Indiana Physical Therapist License Requirements 2026

Indiana requires all practicing physical therapists to hold a current Physical Therapist License issued by the Indiana Physical Therapy Board, which operates under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA). The Board was established as a standalone body by Public Law 160-2019, transferring regulatory authority from the former Medical Licensing Board committee structure to a dedicated physical therapy board.

All applications are submitted online through MyLicense.IN.gov. Indiana offers two primary full-license pathways — Licensure by Examination and Licensure by Reciprocity — along with a Temporary Permit option for examination candidates. The Board does not publish a standard processing timeline; applicants should contact the PLA directly for current estimates. Importantly, applications are abandoned if all requirements are not submitted within one year of the filing date.

Indiana’s licensing process involves three separate payment recipients for examination candidates: the PLA ($100 application fee), FSBPT ($485 NPTE fee), and Prometric ($65 testing center fee). These must all be paid before the applicant is permitted to sit for the NPTE. Indiana does not require a state jurisprudence exam for initial licensure — the NPTE is the only required examination.

What Makes Indiana Different

Indiana uses the term “reciprocity” for what most states call endorsement — the pathway for out-of-state licensed PTs to obtain an Indiana license based on their existing licensure. Indiana’s reciprocity pathway follows IC 25-1-21-5 and requires current license verification sent directly from the originating licensing authority to the Board. PTs searching for Indiana PT endorsement are following the same pathway.

Indiana also has a notable dry needling regulation. Since June 30, 2024, any PT who performs dry needling must have completed a minimum of 50 hours of dry-needling-specific education, of which 40 hours must be completed in person, per 842 IAC 1-6-2(i). Dry needling may not be delegated to a physical therapist assistant under any circumstances, even under direct supervision. PTs who have not completed the required education may not perform dry needling services.

PT Compact and Indiana

Indiana is a member of the Physical Therapy Compact, which became active in Indiana on April 20, 2023, under House Enrolled Act 1405-2021. PT Compact provisions are codified in Indiana Code § 25-27-2. Indiana’s Compact membership is significant for travel PTs and those practicing across state lines.

If Indiana is your home state:

Indiana-licensed PTs in good standing may purchase Compact Privileges to practice in other member states through the PT Compact Commission at ptcompact.org. Your Indiana license serves as your home state license for Compact purposes.

If you are licensed elsewhere and want to practice in Indiana:

You may apply for an Indiana Compact Privilege directly through the PT Compact, provided your home state is a Compact member and your license is in good standing. Indiana’s compact privilege fee is $100, plus the PT Compact Commission’s fee of $45. Indiana does not require a jurisprudence exam for compact privilege applicants — applicants are, however, subject to jurisprudence requirements in other member states they seek privileges in.

For travel PTs:

Indiana’s PT Compact membership streamlines access for travel PTs. If your home state is among the 40+ Compact members, you can obtain an Indiana Compact Privilege without going through the full reciprocity process. Verify current member state status at ptcompact.org/ptc-states before planning assignments. Eligibility requires no active encumbrances and no disciplinary action against any license for at least two years.

Indiana PT Licensing Requirements

Education

Applicants must submit an official transcript showing a physical therapy degree has been conferred, sent directly from the degree-granting institution. Graduates of foreign PT programs must submit both a certified English translation of their transcript (if not in English) and a credentials evaluation completed within the last six months from a Board-approved credentialing agency. A list of approved credentialing services is available on the PLA’s physical therapy resources page.

NPTE and Examination Fees

Examination candidates must coordinate three separate payments before sitting for the NPTE. The $100 PLA application fee is paid online at MyLicense.IN.gov. The $485 NPTE fee is paid directly to FSBPT at fsbpt.org — do not include this fee with your PLA application. The $65 Prometric testing center fee is paid at the time of scheduling. Indiana’s required passing score is a scaled score of 600, consistent with the FSBPT standard.

Temporary Permit

Examination candidates may apply for a Temporary Permit ($50) to practice under direct supervision while waiting for full licensure. The Board may issue a maximum of two temporary permits. A temporary permit is only valid until its expiration date or until the applicant fails the NPTE — whichever comes first. If the exam has not been taken by the first permit’s expiration, a second permit may be requested by mail with a $50 check or money order payable to IPLA and a completed supervising PT’s Affirmation of Supervision form. A failed exam disqualifies the applicant from a second temporary permit.

Background Check

All initial applicants must submit to a national fingerprint-based criminal history background check, per IC 25-1-1.1-4, conducted through IdentoGo. The Physical Therapist IDEMIA Service Code is 24YBT5. The CBC fee is $38.20, paid directly to IdentoGo — this is separate from the PLA application fee. Fingerprints must be submitted after the application has been filed with PLA; fingerprints submitted before the application received date are not valid and must be resubmitted. In-state applicants schedule digital fingerprinting at an authorized IdentoGo location via in.state.identogo.com. Out-of-state applicants may use the IdentoGo Out-of-State Card Scan Processing Program. Criminal background checks are not required for renewal or reinstatement.

Reciprocity (Endorsement)

Out-of-state licensed PTs may apply for Indiana licensure by reciprocity if they meet the requirements of IC 25-1-21-5. Current license verification must be sent directly from each originating licensing authority to the Indiana Physical Therapy Board at pla14@pla.in.gov. If the applicant holds or has held more than one out-of-state license, all verifications must be submitted by the first renewal cycle of the Indiana license.

How to Apply for an Indiana PT License

1. Create or log in to your Access Indiana account at MyLicense.IN.gov
2. Complete the online application and pay the $100 application fee by credit or debit card
3. Complete the required criminal background check through the PLA
4. Submit your official transcript directly from your degree-granting institution (foreign graduates: include credentials evaluation and certified translation)
5. If applicable, submit name change documentation — if your name differs across transcripts, exam records, or other documents, provide a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order
6. If applicable, submit positive response documentation with court records for any criminal history
7. After receiving your PLA application confirmation email with your Service Code, schedule your IdentoGo fingerprinting appointment at in.state.identogo.com using Service Code 24YBT5; pay the $38.20 CBC fee directly to IdentoGo
8. Register for the NPTE at fsbpt.org and pay the $485 NPTE fee separately
9. Schedule your Prometric testing appointment and pay the $65 center fee
10. Submit all requirements within one year of filing — applications are abandoned after one year

Relevant Statutes and Regulations

• Indiana Code § 25-27 — Physical Therapists
• 842 IAC Title 1, Article 1 — Indiana Board of Physical Therapy Rules
• Indiana PLA — Physical Therapy Licensing Information

Indiana PT License — Cost Breakdown

Related Pages

• Indiana Physical Therapist License Renewal
• Physical Therapist Licensing by State

Frequently Asked Questions