Licensing Requirements

Education Requirement

  1. United States Educated Applicants - Each applicant for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant must have completed a CAPTE approved program of physical therapy education appropriate for preparation as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant and successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam(NPTE).
  2. Non-United States Educated Applicants - All foreign educated therapists applying for a PT license in Alabama must complete a credentials review through FCCPT. A copy of the evaluation from FCCPT plus an English translated copy of the transcript must be sent directly to the board from this credentialing agency. Foreign educated physical therapist applicants must submit their education credentials directly to:

    Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy
    124 West St., South; Third Floor
    Alexandria, VA 22314
    Telephone (800) 881-1430
    Fax (703) 684-8715
    www.fccpt.org


    The Federation of State Board of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) provides an online tool to assist the foreign educated applicant to assess their status before they start the application process. CLICK HERE to get started.

    The board shall make the sole judgment in determining whether educational credentials are equivalent and acceptable.

Good Moral Character Required

    The determination as to what constitutes other than good moral character and reputation shall be solely within the judgment of the board. Licensure shall be refused to any applicant who is of other than good moral character.

Fingerprint-Based Background Check Required

  • Effective June 14, 2024, an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant must submit to a fingerprint-based federal and state criminal background check, mandated by §34-24-211, Code of Alabama 1975, by working with the Alabama Board of Physical Therapy’s processing company, Fieldprint.
  • IMPORTANT: License issuance will not proceed until the Board has received and reviewed the criminal history record information (CHRI) along with your application. The criminal history record information will come to the Board directly from Fieldprint and will only be available to the Board for 30 days; therefore, we recommend that applicants submit their application for licensure before they go to a fingerprinting site to be scanned.
  • Instructions for Applicants Requiring Fingerprinting
  • ALEA Privacy Act Statement
  • Applicant Privacy Rights
  • Fieldprint

Application Requirements

  • Completed online application with $100 application fee paid.
  • Completed Fingerprint-Based Background Check.
  • Official college/university transcript that shows degree posted sent directly to Board from the school either electronically (info@pt.alabama.gov) or by U.S. Mail.
  • NPTE Score sent to Board Office.
  • Government issued photo ID.
  • Proof of legal presence such as birth certificate, passport, immigration documentation, etc. If you have a “Star” Driver’s License, proof of legal presence requirement is met.
  • Licensure by score transfer/endorsement - 10 hours of continuing education completed in the last 12 months unless graduation was within the past 12 months. These documents may be emailed to info@pt.alabama.gov.   GENERAL GUIDELINES <>Licensure by endorsement/score transfer - applicant must have official verification from each state they hold a license.
  • ADA Special Accommodations Request Form

Jurisprudence Requirement

All applicants for licensure (new graduates and endorsements) must complete two (2) hours of continuing education on the topic of Alabama Physical Therapy jurisprudence, covering both the Practice Act and the Administrative Code prior to the next year’s license renewal. For example, if your license was issued in 2022, you are required to submit two (2) hours of Alabama jurisprudence before or with your 2023 renewal.

Thereafter, two (2) hours of jurisprudence covering Alabama’s Practice Act and the Administrative Code will be required in years that end in “0” or “5” (2025, 2030, 2035, etc.).

Temporary License