To meet the New York physical therapy license requirements, you need a graduate degree from a CAPTE-accredited program, a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Examination, a cleared fingerprint-based background check, completion of New York’s mandated child abuse reporting training, and proof that you are at least 21 and of good moral character. The New York State Education Department (NYSED), through its Office of the Professions, handles the application. Plan on roughly $779 in combined state and exam fees before fingerprinting and testing-center charges.
Education You Need
New York requires a graduate degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). A bachelor’s degree in physical therapy on its own does not qualify. Most accredited programs now award a Doctor of Physical Therapy, but a CAPTE-accredited master’s degree still meets the standard.1NYU Steinhardt. Doctor of Physical Therapy Coursework covers anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience, and clinical sciences, along with required hands-on clinical rotations.
If you earned your degree outside the United States, your credentials must be evaluated by an approved agency such as the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy. When the evaluation shows gaps, NYSED can require additional coursework before accepting the application, and foreign-educated files typically take longer to process. Applicants who did not graduate from a CAPTE-accredited program are also generally required to complete supervised clinical experience in an NYSED-approved facility under a licensed PT with at least three years of experience, who submits progress reports to the department.2New York State Education Department. Physical Therapist – Application Status
Every initial applicant must also complete two hours of training on identifying and reporting child abuse and maltreatment, a cross-profession requirement under New York Education Law. Under 2024 amendments to Social Services Law Section 413, mandated reporters must also complete updated training covering recognition of abuse in children with intellectual or developmental disabilities by November 17, 2026.3New York State Education Department. Mandated Training Related to Child Abuse
Passing the National Physical Therapy Examination
New York uses the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), a multiple-choice test administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). It covers patient evaluation, clinical decision-making, and therapeutic interventions. A scaled score of 600 or higher passes.4Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Understanding the NPTE
Candidates register with FSBPT and pay a $485 registration fee plus a small processing surcharge. Prometric testing-center fees are charged separately.5Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Exam Registration and Payment FSBPT caps attempts at three consecutive and six lifetime per exam level. After three straight failures, you cannot immediately register for the next date, and any remediation beyond that point depends on the jurisdiction, so contact NYSED directly if you find yourself there.6Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. NPTE Eligibility Requirements
One point worth clearing up, because other sources get it wrong: New York does not require a separate jurisprudence exam. An FSBPT reference guide covering all U.S. jurisdictions lists New York as “Not Required.”7Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Jurisdiction Licensure Reference Guide – Jurisprudence Exams
Application Forms and Fees
You apply through NYSED’s Office of the Professions. The state fee totals $294, combining a $115 application fee and a $179 first registration fee (the registration fee includes a $45 continuing education charge).8New York State Education Department. Fees – Office of the Professions Three forms do most of the work:
- Form 1, the application for licensure, is submitted online with the $294 fee and covers your personal information, educational history, and professional conduct disclosures.9New York State Education Department. Online Form 1 – Application for Physical Therapist
- Form 2, the certification of professional education, is sent to NYSED directly by your school. If you attended more than one, each institution sends its own Form 2.
- Form 3, verification of out-of-state licensure, is required only if you are already licensed elsewhere. It confirms your prior status but waives none of New York’s requirements.
NYSED posts a rolling processing date on its site showing which applications are currently under review, and asks that you wait at least six weeks after submitting all documents before requesting a status update. Status inquiries go through the online contact form, not by phone, and foreign-educated applications take longer.2New York State Education Department. Physical Therapist – Application Status
Add the $485 NPTE fee, fingerprinting, and any credential evaluation for foreign-trained candidates, and total out-of-pocket for initial licensure runs roughly $800 to $1,000 for domestic graduates, and more for internationally trained applicants.
Fingerprint Background Check and Past Convictions
New York runs a fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the FBI.10Division of Criminal Justice Services. Criminal and Civil Fingerprinting Services A criminal record is not an automatic bar, but any arrests or convictions must be disclosed on your application.
When something comes back on the check, NYSED reviews the application under New York Correction Law Section 753, which requires licensing agencies to weigh eight factors: the state’s public policy favoring employment of people with convictions, whether the offense is job-relevant, how much time has passed, your age at the time, the seriousness of the offense, evidence of rehabilitation, the public safety interest, and whether you hold a certificate of relief from disabilities or certificate of good conduct, which creates a presumption of rehabilitation.11New York State Senate. New York Correction Law 753 – Factors to Be Considered If you are denied, you can challenge the decision and submit court records, personal statements, and other evidence of rehabilitation.
Working While You Wait: The Limited Permit
If you have finished your degree and filed your licensure application but are still waiting on exam results or NYSED processing, you can apply for a limited permit and begin practicing under supervision. The form is Form 5, and the fee for physical therapists is $70.12New York State Education Department. Physical Therapy Application Forms
A limited permit is good for six months. NYSED can renew it once for justifiable cause, but no one may practice on a limited permit for more than one year total. Work has to take place in an approved setting (a hospital, licensed clinic, nursing home, public health agency, school, or the office of a licensed PT) and the supervising physical therapist must be physically on-site, though direct personal supervision of every patient encounter is not required.13New York State Senate. New York Education Law 6741-A – Limited Permits
After You’re Licensed: Renewal and Continuing Education
Licenses are renewed every three years. The renewal fee is $224, combining a $179 registration fee and a $45 continuing education charge.8New York State Education Department. Fees – Office of the Professions At renewal, you attest that you completed 36 hours of continuing education during the registration period from NYSED-approved providers, and you disclose any new convictions or out-of-state discipline. NYSED audits a portion of renewals, and falsely reporting completion is itself grounds for discipline. Keep your CE records for at least six years.14New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 8 CRR-NY 77.10 – Continuing Education for Physical Therapists
Newly licensed therapists are exempt from CE during their first registration period. Self-study, including online and audio-visual coursework from approved providers, counts toward the 36 hours, and the regulation does not cap how many hours can come from those formats.15Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. 8 NYCRR 77.10 – Continuing Education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants If your registration lapses, you cannot legally practice until you fix it, and you have to make up the CE hours from the prior period. A conditional registration ($224, valid for one year, non-renewable) lets you keep working while you catch up, provided you complete the overdue hours plus one additional hour per month during the conditional year.16New York State Education Department. Physical Therapy Continuing Education FAQ