{"application_form_url":null,"application_portal_url":"https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do","board_contact_url":null,"board_email":"See board website","board_fax":"N/A (contact by phone)","board_mailing_address":"See board website","board_name":"Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy","board_parent_org":"Tennessee Department of Health","board_phone":"(615) 532-3204","board_physical_address":"See board website","board_source_url":null,"board_url":null,"canonical_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/tennessee-pt","ce_requirements_url":null,"common_delays":[{"description":"Failure to have the Declaration of Citizenship form notarized or failing to attach required proof of ID (e.g., birth certificate or passport) will halt the application.","title":"Incomplete Citizenship Form"},{"description":"Transcripts must be sent directly from the school. Hand-delivered or student-uploaded copies are not accepted.","title":"Transcript Delivery Issues"},{"description":"Using the wrong Service Code or OCA code for IdentoGO prevents the Board from receiving your background check results.","title":"Incorrect Fingerprint Code"},{"description":"The letter of recommendation must be from a U.S. licensed Physical Therapist; letters from other professions or relatives are rejected.","title":"Character Reference Eligibility"}],"compact_member":false,"compact_name":"PT Compact (Physical Therapy Licensure Compact)","compact_privilege_fee":"N/A","created_at":"2026-04-09T17:05:34.583742+00:00","credential_type":"PT, DPT","description":"Apply for a Tennessee Physical Therapist credential. Learn about the requirements, NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination), and state fees.","endorsement_application_url":"https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do","endorsement_fees":{"app_fee":"$100","background_check_fee":"$0 (included in application)","jurisprudence_exam_fee":"$0","total_estimated_cost":"$100"},"endorsement_steps":[{"description":"Select 'Licensure by Reciprocity/Endorsement' in the LARS portal.","title":"LARS Application","url":"https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do","url_label":"LARS Portal"},{"description":"Request an official score transfer from FSBPT to the Tennessee Board.","title":"NPTE Score Transfer","url":"https://www.fsbpt.org","url_label":"Request Score Transfer"},{"description":"Request verification of your current license from every state where you have ever held a license, sent directly to the Tennessee Board.","title":"License Verification","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Complete the IdentoGO fingerprinting process using the Tennessee-specific service code.","title":"Background Check","url":"https://www.identogo.com","url_label":"IdentoGO"}],"exam_registration_url":"https://www.fsbpt.org","faqs":[{"answer":"30 hours are required every 24 months, including 2 hours of Ethics and 2 hours of Jurisprudence approved by APTA Tennessee.","question":"How many continuing education (CE) hours are required for renewal?"},{"answer":"No, Tennessee does not require a separate Jurisprudence Exam for initial licensure, but 2 hours of Jurisprudence CE are required for every renewal cycle.","question":"Is there a separate Jurisprudence Exam for initial licensure?"},{"answer":"Tennessee uses CE Broker as the official system for tracking and reporting CE compliance.","question":"How do I track my continuing education credits?"},{"answer":"No. You must have a valid Tennessee license in your possession before you can lawfully practice as a Physical Therapist in the state.","question":"Can I practice while my application is pending?"}],"fee_payment_url":"https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do","fingerprint_delay_weeks":"2-4","fingerprint_fee":"$35-$50 (varies by state)","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":"https://www.identogo.com","fingerprint_vendor":"IdentoGO (IDEMIA)","fingerprint_vendor_url":"https://uenroll.identogo.com/","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/tennessee-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://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do","required_documents":[{"description":"A notarized form confirming your citizenship or legal residency status in the United States.","name":"Declaration of Citizenship (PH-4183)","url":"https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/PH-4183.pdf","url_label":"Download PH-4183"},{"description":"A questionnaire required for all health care providers in Tennessee to provide public information about their practice.","name":"Mandatory Practitioner Profile (PH-3585)","url":"https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/PH-3585.pdf","url_label":"Download PH-3585"},{"description":"An original, signed, and dated letter from a Physical Therapist licensed in the U.S. attesting to your good moral character.","name":"Letter of Recommendation","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"A recent (within 12 months) 2x2 full-faced color photograph.","name":"Passport-Style Photo","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Must be sent directly from the educational institution to the Board's administrative office.","name":"Official Transcripts","url":null,"url_label":null}],"slug":"tennessee-pt","state_name":"Tennessee","state_slug":"tennessee","statutes_url":null,"steps":[{"description":"Register for an account on the Tennessee Department of Health Online Licensure and Regulatory System (LARS) to begin your application.","title":"Create a LARS Account","url":"https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do","url_label":"LARS Portal"},{"description":"Complete the online application for Physical Therapist licensure and pay the required fees ($205 total for application, license, and regulatory fees).","title":"Submit Online Application","url":"https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do","url_label":"Apply Online"},{"description":"Register and pay for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).","title":"Register for the NPTE","url":"https://www.fsbpt.org","url_label":"FSBPT Registration"},{"description":"Schedule a fingerprinting appointment with IdentoGO. Use Service Code 28TYXY for Physical Therapists to ensure results are sent to the Board.","title":"Complete Criminal Background Check","url":"https://www.identogo.com","url_label":"Schedule Fingerprinting"},{"description":"Upload or mail the Declaration of Citizenship, Mandatory Practitioner Profile, and a passport-style photo.","title":"Submit Required Supplemental Forms","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Contact your university registrar to have official transcripts sent directly to the Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy office in Nashville.","title":"Request Official Transcripts","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":"2026-05-24T08:57:20.082813+00:00","verify_license_url":null}