After my recent post about deciding where to apply to PT school, I got a message asking me to clarify what I said about how where you attend PT school impacts where you will practice ass a future physical therapist.
Your choice of physical therapy program affects which clinicals will be available to you, where those internships will be, and where you’ll form connections. For example, if you go to school in California, most of your clinicals and networking will probably also be in California. But your PT school does not dictate where you can practice.
As you get close to graduation, your DPT program will help you register for the boards, known more commonly as the NPTE. The test is the same for every PT in the country, so once you pass it, you can practice anywhere in the U.S.
However, the licensing process is slightly different in each state. As you register for the NPTE, you’ll pick the state you want to start practicing in. This handy flow chart helps show you the process state by state, and this one shows different requirements by state.
Some states let you practice briefly on a temporary license before you take the NPTE. That’s what I was able to do in New York. Some states have additional requirements to get licensed, such as a background check or a jurisprudence test. You’ll have to figure out the requirements for your state, but your school and future employer can also assist you with this.
Should you eventually decide to move out of state, you then apply to get licensed in your new state. Often this involves some fees and paperwork, and maybe taking a jurisprudence or ethics test. But you don’t have to take the boards again, unlike some of your lawyer friends who typically have to take the bar again each time they want to practice in a new state.
More states are also joining something called the PT compact. This gives you and your license to practice reciprocity between states. Since my state is not in it (yet), I don’t have personal experience with it, but I know from friends that it can be helpful.
So while your choice of program location will influence a number of factors, it won’t limit you from practicing anywhere in the country after graduation.