Hawaii Physical Therapist License: Requirements & How to Apply (2026)

Who This Guide Is For

• Physical therapists applying for a new Hawaii license by examination or exam waiver
• PTs relocating to Hawaii from another state — note that Hawaii does not offer standard reciprocity, so every applicant must independently meet Hawaii’s education and examination requirements
• Travel physical therapists evaluating Hawaii assignments — Hawaii has not enacted PT Compact legislation, so a compact privilege is not currently an option here

Hawaii Licensing Overview

Hawaii requires anyone practicing physical therapy in the state to hold a license issued by the Board of Physical Therapy, within the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (PVL) of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). Hawaii offers licensure by examination for first-time applicants and an exam waiver pathway for applicants who have already passed the NPTE and hold or have held a license in another U.S. state or territory. Hawaii explicitly does not participate in standard reciprocity agreements — every applicant, regardless of where they were previously licensed, must independently satisfy Hawaii’s own education and examination requirements.

Hawaii has not enacted PT Compact legislation. A bill to join the compact (SB668) was introduced in the Hawaii Legislature in 2023 but has not been enacted, so a PT Compact privilege is not currently available as an alternative to full Hawaii licensure.

Requirements

• Graduation from a CAPTE-accredited physical therapy education program; foreign-educated applicants need an independent credentials evaluation from a board-approved agency (IERF, International Consultants of Delaware, or FCCPT) confirming equivalence, completed within one year of application
• Passage of the NPTE at one sitting, administered by FSBPT
• There is no universal fingerprint-based background check for all PT applicants, but applicants with any criminal history must submit a current criminal history record check from the relevant state(s) — Hawaii residents obtain this from the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center — along with a signed statement, court records, and probation/parole terms if applicable
• Proof of lawful presence — applicants must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or an alien authorized to work in the United States, and must provide a Social Security Number (or attest to non-issuance)
• No pre-licensure jurisprudence exam is required — Hawaii-specific jurisprudence (ethics, laws, and rules) is instead required as part of post-licensure continuing competence, starting with your first renewal
• Applications are considered abandoned and destroyed if a license is not issued within one year of the application date — reapplying at that point means meeting whatever requirements are current at the time, not the ones in effect when you first applied

How to Apply

1. Determine your pathway — examination or exam waiver
2. Apply online through MyPVL, or download and submit a paper application
3. For the examination pathway, register for and pass the NPTE through FSBPT, and have your CAPTE-accredited transcript sent directly to the Board
4. Disclose any criminal history and provide supporting documentation if applicable
5. Pay the applicable fees — online by credit card, eCheck, or subscriber account, or by mail via check or money order in U.S. dollars payable to “Commerce and Consumer Affairs”

Relevant Statutes

• HRS Chapter 461J — Physical Therapy Practice Act (full compiled statute text)
• Physical Therapist Application Instructions

Related Pages

• Hawaii PT License Renewal Guide
• Physical Therapist Licensing — All States

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hawaii in the PT Compact? No. Hawaii has not enacted PT Compact legislation. A bill to join (SB668) was introduced in 2023 but was not enacted. PT Compact Commission member map

Is there a Hawaii jurisprudence exam for initial licensure? No. Hawaii does not require a pre-licensure jurisprudence exam — instead, licensees must complete 2 continuing competence units in Hawaii-specific ethics, laws, and rules as part of their first renewal. Board Continuing Competence Announcement

Does Hawaii offer reciprocity for PTs licensed in other states? No. Hawaii explicitly does not reciprocate with any other state or country. An exam waiver pathway is available instead for applicants who already passed the NPTE and hold or held a license elsewhere, but all of Hawaii’s own requirements still apply. Physical Therapist Application Instructions

How much does it cost to apply for a Hawaii PT license? $50 for the examination pathway; the exam waiver pathway totals $185 in even-numbered license years or $300 in odd-numbered license years, due to a half-renewal fee built into the odd-year cost. Physical Therapist Application Instructions