LICENSING TIME FRAME FOR EACH STATE AS A TRAVEL PT

As a travel physical therapist, I am frequently moving from state to state every 3-6 months on new contracts. For each state that I practice in as a board-certified Physical Therapist, I need a license for that state. Now you might be thinking, “Wow, Adam, that sounds like a huge pain in the rear!” and, for the most part, you’d be correct. So, I’m here to help you and show you what to expect when it comes to the licensing time frame for each state.

Getting licensed in each state you practice in is one of the most inconvenient aspects of being a travel therapist. The inconvenience comes with the inconsistency of license processing time frames from state to state. However, if you’re a planner like me, and know approximately how long it will take to get licensed in a particular state, then you can apply early with enough time to avoid delays in starting your next contract. For that reason, I have collaborated with my amazing recruiter, Jessica, at Delta Healthcare Providers, to assemble a post outlining the licensure process and a time frame for how long it takes to process each state license for physical therapists!

Adam's graduation photo as an official Physical Therapist.

Normal PT Licensing

Before we dive into the licensing time frame of each state, we must understand the licensing process as a whole. Normal licensing for PT’s occurs either via exam (a.k.a. via “application”) or via endorsement (a.k.a. via “reciprocity”).

Licensure by Exam

Licensure by exam only occurs for one’s very first license. When applying to take the NPTE (National PT Exam), each candidate must declare which state they intend to get licensed following passing the exam. This ensures that your scores are immediately sent to the appropriate licensing body for the state you intend to be licensed.

**NOTE: This is the only time you won’t have to pay to have those scores transferred to each respective state.

After passing the NPTE, you then go through the normal state licensure application process. Each state will have different requirements and processing times, but overall, with slightly fewer hoops than with licensure by endorsement/reciprocity.

**PRO-TIP: There are some states that allow you to practice on temporary license before you get your board results back!

Licensure by Endorsement/Reciprocity 

Licensure by endorsement or reciprocity is the process that will occur when applying for any other subsequent state license following the very first. As it sounds, you will be applying via endorsement from another state licensing body. First, you will still provide proof that you passed the NPTE, and you will have the extra steps of now going through the normal licensing application process, as well as obtaining licensure verification from each state you are already licensed. As one’s travel career goes along and many licenses are held, this process can be quite cumbersome and time-consuming, as one can imagine.

 Time frame for verifications to another state board

When applying for licensure via endorsement, a majority of the state boards want you to verify your active and/or inactive licenses you have ever held. Each state has a different licensing time frame when it comes to verifying another state license to another state. Each state time frame is listed below:

  • 1 week to verify: AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT< IA, ID< IN, LA, MD, ME, MO, MS, NC, MD, NE, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WV
  • 2 weeks to verify: DE, FL, KS, MA, KY, MN, MT, NH, NH, NV, NY, SD, UT, WA, WI WY
    • ****Currently NY is taking about 4 weeks to process their verifications (as of 9/1/22)
  • 3 weeks to verify: AK, DC, IL, MI, NJ

**PRO-TIP: Sometimes you can speed up the verification process by asking the following state you are applying to:

  • Can you have the state board email them your verification?
  • Can you have them look up your verification online?
  • Always use certified mailing with tracking so you can always know where your application is when requesting verifications.
  • Sometime the state board will take prepaid shipping labels. You can again use these to track where your verifications are, so always ask if they can use prepaid shipping labels.
  • Can they take one active verification instead of needing all of them? MD, SC, VT are currently some states that are doing this.

EACH STATES’ LICENSING TIME FRAME

Below is an alphabetical list of how long, on average, the typical licensing time frame is. FYI- Sometimes you want to add verification time frames from other states as well (listed above!). You can also click the link below to download an excel spreadsheet version of these licensure processing timeframes to quick reference in the future!

Alabama 1 week
Alaska8 weeks
ArizonaThey have a board meeting once a month. So, typically they want everything there 2 weeks before the board meeting. Or you have to go to the next board meeting.
Arkansas 6 to 8 weeks
CaliforniaTypically CA license takes 3 to 4 months. You can shave this down based on how you go about fingerprinting. For example, if you do finger printing in CA you can shave 4 weeks. Right now, it is averaging 2 months to get the license. 
PRO-TIP: Currently there is an emergency waiver you can pursue if you are licensed in another state. This waiver can take a week to get and you can practice on with just this waiver. The expiration date of the waiver is dependent on when the governor decides to call this order off. (as of 9/1/22) 
Suggest getting the emergency license and still apply for the full license while on assignment
Colorado3 weeks (Though I have seen it done it 2 weeks)
Connecticut4 weeks, though in the past I have gotten people to get it done in less. This is because they would allow state boards to email your other state verifications
Delaware6 weeks
District of Columbia (D.C.)8 weeks
Florida4 weeks
Georgia6 to 8 weeks. You want to submit everything together or close enough. This is because it takes the board 15 business days to process one item
Hawaii6 weeks is the shortest and 9 weeks is the longest
Idaho If you have short verification from other states, I have seen it take only 4 weeks
Illinois6 to 8 weeks. Typically known for being a slow state
Indiana6 weeks; currently issues an emergency license like CA: https://www.in.gov/pla/covid-19-temporary-healthcare-provider-registry/
Iowa 8 weeks
Kansas6 to 9 weeks based on verification
KentuckyI have seen people get this in 2 weeks, depending on verifications may take up to 6 weeks
Louisiana5-6 weeks if you do your fingerprints/background check in LA. If not it will take at least 11 weeks.
Maine2 to 3 weeks
MarylandIf you get fingerprints done in MD, I have seen it done as little as 3 weeks, if not looking on average to 6 to 8
Massachusetts 6 weeks
MichiganCBC (criminal background check) takes forever, average 9 weeks, seen people get it in 6 weeks
MinnesotaYou can apply for temp license. They will issue a temp license number while you are waiting for board meeting. 4 to 5 for temp license
Mississippi6 weeks
Missouri6 weeks
MontanaIf you do fingerprints in MT will get it 4 weeks, if not 8 weeks.
Nebraska3 weeks in state for CBC. Out of state CBC averages 6 weeks
NevadaWant to get fingerprints done in NV for it to take 4-5 weeks. Otherwise looking at ~9weeks
New HampshireThe board recommends submitting application 3 months a head of time from start date. It looks like they are still issuing emergency licenses: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/professional-licensing as of 9/1/22
New Jersey9 weeks
New Mexico4 weeks if you have quick verification. You have to have your license in hand to practice.
New York The quickest we’ve seen is 6 weeks, depending on verifications you have could be 8+ weeks
North Carolina6 weeks. Though right now they been behind with CBC and I have seen 8 weeks
North Dakota6 weeks
OhioOut of state takes 3 to 4 months to obtain. If you do it in OH you can get it done in 5 weeks
OklahomaApply for temporary permit before the board meeting. This can take 2 to 5 weeks depending if you get the items in before the board meeting
OregonThey accept primary source verification. States that will not do it(AZ, AR, MN, MT, NY, ND, PR, SD, Virgin Islands) – seen it take as little as 2 weeks if you do the primary source verification
PennsylvaniaWe’ve seen it done in 6 weeks. We recommend calling the board because they have been slammed and we’re told sometimes it can be double the time.
Rhode Island 6 weeks average
South CarolinaAs little as 3 weeks if you have a quick verification active state
South Dakota6 to 8 weeks
Tennessee6 weeks, they do CBC so it can be longer
TexasThey will verify your state licenses online. States boards they exclude are: AL, AR, RI, SD, WY, PR, VI- average 5 weeks do to fingerprints
Utah6 to 8 weeks
VermontIf you have a quick verification you are looking at 4 weeks, if not at least 6 weeks
VirginiaIt will be dependent on how long you practice, because they want you to keep up with certain number of CEU based on how long you practice. They require CBC and the shortest I have seen recently has been 5 weeks. If you been practicing less than a year, you can sometimes apply by application. Check in with the board if they still allow this can you can shave timeframe by 2 weeks
WashingtonThey are very behind right now. The quickest I have seen is 6 weeks. CBC is longest and fingerprints if you are out of state, as a result 8 weeks+ more realistic
West Virginia4 weeks
Wisconsin8 weeks+. They’re doing emergency license till October 2022, which if you have active license you can practice within a week
Wyoming8 to 10 dependent on CBC

OTHER RESOURES TO USE

Check out each state board website

You can always try to google and keep up to date with governor rulings or board meetings for each state licensure. Also, remember that each state board will have their own website. So, you may have to do a bit of searching to find the appropriate state board site.

FSBPT

When in doubt, check of the FSBPT (Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy) website for resources and information. FSBPT is who therapists take their national board exam through to become a “board-certified” physical therapist. Their website is kept up-to-date with the latest info on licensing, etc. FSBPT provides licensing contact information and board websites and links for verifications. You will also register for JP exams and check out your score results for NPTE or JP exams through their website. Check it out here.

PT Compact

The PT compact is one of my favorite resources as a travel therapist. As stated on the PT Compact website, “The Physical Therapy Compact is an interstate agreement between member states to provide a state-developed collaborative structure to protect the public by increasing consumer access to physical therapy services by reducing regulatory barriers to interstate mobility and cross-state practice.” In short, the PT compact is a way to bypass the normal individual state licensure process for quick and easy access to practicing in the participating member states. The largest benefit of the PT compact is that the licensing time frame is IMMEDIATE!

I’ve written a whole separate blog post covering all the details you need to know about utilizing the PT Compact. Check out the PT Compact post for more info!

Adam smiling at the camera in an outpatient physical therapy clinic.
THE PT COMPACT: HOW TO GET LICENSED IN UNDER 10 MINUTES

TO WRAP UP

Just to reemphasize, the licensing time frame of each state are AVERAGES! Sometimes things are processed faster or, as of recently since COVID, things may be slower in some states. The best advice I can give a fellow traveler is look at these average time frames, plan ahead, and get started on the paperwork ASAP! That way if there are any delays in processing then you may still get your license processed in time for your next contract.

**NOTE: For any travel occupational therapist, I do have licensing time frames for you all as well, just not listed in this post!

If you have any questions regarding licensing time frames, travel therapy related questions, etc., please contact us or I would gladly be willing to give you contact information to my recruiter, Jessica at Delta Healthcare Providers.