{"application_form_url":null,"application_portal_url":"https://www.breeze.ca.gov/","board_contact_url":"https://www.ptbc.ca.gov/about_us/contact_us.shtml","board_email":"See board website","board_fax":"N/A (contact by phone)","board_mailing_address":"See board website","board_name":"Physical Therapy Board of California","board_parent_org":"Title Protection Only (Business and Professions Code Section 2585)","board_phone":"(916) 561-8200","board_physical_address":"See board website","board_source_url":"https://www.ptbc.ca.gov/","board_url":"https://www.ptbc.ca.gov/","canonical_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/california-pt","ce_requirements_url":null,"common_delays":[{"description":"Poor quality prints or missing the FBI/DOJ check box on the Live Scan form can cause significant delays. Ensure the operator checks both boxes.","title":"Fingerprint Rejection"},{"description":"The P1E form must be signed by the Registrar or Program Director and sent directly from the school. Post-dated forms are not accepted.","title":"Incomplete P1E Form"},{"description":"Waiting for other state boards to send license verifications is a frequent bottleneck. Request these early in the process.","title":"Missing Out-of-State Verifications"},{"description":"Differences between names on transcripts, NPTE scores, and the application can stall processing. Submit legal name change documents if applicable.","title":"Name Discrepancies"}],"compact_member":false,"compact_name":"PT Compact (Physical Therapy Licensure Compact)","compact_privilege_fee":"N/A","created_at":"2026-04-09T17:05:28.570598+00:00","credential_type":"PT, DPT","description":"Apply for a California Physical Therapist credential. Learn about the requirements, NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination), and state fees.","endorsement_application_url":null,"endorsement_fees":{"app_fee":"$100","background_check_fee":"$0 (included in application)","jurisprudence_exam_fee":"$0","total_estimated_cost":"$100"},"endorsement_steps":[{"description":"Out-of-state licensees must still pass the California Jurisprudence Assessment Module (CAL-JAM) via FSBPT.","title":"Register for CAL-JAM","url":"https://www.fsbpt.org/","url_label":"Register for CAL-JAM"},{"description":"Apply via BreEZe selecting the 'Physical Therapist by Endorsement' option.","title":"Submit Endorsement Application","url":"https://www.breeze.ca.gov/","url_label":"BreEZe Portal"},{"description":"Request official verification of licensure from every state where you hold or have ever held a PT license.","title":"Request License Verifications","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Request an official NPTE score transfer from FSBPT to the California Board.","title":"Transfer NPTE Scores","url":"https://www.fsbpt.org/","url_label":"FSBPT Score Transfer"},{"description":"Submit the P1E form or official transcripts directly from your educational institution.","title":"Submit Education Proof","url":null,"url_label":null}],"exam_registration_url":"https://www.fsbpt.org/Secondary-Pages/Exam-Candidates/National-Physical-Therapy-Examination-NPTE/Exam-Registration-Payment","faqs":[{"answer":"30 contact hours (3.0 CEUs) are required every two years, including 2 hours of Ethics/Laws and 4 hours of Basic Life Support (BLS).","question":"How many continuing education hours are required for renewal?"},{"answer":"The Board typically acknowledges receipt within 30 days. Once all documents and scores are received, license issuance generally takes 45 days.","question":"How long does the application process take?"},{"answer":"The total cost is $450, consisting of a $300 application/initial license fee and a $150 license fee (often paid together).","question":"What is the total cost for an initial license?"},{"answer":"New graduates may apply for Physical Therapist License Applicant (PTLA) status, which allows practice under direct supervision for up to 120 days pending exam results.","question":"Can I practice while my application is pending?"},{"answer":"Licenses expire at midnight on the last day of your birth month every two years.","question":"When does my California PT license expire?"}],"fee_payment_url":null,"fingerprint_delay_weeks":"2-4","fingerprint_fee":"$49.00","fingerprint_method_in_state":"LiveScan (IdentoGO)","fingerprint_method_out_of_state":"IdentoGO Out-of-State Live Scan (adds ~$39.95 fee) OR FD-258 hard card via mail (tip: moisturize hands for days prior to reduce smudge rejects)","fingerprint_required":true,"fingerprint_url":null,"fingerprint_vendor":"California DOJ LiveScan","fingerprint_vendor_url":"https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations","initial_fee_amount":100.0,"initial_fee_breakdown":"$100 application/license fee","last_updated":"2026-02-25","last_verified":"2026-02-25","license_duration":"2 Years","licensing_pathway":"endorsement","payload_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/api/california-pt.json","processing_time":"4 to 6 Weeks","profession":"Physical Therapist","provisional_info":"Many states offer a limited permit or provisional license for new graduates waiting to take the NPTE. Check specific board rules for supervisory requirements.","reciprocity_info":"Physical Therapists licensed in another state can often apply via endorsement by providing license verification and current certification.","renewal_cycle":"Every 2 years","renewal_fee_amount":50.0,"renewal_portal_url":"https://www.breeze.ca.gov/","required_documents":[{"description":"Official form completed by your PT program verifying completion of all didactic and clinical requirements.","name":"Certificate of Completion (P1E)","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Official scores transferred directly from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).","name":"NPTE Score Report","url":"https://www.fsbpt.org/","url_label":"Request Score Transfer"},{"description":"Proof of background check submission. Use the Board-specific form for Live Scan.","name":"Live Scan Form or Fingerprint Hard Cards","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"A 2x2 inch color passport-style photograph may be required for the application file.","name":"Passport-Style Photo","url":null,"url_label":null}],"slug":"california-pt","state_name":"California","state_slug":"california","statutes_url":"https://www.ptbc.ca.gov/laws/index.shtml","steps":[{"description":"Register and pay for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and the California Jurisprudence Assessment Module (CAL-JAM) through the FSBPT website.","title":"Register for Exams","url":"https://www.fsbpt.org/Secondary-Pages/Exam-Candidates/National-Physical-Therapy-Examination-NPTE/Exam-Registration-Payment","url_label":"Register via FSBPT"},{"description":"Create a BreEZe account and submit the 'Physical Therapist' application. Pay the $300 application and initial license fee during this step.","title":"Submit Online Application","url":"https://www.breeze.ca.gov/","url_label":"Apply via BreEZe"},{"description":"If in California, use Live Scan. If out-of-state, request 'Hard Cards' through the BreEZe application and have them mailed to you for manual rolling.","title":"Complete Fingerprinting","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Have your school complete the Certificate of Completion (P1E) form and send it directly to the Board. This must be done after graduation.","title":"Submit Education Verification","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Successfully pass both the NPTE and the CAL-JAM. Scores are automatically transmitted to the Board by FSBPT.","title":"Pass Exams","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"After all requirements are met and the application is approved, pay the final $150 initial license fee if not already paid during the application.","title":"Pay Initial License Fee","url":null,"url_label":null}],"temp_license_available":false,"temp_license_duration":"See board","temp_license_fee":"See board","temp_license_processing_time":"See board","updated_at":"2026-04-10T17:13:17.716950+00:00","verify_license_url":"https://search.dca.ca.gov/"}