Arkansas Physical Therapist License Requirements (2026 Guide)

Arkansas requires every physical therapist to hold an active state license before practicing in the state. The Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy — operating under the Arkansas Department of Health — administers licensure under Ark. Code Ann. §§17-93-101 et seq. and the Board’s Rules. The Board can be reached at (501) 228-7100 or arptb@arkansas.gov, and its licensing resources are available at the Arkansas Department of Health PT Board page.

Arkansas’s application process is relatively straightforward for most applicants: NPTE passage, a CAPTE-accredited education, a background check, and passage of the Arkansas Jurisprudence Examination. The jurisprudence exam is required for every initial applicant — examination, reciprocity, and compact privilege pathways alike — and carries a $10 fee. It reappears as a renewal requirement in odd-numbered years, making it a recurring part of Arkansas PT practice.

One item worth noting upfront: Arkansas’s application fee schedule is in transition as of July 1, 2026. A state-mandated 95% fee reduction was in effect from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, setting initial fees well below the statutory amounts in the Board Rules. New fees took effect July 1, 2026 but had not been published as of this page’s verification date. Renewal fees may also be affected by the July 1 transition. Verify all current fees directly with the Board at (501) 228-7100 or arptb@arkansas.gov before submitting any application or renewal.

Arkansas and the PT Compact

Arkansas is a member of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact under Ark. Code Ann. §17-93-501 et seq. The compact allows eligible PTs licensed in other member states to obtain an Arkansas compact privilege without applying for a full Arkansas license, and Arkansas PTs may purchase compact privileges in other participating states. The compact privilege fee is $50.

Compact privilege applicants must complete all applicable compact requirements. Whether the Arkansas jurisprudence examination is required specifically as part of compact privilege activation has not been confirmed from publicly accessible Arkansas Board materials — applicants exercising an Arkansas compact privilege should verify this directly with the Board at (501) 228-7100 or arptb@arkansas.gov before beginning practice. Verify current compact member state participation and privilege procedures through the PT Compact Commission.

Arkansas PT License Requirements

Education

Applicants must have graduated from a professional physical therapy program accredited by a national accreditation agency approved by the Board — in practice, this means a CAPTE-accredited program. The Board must receive an official transcript transmitted directly from the Office of the Registrar of the physical therapy program. An official certification of graduation is sufficient to allow an applicant to sit for the examination, with the full transcript required before a license is issued. For reciprocity applicants, the Board may verify educational equivalency through FSBPT or another Board-approved entity.

NPTE

All examination applicants must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination administered by FSBPT or another Board-approved examination administrator. Arkansas uses a criterion-referenced passing score established by FSBPT. Applicants who fail the first attempt may retake the exam once within six months without re-applying. A third or subsequent attempt requires Board re-application and evidence of additional education (commercial review course or individual tutorial).

Arkansas Jurisprudence Examination

All initial applicants — regardless of pathway — must pass a jurisprudence examination approved by the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy, per Board Rules III.D. The examination covers Arkansas physical therapy law and Board rules and requires a 70% passing score. The fee is $10. The exam is taken online through the Board’s system at healthy.arkansas.gov — download the Practice Act and Rules and Regulations before taking it, as both are referenced during the exam. A certificate of completion is available to print upon passing. The same jurisprudence examination is required at odd-numbered year license renewals, where it counts as one hour of online continuing education toward the biennial CE requirement.

Background Check

Under Ark. Code Ann. §17-93-303 and Board Rules III.E, the Board requires each initial PT applicant to submit to a background check. Pre-licensure criminal background check petitions are available under Act 990 of 2019 — applicants with a criminal record may petition the Board for a pre-determination of eligibility before submitting a full application. The Board will respond in writing. Felony convictions may be subject to a waiver process under Board Rules III.G, which allows the Board to weigh factors such as the nature of the offense, time elapsed, and rehabilitation demonstrated.

Licensure by Reciprocity

Physical therapists licensed in another US jurisdiction may apply for Arkansas licensure by reciprocity under Board Rules IV.A. The applicant’s license must be substantially similar to an Arkansas PT license (meaning the other state requires graduation from a CAPTE-accredited or equivalent program), must be in good standing, and must not be suspended, probationary, or revoked for bad faith or ethics violations. Reciprocity applicants must provide evidence of NPTE passage, letters of good standing from all prior jurisdictions, and must complete the jurisprudence examination and background check.

Reciprocity applicants may receive a temporary and provisional license immediately upon receipt of the required fee and documentation showing a substantially similar out-of-state license in good standing. The temporary license is effective for 90 days or until the Board acts on the full application, whichever occurs first.

Foreign-Educated Applicants

Foreign-educated applicants must be eligible for licensure or authorized to practice without limitation in their home country, and must provide written proof that their school is recognized by its country’s ministry of education. Additional requirements include a credentials evaluation from a Board-approved agency and — if the applicant’s native language is not English — results from a Board-approved English proficiency examination that includes both written and oral sections.

Low-Income Application Fee Waiver

Under Act 725 of 2021, eligible applicants may receive a waiver of the initial license fee. Qualifying applicants include those receiving Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, TANF, or the Lifeline Assistance Program; those approved for unemployment within the last 12 months; or those with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Documentation from the appropriate state agency or IRS income forms is required with the application.

Military Service Members and Veterans

Arkansas provides expedited licensure to uniformed service members stationed in Arkansas, veterans residing in Arkansas, and qualifying spouses. A military temporary license is issued immediately upon receipt of the required documentation and is effective for 90 days pending background check results. Deployed service members receive a 180-day license extension following return from deployment, and a full CE exemption until 180 days after return.

How to Apply for an Arkansas PT License

1. Obtain and complete the application. Download the current application from the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy page at healthy.arkansas.gov. The application must be completed in full and sworn under oath — the second page requires notarization by a notary public.
2. Submit official transcripts. Arrange for your physical therapy program’s Registrar to send an official transcript directly to the Board. An official certification of graduation may be submitted to allow you to sit for the NPTE, with the full transcript to follow.
3. Complete the background check. Submit to the required background check per Ark. Code Ann. §17-93-303. If you have a criminal history, contact the Board before applying to discuss the pre-licensure petition process under Act 990 of 2019.
4. Pass the Arkansas Jurisprudence Examination. Complete the Board-approved jurisprudence examination covering Arkansas PT law and Board rules. Fee: $10. Access the online jurisprudence exam through the Board’s website at healthy.arkansas.gov.
5. Register for and pass the NPTE. Register through FSBPT. Arkansas uses the criterion-referenced FSBPT passing score. Have your results reported to the Arkansas Board.
6. Pay the application fee. The fee schedule is in transition as of July 1, 2026 — verify the current amount with the Board at (501) 228-7100 or arptb@arkansas.gov before submitting. Initial application fees are paid by check or money order (no cash, no online payment for the application itself). Fee waiver available for qualifying low-income applicants under Act 725 of 2021.
7. License issuance and renewal planning. All Arkansas PT licenses expire annually on March 1. See the Arkansas PT Renewal guide for CE and renewal requirements.

Relevant Statutes and Regulations

• Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy — Department of Health Page
• Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules (PDF)
• Arkansas Physical Therapy Practice Act — Ark. Code Ann. §§17-93-101 et seq. (PDF)

Related Pages

• Arkansas Physical Therapist License Renewal
• Oklahoma Physical Therapist License Requirements
• Tennessee Physical Therapist License Requirements
• Physical Therapist Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a state license required to practice as a physical therapist in Arkansas?

Yes. Under Ark. Code Ann. §17-93-101 et seq., an individual who plans to practice as a physical therapist must secure a license from the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy prior to practicing in the state. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Section VI.A

What are the Arkansas PT application fees?

Arkansas’s application fee schedule is in transition as of July 1, 2026. A state-mandated 95% reduction was in effect from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, setting the examination application fee at $3 and the reciprocity fee at $5. New fees took effect July 1, 2026 but had not been published as of this page’s verification date. Verify the current application fee directly with the Board at (501) 228-7100 or arptb@arkansas.gov before applying. The jurisprudence examination fee is $10 and is not subject to the reduction mandate. A fee waiver for low-income applicants is available under Act 725 of 2021. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy — verify current fees

Does Arkansas require a jurisprudence examination for PT licensure?

Yes. All initial PT applicants must pass a jurisprudence examination approved by the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy, per Board Rules III.D. The fee is $10. The same examination is required at odd-numbered year renewals, where it counts as one hour of online CE toward the biennial CE requirement. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Sections III.D and VI.E

Does Arkansas require a criminal background check for PT licensure?

Yes. Under Ark. Code Ann. §17-93-303 and Board Rules III.E, the Board requires all initial PT applicants to submit to a background check. Applicants with a criminal history may petition the Board for a pre-licensure eligibility determination under Act 990 of 2019 before submitting a full application. Felony convictions may be subject to a waiver process under Board Rules III.G. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Sections III.E–G

Is Arkansas a member of the PT Compact?

Yes. Arkansas is a PT Compact member state under Ark. Code Ann. §17-93-501 et seq. Eligible PTs from other compact member states may obtain an Arkansas compact privilege without applying for a full Arkansas license. The compact privilege fee is $50. Whether the Arkansas jurisprudence examination is required specifically for compact privilege activation has not been confirmed from publicly accessible Board materials — verify this directly with the Board at (501) 228-7100 before beginning compact practice in Arkansas. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Section IV.D

What education is required for an Arkansas PT license?

Applicants must have graduated from a physical therapy program accredited by a national accreditation agency approved by the Board — in practice, a CAPTE-accredited program. An official transcript must be transmitted directly from the program’s Registrar to the Board. Foreign-educated applicants must provide a Board-approved credentials evaluation and, if English is not their native language, results from an approved English proficiency examination. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Sections III.B and V

Is there a fee waiver available for Arkansas PT applicants?

Yes. Under Act 725 of 2021, Arkansas offers an initial license fee waiver for eligible applicants receiving Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, TANF, or the Lifeline Assistance Program; those approved for unemployment within the last 12 months; or those with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Documentation from the appropriate state agency or IRS forms is required. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Section VII.D