En Espaňol

APPLYING FOR A PT OR PTA LICENSE

Contact the Board before you apply if you fit into one of the  categories below.

EXAM APPLICANTS ONLY

Below are the 4 steps for Application and Examination. 

• Contact the registrar at your school and have them send an official transcript directly to the Board. (US graduates only)
• Mail a recent, passport-type photo to the Board. Computer-printed photos are not acceptable and will delay the processing of your application. Must be on standard photographic paper, with the printed name, SSN and signature of the applicant on the reverse in dark ink.

• Provide a completion letter OR a copy of your diploma. (US graduates only) Request the director of your PT or PTA program to complete and mail a letter stating that you have completed the program OR send a copy of your diploma. The completion letter must be an original and include your SSN. It must also include the school seal and be signed by the school registrar, the program director, or other authorized school official, and must be mailed by the school directly to the Board. If you are a graduate of a program outside Texas, you have the option of printing this completion letter form and giving it to your program director to complete. 
  PT graduates only:  You may register for the exam 1 month BEFORE you complete your coursework if your Program Director sends a pre-completion letter.

• Register online to take the national exam. The FSBPT will notify us that you have registered and will report your score to us.

• Take the online Jurisprudence Exam. This online, open book exam is based on the Texas PT Rules and the Practice Act. You may refer to the Rules and Act while taking the exam. You will be allowed to repeat the exam if necessary, as the point is to familiarize yourself with the rules.

You may apply for a temporary license at any point between the start of the application process and taking the exam. PT applicants should click here for information regarding the duration of a temporary license in relation to the fixed exam dates currently scheduled by the FSBPT.

REQUIRED ITEMS

ENDORSEMENT APPLICANTS ONLY

• Apply and pay the fee online.   PT only     PTA only
  **According to state law, you must provide your social security number (SSN) to obtain a license; or alternatively, if you do not have a SSN, you must submit an affidavit stating that you do not have one.  Until your application includes a SSN or an SSN affidavit, your application cannot be processed.
• Mail a recent, passport-type photo to the Board. Computer-printed photos are not acceptable and will delay the processing of your application. Must be on standard photographic paper, with the printed name, SSN and signature of the applicant on the reverse in dark ink.
• Provide a completion letter OR a copy of your diploma. (US graduates only) Mail a photocopy of your diploma, or an official "completion letter" from your PT/PTA program stating that you completed the program.  The completion letter must be an original and include your SSN. It must also include the school seal and be signed by the school registrar, the program director, or other authorized school official, and must be mailed by the school directly to the Board.

• Provide a transcript from your CAPTE-accredited entry-level professional program. (US graduates only) This must be mailed directly to the Board by the school.

• Provide verification of licensure from all states in which you have ever held a license.  At least one of those verifications must show current, active licensure.  All verifications must be sent directly to the Board by the state board issuing the license.  The verification information must include type of license (PT or PTA); issuance and expiration dates; license number; and indication of any disciplinary action taken, with official documentation.

• Provide an exam score report sent directly from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) Score Transfer Service to the Board. Request a score transfer online from the FSBPT or contact them at 703-739-9420.

• Take the Applicant Jurisprudence Exam – This is an online, open book exam based on the Texas PT Rules and the Practice Act. You may refer to the Rules and Act while taking the exam. 

In addition to submitting the educational evaluation and TOEFL scores described below you must do the following:
     * If you are licensed already in another state, you must follow the steps for applying for a license by endorsement. 
     * If you do not yet have a license in the US, you must follow the steps for applying by exam.  

REQUIRED ITEMS

NEW - Effective 4/4/2011, there is no limit on the number of hours of advanced placement (CLEP) hours an applicant may use to satisfy General Education requirements.  The only General Education requirement that may not be satisfied by advanced placement tests is the Physics requirement.

• Education Evaluation - If your entry-level PT degree is from a university or other institution outside of the U.S., you must submit an official evaluation of your education done by a board-approved credentialing agency (see document below).  The credentialer will report to the Board whether the degree you received is substantially equivalent to an entry-level degree in physical therapy granted by CAPTE-accredited programs in the U.S., and whether you meet other specific requirements established by rule.  DO NOT SEND TRANSCRIPTS TO THE BOARD.  For the complete description of the requirements, see §329.5 of the Board’s rules, linked at the bottom of this page.
   

• English Language Proficiency Tests - Foreign-trained applicants** must make these minimum scores on the following exams:
  - Paper based TOEFL tests (pbt): TOEFL (reading/comprehension) 580; TWE (writing/essay) 5.0; TSE (speaking) 50.
  - Computer-based TOEFL tests (cbt): TOEFL (reading/comprehension) 237; TWE (writing/essay) 5.0; TSE (speaking) 50.
  - Internet-based (ibt): Writing 24; Speaking 26; Reading Comprehension 21; Listening Comprehension 18.
  
  ** TOEFL scores are not required if you meet one of the following conditions:

  • You earned your PT degree in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, or you hold a degree from a foreign CAPTE-accredited program. Documentation required: The evaluation will include this information. No additional information required from applicant.
  • You hold a current license in another state and have been licensed in the US for the past 10 years. Documentation required: verification of licensure from state(s) showing length of licensure
  • You are a citizen or permanent resident of the US and have attended 4 or more years of secondary (high school) or post-secondary (college/university) education in the US; a total of 96 hours is required. Documentation required: copy of passport or I-9, plus transcripts or certified letter from the school.
    
    Contact ETS at 609/771-7100 (www.ets.org) to sign up for the ibtTOEFL.  When you sign up for the exams, you will need to know that the Institutional Code for Texas is 9357. 

Educational Evaluation and Remediation Process Explanation

Coursework Evaluation Tool (chart of required courses and content)

Accredited PT and PTA Programs

Transitional DPT Programs