Physical Therapy

Regulatory Responsibility:  Although a national exam is required, the state board, or council grants Physical Therapy licenses. Physical Therapists (PT) are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Licensure is required in each state in which a physical therapist practices and must be renewed on a regular basis, with a majority of states requiring continuing education as a requirement for renewal. See: http://www.apta.org/Licensure/  » for more information.

Preparation: All PTs must receive a graduate degree from an accredited physical therapist program before taking the national licensure examination that allows them to practice. 

Program Accreditation:  To practice as a physical therapist in the United States, you must earn a PT degree from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)-accredited physical therapist education program and pass the national exam.

Exam:  After completing a physical therapy program including fieldwork experiences, the candidate is eligible to take the national exam from the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

Steps to Licensure

  1. Complete an accredited program
  2. Take and pass national exam (NPTE)
  3. Apply for state licensure

graphic illustration of steps to take to become licensed to practice physical therapy in Kansas. These steps are also listed in the text of this page.

Kansas Board of Healing Arts:

Physical Therapy Kansas Requirements and Licensure Information   »