The Board of Physical Therapy may issue licenses to applicants with a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license in another state based upon the other state's qualifications. The other state's licensing standards must be substantially equivalent to Washington state's licensing qualifications.
New legislative changes due to SHB 1724 will apply new criteria to out of state applicants starting July 23, 2023. To qualify:
- applicant must come from a state that has been deemed substantially equivalent (see note below),
- has been credentialed for at least two years in that state, and
- has not been subject to disciplinary action.
To apply, applicants should use the regular application and indicate that you are applying for licensure by endorsement. You will need to submit the following to complete your application, depending on how long you have been licensed in another substantially equivalent state.
Licensed for two years or longer in another substantially equivalent state:
- Completed application
- Application fees
- License verifications sent to the department directly from any other jurisdictions where you hold or have held a healthcare license.
Licensed for less than two years in another substantially equivalent state:
- Completed application
- Application fees
- License verifications sent to the department directly from any other jurisdictions where you hold or have held a healthcare license
- Signed attestation confirming you graduated from a CAPTE accredited program
- Signed attestation confirming you took and passed the NPTE
- Employer verification form signed by your employer verifying you worked in the physical therapy profession at least 200 hours in the last two years.
Note: All 50 US states and Washington D.C. have been approved by the Board of Physical Therapy as substantially equivalent for both physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.