How to Become a Physical Therapist in Pennsylvania (PA)

The profession concerned with promotion of health, with prevention of physical disabilities, with evaluation and rehabilitation of persons disabled by pain, disease, or injury, and with treatment by physical therapeutic measures as opposed to medical, surgical, or radiologic measures. A physical therapist clinic may include weights, mats, and treadmills where they can perform a variety of exercises with the patients to improve sensory perception, muscle strength and motor skills. Physical therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, schools and private practices. Due to the nature of work they are in great demand in various sports and athletic complexes.

Association Group Responsible for providing license

In Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Board of Physical Therapy is responsible to issue license to physical therapists. The application process is dependent on whether you are new student, a licensed physical therapist in another state or country.

Mailing Address:

State Board of Physical Therapy,
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg
PA 17105-2649.

Application process

For people from United States

PHYSICAL THERAPIST APPLICATION BY EXAMINATION 

Eligibility: Applicant must be a graduate of a CAPTE accredited physical therapy educational program, approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Physical Therapy.

The Board should receive an official transcript in physical therapy from an institution that has been approved for training by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Foreign Trained Applicants: If the applicant has received education outside US at a school the applicant must submit a credential evaluation. The evaluation must be prepared by a Board approved agency.

If the degree was completed prior to 1998, at least 120 semester credit hours of which at least 42 credit hours must be in general education subjects and 69 credit hours must be in professional education subjects; If the degree was completed in 1998 or later, at least 150 semester hours of which at least 60 credit hours must be in general education subjects and 90 credit hour must be in professional education subjects

Board approved agency is:

Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) – www.fccpt.org

A SSN is required before a license will be issued

Instructions for Registering Online for National Physical Therapy Examinations

Pennsylvania Board of Physical Therapy is using the FSBT website to allow candidates to register online for NPTE. The website the candidate will follow to get registered is https://www.fsbpt.net/pt . The examination lasts for one day for a period of approximately 5.0 hours. The exam consists of approximately 250 multiple-choice questions. The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is a computer-based examination given at Prometric Testing Centers.

Once the Pennsylvania Board determines the eligibility based on the educational qualification and other guidelines it will be intimated that candidate can appear for the online examination. The FSBT will send the candidate an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter.

The ATT letter would contain the all important information about the exam schedules

Where to give the exam: The Prometric Testing Center fee must be paid directly to the Prometric Testing Center at the time of scheduling. Please visit www.prometric.com for further details for place and fees.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST APPLICATION BY ENDORSEMENT 

For applicants from other states who hold a current license in another jurisdiction.

Candidate should enclose verification of licensure in good standing from all jurisdictions in which the applicant has been licensed.

Candidate should send the official transcripts or letter of completion to be mailed to the board office.

Request your NPTE score transfer from the FSBPT at www.fsbpt.net/pt .

Other Information

Fees: 

$30 application fees

$45 application fees (For Non-US educated candidates)

$370 NPTE Examination fees

License renewal 

Licenses expire December 31 of every even-numbered year. Continuing Education is NOT required for the first renewal of a license/certificate.  The CE requirement must be completed in the 24 months preceding the second and subsequent renewals of the license/certificate. 

Verify Pennsylvania Licensure: It can be viewed on the official website http://www.licensepa.state.pa.us/

Information about jobs and salary

Job in State: As per data of May 2012 there are 9,670 jobs in PennsylvaniaState.

Salary: The average mean wage is $76,210. The bottom 10% is at $51,910 and the top 10% is earning a handsome amount of $104,930.

Links for reference

Official Website: www.dos.state.pa.us/physther

Exam Websites: http://www.fsbpt.org , www.prometric.com/fsbpt