/work in a home state.

-How do I determine my home state if I am active duty military or a military spouse?

In order to support military members and their families, alternatives to the home state definition are specified in the Commission Rules. For the purposes of the PT Compact only, active duty military and military spouses may define their home state as one of the following:

• “Home of record” means the military personnel’s State of Legal Residence on record with the military.
• “Permanent Change of Station” or “PCS” means the state of the duty station noted in the active duty military personnel’s PCS orders.
• “State of current residence” means the state in which the active duty military personnel or spouse is currently physically residing.

If active duty military or spouse is selected during the online process, the individual will be required to submit proof of military service to the Commission at military@ptcompact.org.

-Who is eligible to purchase a Compact Privilege?

In order to purchase and maintain a Compact Privilege, you must meet each of these requirements:

1. Hold a current, valid PT or PTA license in your home state, as defined in Commission Rules.
2. Your home state must be a member of the PT Compact and actively issuing compact privileges.
3. You cannot have any active encumbrances against any PT or PTA license.
4. You cannot have any disciplinary action against any PT or PTA license for a period of two years.
5. The state where you are seeking a Compact Privilege must be a member of the PT Compact and actively issuing compact privileges.

-What continuing competence requirements must be met?

Continuing competence requirements vary from state to state. You only need to meet the continuing competency requirements of your home state license. You do not need to meet the continuing competence requirements for the state(s) in which you hold a Compact Privilege.

-What jurisprudence requirements must be met?

Each member state may require individuals seeking a Compact Privilege to pass a jurisprudence requirement, typically an exam, before applying for compact privileges. These requirements vary from state to state. It is recommended that you review the requirements of each member state prior to purchasing a Compact Privilege, since failure to adhere to jurisprudence requirements may lead to loss of all Compact Privileges. A list of the jurisprudence requirements for compact states is available here.

For additional information, please see: https://ptcompact.org/Resources-News/FAQ