To run an Alabama physical therapy license lookup, go to the Alabama Board of Physical Therapy’s website at pt.alabama.gov and open the Licensee Verification tool. The search is free, returns real-time status, and is the only official source for confirming that a Physical Therapist (PT) or Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is authorized to treat patients in Alabama.1Alabama Board of Physical Therapy. Alabama Board of Physical Therapy
Why the Board’s Site Is the Only Source That Counts
The Alabama Board of Physical Therapy (ABPT) is the sole state agency that issues, renews, and disciplines physical therapy licenses in Alabama. Its authority comes from the Physical Therapy Practice Act at Section 34-24-190 of the Code of Alabama.1Alabama Board of Physical Therapy. Alabama Board of Physical Therapy No clinic directory, insurance panel, or third-party site is authoritative. If a listing conflicts with the ABPT database, the ABPT record controls.
How to Run the Search
Open the Licensee Verification page on pt.alabama.gov. The form asks you to pick a license type first:
- PTH for a Physical Therapist
- PTA for a Physical Therapist Assistant
- Compact Privilege for an out-of-state therapist practicing in Alabama under the interstate compact
You then need either the license number or the practitioner’s last name. Adding a first name is optional and helps when the last name is common.1Alabama Board of Physical Therapy. Alabama Board of Physical Therapy The results screen shows the name, license number, license type, and current status, pulled directly from the Board’s database.
If nothing comes back, check your spelling and confirm you picked the right license type. A therapist who recently arrived from another compact state will not appear as PTH or PTA; they’ll be listed under Compact Privilege.
What the Status Field Tells You
The status line is the whole point of the lookup. Read it carefully.
- Active means the license is current and the practitioner is legally authorized to treat patients in Alabama.
- Inactive or Expired means the license was not renewed on time. The therapist is not authorized to practice. An expiration is not proof of misconduct; the person may have retired, moved, or simply missed a deadline.
- Suspended or Revoked means the Board took formal disciplinary action. Grounds under Alabama Code 34-24-217 include substance abuse affecting competency, felony conviction, gross negligence, fraud in obtaining the license, practicing outside the scope of physical therapy, and unethical advertising.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 34-24-217 – Grounds for Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation of License
- Probationary means the person can still treat patients, but the Board has attached conditions. This is sometimes used in place of a full suspension.
Anything other than Active is a reason to ask questions before you accept treatment. A suspended or revoked therapist who keeps seeing patients is committing a crime, not a paperwork slip.
Verifying an Out-of-State Therapist
Alabama belongs to the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, which currently has 37 member jurisdictions.3PT Compact. PT Compact Map A PT or PTA licensed in another compact state can practice in Alabama by holding a compact privilege here instead of a full Alabama license. To qualify, the therapist needs an active, unencumbered home-state license, no disciplinary actions in the past two years, and proof of permanent residency in a compact member state. Some states also require a jurisprudence exam.4PT Compact. Process and Requirements
When you verify a compact practitioner, select Compact Privilege in the ABPT search, or use the compact’s own portal at ptcompact.org. One thing to watch for: a compact privilege is tied to the home license. If the home-state license lapses or is disciplined, the Alabama privilege automatically becomes invalid, even if the ABPT record has not yet updated.
Timing Matters During Renewal Season
Alabama physical therapy licenses run October 1 through September 30 on an annual cycle. Renewal is late starting October 1, though the Board keeps online renewal open through October 31.5Alabama Board of Physical Therapy. Fee Schedule – Alabama Board of Physical Therapy A license you verified as Active in August can be Expired by November if the therapist did not renew. If you are checking around that window, it’s worth checking again.
If the Lookup Shows a Problem
Practicing physical therapy in Alabama without a valid license or compact privilege is a crime. Under Alabama Code 34-24-196, each violation carries a fine of $100 to $500, jail time of 30 to 90 days, or both. The same penalty applies to false statements on a license application or in response to a Board inquiry.6Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 34-24-196 – Penalties
If your search turns up an expired, suspended, or revoked license on someone who is still treating patients, or if you have witnessed professional misconduct, you can file a complaint with the ABPT. The Board investigates individual PTs and PTAs. It does not have jurisdiction over clinics, hospitals, or billing disputes, and it does not accept anonymous complaints.7Alabama Board of Physical Therapy. Complaints
Use the complaint form on the ABPT website. Include the licensee’s full name and business address, the specific dates of the conduct, a detailed description of what happened, the names of anyone else involved, and photocopies of supporting documents.7Alabama Board of Physical Therapy. Complaints Once the Board receives the complaint, it sends a summary to the licensee, requires a written response, and then decides whether to take formal action. The process usually takes several months, and the Board generally will not release details while an investigation is open.
One boundary worth knowing: the ABPT record covers physical therapy licensure only. Board findings about a therapist’s individual practice will not tell you whether a clinic is properly registered or whether a bill was correctly coded. Those questions go elsewhere.