North Dakota Physical Therapist License: Requirements & How to Apply (2026)
Editorial Note: This page is editorially reviewed by an ARDMS-credentialed sonographer as part of AlliedLicenseGuide.com’s allied health licensing database. Data verified directly against the North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy.
Who This Guide Is For
- Physical therapists applying for a new North Dakota license by examination or endorsement
- PTs relocating to North Dakota from another state, including those who need to complete the state’s open-book jurisprudence exam
- Travel physical therapists evaluating North Dakota assignments — North Dakota is an active PT Compact member
At a Glance: North Dakota PT Licensure
| License Required | Yes |
| Governing Board | North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy |
| Licensing Pathways | By Examination, or By Endorsement |
| Application Fee | $200.00, plus a separate $40.00 criminal background check fee |
| Application Method | Online via the Board’s website |
| NPTE Required | Yes, for the examination pathway |
| Jurisprudence Exam | Yes — an open-book exam built into the online application, must be passed before license issuance |
| Background Check | Yes — a BCI fingerprint packet is mailed to every applicant after submitting their application |
| PT Compact Status | Active member (enacted at NDCC ch. 43-26.2) |
| Governing Law | NDCC Chapter 43-26.1; NDAC Title 61.5 |
North Dakota Licensing Overview
North Dakota requires anyone practicing physical therapy in the state to hold a license issued by the Board of Physical Therapy. Two pathways exist: licensure by examination for applicants who need to sit for the NPTE, and licensure by endorsement for applicants already licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction. Both pathways require completing North Dakota’s own open-book jurisprudence exam, built directly into the online application.
North Dakota is an active member of the PT Compact, so eligible therapists licensed in another compact member state have the option of a compact privilege instead of a full North Dakota license.
Requirements
- Graduation from a professional physical therapist education program accredited by a national accreditation agency approved by the board (typically CAPTE for U.S. programs, though the statute itself doesn’t name a specific agency); foreign-educated applicants must demonstrate substantial equivalence through a board-directed credentials evaluation, pass a board-approved English proficiency exam if their native language isn’t English, and obtain a criminal background check
- Passage of the NPTE, for the examination pathway — no more than 6 lifetime attempts are allowed, with only 2 attempts permitted for scores below 400
- Passage of North Dakota’s open-book jurisprudence exam, completed as part of the online application, before your license can be issued
- A BCI fingerprint-based background check — a fingerprint packet is mailed to you automatically after your application is submitted
How to Apply
- Determine your pathway — examination or endorsement
- Complete the online license application through the Board’s website
- For the examination pathway, register for and pass the NPTE through FSBPT
- Complete the jurisprudence exam within the online application
- For the endorsement pathway, contact each state where you hold or have held a license to have that board send license verification to North Dakota, and upload letters from your supervisor or HR department at your last two places of employment verifying your work history
- Watch for your BCI fingerprint packet in the mail after submitting your application, and return it promptly
- Pay the $200.00 application fee plus the $40.00 background check fee by credit or debit card at the time of submission
Practical Notes: Don’t wait for a separate notice to start your background check — North Dakota automatically mails a BCI fingerprint packet after you submit your application, so factor that mailing and return time into your timeline. Also worth knowing: if you haven’t practiced as a PT or PTA in the past 3 years, the Board asks you to contact them directly rather than relying on the standard application process — this is a separate practice-currency consideration from how long an expired license can go before requiring a full reapplication.
Editorial note: Practical guidance reviewed by ALG’s editorial team based on official Board sourcing.
Relevant Statutes
- NDCC Chapter 43-26.1 — Physical Therapists
- NDAC 61.5-02-02 — Licensure
- Board PT Licensure Application Instructions
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Dakota require a jurisprudence exam? Yes — an open-book exam built into the online application, which must be passed before your license can be issued. Board PT Licensure Application Instructions
Is North Dakota in the PT Compact? Yes, North Dakota is an active PT Compact member, enacted at NDCC ch. 43-26.2. NDCC ch. 43-26.2; Board’s PT Compact Executive Summary
Does North Dakota require a background check for PT licensure? Yes. A BCI fingerprint packet is mailed to every applicant after their application is submitted. Board PT Licensure Application Instructions
How much does it cost to apply for a North Dakota PT license? $200.00, plus a separate $40.00 criminal background check fee. NDCC 43-26.1-10(1)
Disclaimer: This page is provided for informational purposes and reflects data verified against official North Dakota government sources as of the Last Verified date above. Processing time and name/ID requirements for exam applicants were not independently confirmed this session. Licensing requirements and fees can change. Always confirm current requirements directly with the North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy before submitting an application.
2026-07-09: Page created following direct verification against official North Dakota government sources. Resolved a conflict on the background check requirement: confirmed it is a standard, automatic step (BCI fingerprint packet mailed after every application) per the Board’s own page, while the underlying statute uses permissive “may require” language — both are accurate and not contradictory.
2026-07-09: Editorial review round — fetched the complete text of NDCC Chapter 43-26.1 directly. Corrected education-requirement wording, since the statute names “a national accreditation agency approved by the board” rather than specifically naming CAPTE. Added confirmed detail: NPTE retakes capped at 6 lifetime attempts (2 for scores below 400), and foreign-educated applicants must pass an English proficiency exam if their native language isn’t English. Confirmed the $40.00 background check fee is stated explicitly on the Board’s own application page, resolving an earlier hedge. Confirmed the endorsement documentation requirements (multi-state license verification, two employment verification letters) were already sourced directly to the Board’s own application page.