About the Compact
Washington State joined the Physical Therapy Compact (PTC) on April 25, 2017, making Washington the 10th state to enact the PTC. Privileges for Washington became available in September 2019. The PTC increases access to physical therapy services while maintaining public protection at the state level. The governing entity for the PTC is the Physical Therapy Compact Commission.
Under the PTC, physical therapists (PT) and physical therapist assistants (PTA) can practice in Washington state and other participating PTC states and territories without getting additional licenses.
Washington PT and PTA license holders who meet all PTC requirements can purchase a compact privilege in a compact member state and typically start work in the remote state almost immediately. The PTC's online system makes the process of purchasing and renewing a privilege in other states simple.
- Compact Corner: What’s New, What Changed, and What You Missed
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Did you know the Physical Therapy Compact (PTC) features a resource library where you can sign up for updates? It’s a great way to access clear definitions, stay informed on key announcements, and support ongoing discussions about all things compact.
Compact Privilege Information
- How it works
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The purpose of the Physical Therapy Compact (PTC) is to increase access to physical therapy services by decreasing the licensure barriers for eligible physical therapy providers that desire to work in multiple states. The PTC allows qualified physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in a compact member state to purchase a privilege to work in another member state without going through the full process for licensure in the remote state.
- Benefits to practicing under a compact privilege
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- Access to Care: Expands access to physical therapy services across the country, including underserved communities
- Telehealth: Provide telehealth services without having to get additional licenses
- Disaster & Pandemic Relief: Immediately cross state borders to provide vital services
- Military Families: Military spouses seamlessly continue working without having to get a new license
- Online Education: Reduces educators’ need for multiple licenses
- Cost Effective: Makes practicing across state borders affordable and convenient
- Flexibility: Purchase a compact privilege in one or multiple participating states based on interests and eligibility
- Simplified renewal requirements: Follow only your home state’s continuing education and competency requirements.
- Home State
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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 to this rule is provided for active duty military and their spouses.
People seeking a compact privilege 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.
- FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation Background Check Information
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Physical therapist and physical therapist assistants are required to complete an FBI background check as a condition of licensure because Washington state participates in the PTC. If you hold a current Washington license and you did not complete a background check upon initially applying, you will be required to complete an FBI fingerprint-based background check before you are eligible for a compact privilege.
If an FBI fingerprint-based background check was not completed as part of your original Washington licensure application, please contact the department's credentialing team to determine whether one is required and to complete the process before applying for a compact privilege in another state.
The licensee is responsible for the payment of any fees associated with the completion of a criminal background check.
- Changing Your Home State
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If you have compact privileges and subsequently change your permanent residence/home state to a new state, you must report the change to the PT Compact Commission within 60 days. The best way to report the change is to login to your PT Compact dashboard and change the address information.
Please note that changing a home state to a non-compact state will immediately terminate all of your compact privileges.
If changing a home state to another compact member state, you must have a regular PT/PTA license and a driver's license in that state in order to maintain any current compact privileges. Please refer to the Changing Home State Residency Fact Sheet (PDF) for more information.
Compact Frequently Asked Questions
- Why would a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant need a compact license?
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A compact license enables you to practice in your home state as well as your compacts states and territories with a single license, streamlining the process and reducing both cost and time.
- My home state is a noncompact state, what do I do?
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Your home state must participate in the PTC in order for you to purchase compact privileges in other participating states. If your home state does not participate in the PTC you are not eligible to purchase compact privileges. See a map of participating states.
- Where could I find resources to help me understand if I qualify for a compact privilege?
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To help determine eligibility, the PTC has put together a series of illustrative scenarios for your review. Please review the scenarios and contact the Compact Commission if you have additional questions regarding your eligibility.
Quick Links about the Compact
- Learn more and apply. Visit the PTLC website to see what states are in the Compact, learn more about the requirement, and purchase a compact privilege.
- Frequently Asked Questions. Reference the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact FAQs on the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website.
- Verify a Compact privilege status. The PT Compact's system also makes it easy for patients and employers to verify the status of a compact privilege for their PT or PTA.
- PTC Commission meeting dates. As the 10th state to enact the PTC, Washington state sends a delegate to provide oversight to the compact. The PTC Commission meetings are open to the public. View the PTC Commission's meeting information page for dates, agendas and past meeting minutes.