How to Become a Physical Therapist: A Step-by-Step Guide

In a 3+3 program, three years of preprofessional courses lead into a three-year DPT, so the path takes about six years in all (our calculation from APTA's description). If you complete a bachelor's degree first, add the length of that degree to the three-year DPT.

Steps to Becoming a Physical Therapist

1. Prepare to apply for a doctor of physical therapy program
2. Earn your doctor of physical therapy degree
3. Get approval to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and pass
4. Pass the Exam and Get Licensed
5. Specialization (if desired)

Step 1: Prepare to Apply for a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Doctor of Physical Therapy Application Requirements

The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) lets you use a single online application for multiple DPT programs, and programs that don't participate in PTCAS take applications directly through their own application, according to APTA. Exact requirements vary by program, so check each program's requirements in the PTCAS directory or on the program's own website. For a school-by-school view, see our guide to DPT admissions requirements. Common application requirements include:

• A bachelor's degree, unless the program uses a 3+3 format that combines undergraduate and DPT study (APTA)
• Official transcripts from every U.S. college you attended, sent to PTCAS if you apply through it (PTCAS)
• Volunteer or paid experience working with patients under a licensed physical therapist's supervision, which many programs require (APTA)
• References: many programs require one to four letters of reference (APTA)
• GRE scores: most DPT programs require the GRE, and programs may set minimum scores (APTA). Check our list of DPT GRE requirements

Many programs also require prerequisite coursework, and the courses vary by program, so check what each program requires in the PTCAS directory or on the program's website (APTA). If you're still choosing a major, see the undergraduate degrees DPT applicants commonly hold.

If you're educated in the U.S., you must earn your DPT from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)-accredited program to practice as a physical therapist, according to APTA. If you were educated outside the U.S., your education must instead be found substantially equivalent to a CAPTE-accredited education by a recognized credentialing agency before you can take the national exam (FSBPT).

Check out available physical therapy scholarships.

Step 2: Earn Your Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree

Once you are admitted into a CAPTE-accredited doctor of physical therapy program, you can begin completing your degree. According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), a professional DPT program typically takes three years, and about 77% of the curriculum is classroom and lab study and 23% is clinical education. Although curriculum will vary by program, here is what you can expect:

DPT Coursework

Coursework gives students a strong science background along with training in clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice and practice management. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, a DPT curriculum may include these content areas, among others:

• Biology
• Anatomy
• Cellular histology
• Physiology
• Exercise physiology
• Biomechanics
• Kinesiology
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Pathology
• Behavioral sciences
• Communication
• Ethics and values
• Management sciences
• Finance
• Sociology
• Clinical reasoning
• Evidence-based practice
• Cardiovascular and pulmonary
• Endocrine and metabolic
• Musculoskeletal

On-Campus Lab Work

While completing your DPT program, you will participate in hands-on lab work where you gain hands-on physical therapy experience. Lab study is part of the roughly 77% of the curriculum spent in the classroom and lab, according to APTA.

Clinical Experiences

As you complete your DPT degree, you will complete clinical experiences in physical therapy settings, which make up about 23% of the curriculum. Requirements for clinical experience will vary by school, but students spend an average of 22 weeks in their final clinical experience, according to APTA.

Step 3: Get Approval to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and Pass

To become licensed as a physical therapist in your state, you are required to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). To sit for the exam, you must meet all of FSBPT's eligibility requirements. They include:

• Register for the NPTE through FSBPT and pay the $485 exam fee. You'll also pay a separate Prometric testing center fee ($112 for the PT exam) when you schedule your appointment, along with any state application and jurisprudence exam fees, so your total out-of-pocket cost will be higher than the FSBPT fee alone.
• Have a degree from a CAPTE-accredited program, or education that a recognized credentialing agency has found substantially equivalent
• Stay within FSBPT's attempt limits: no more than three consecutive attempts and no more than six attempts in a lifetime at each exam level, and no more than two scores of 400 or lower since January 1, 2016 (FSBPT)
• Have complied with any FSBPT test security requests and completed any sanctions from an FSBPT disciplinary action
• Be approved by the licensing authority in the state where you plan to be licensed. Depending on the state, that approval comes from the state board or, for CAPTE graduates in states that use FSBPT's alternate approval pathway, from FSBPT (FSBPT). State requirements are described later on this page

Check the full rules on FSBPT's eligibility page before you register, since this list summarizes them and FSBPT's page is the authority.

Those educated in a foreign country will need to meet these additional requirements:

• Proof that your education is substantially equivalent to a CAPTE-accredited education. A credentialing organization authorized to use FSBPT's Coursework Evaluation Tool reviews your education against current U.S. standards (FSBPT)
• Proof of English proficiency, such as TOEFL iBT scores, where your state requires it
• Any additional state requirements needed to gain permission from the state to take the exam
• FSBPT's recommended minimum TOEFL iBT section scores are Reading 22, Listening 21, Writing 22 and Speaking 24. Because TOEFL adopted a 1–6 score scale on January 21, 2026, FSBPT says it defers to ETS guidance, which lists 4.5 for each section, until it sets a new standard (FSBPT). State licensing boards may set different requirements, so be sure to confirm the current TOEFL expectations with the jurisdiction where you plan to seek licensure

Requirements to get approval from your state to take the exam (in addition to the education requirement above: a CAPTE-accredited degree or substantially equivalent education) can be found below. Note that fees do not include the above exam fee and may be a combination of several fees, including application fee, criminal background check, and jurisprudence exam fees, depending on the state. Jurisprudence exams may be part of a state's application to sit for the exam, or may be completed after gaining approval to take the exam. There may also be additional requirements for applying for licensure that are not listed in the table. Always reach out to your state directly to understand the application process, as it varies from state to state.

We checked the fees and requirements in the table below against each state board's published fee schedules, rules and application instructions in October 2026. Where a cell says "confirm with the board," we could not confirm that item from a current official source. Each state name links to the main board source we used, and a "source" link appears in any cell that relies on a different official source. Fees and requirements change, so always verify current fees and requirements directly with your state board before applying.

Fees shown are those the state board charges or lists in its rules for an initial physical therapist license by exam. Unless a row says otherwise, they don't include the NPTE or Prometric fees, jurisprudence exam fees paid to FSBPT, or fingerprinting vendor charges.

Step 4: Pass the Exam and Get Licensed

Once you are approved to take the exam, you schedule your exam date with Prometric and pay Prometric's fee at that time (FSBPT). The NPTE for physical therapists is a computer-based exam with 225 multiple-choice questions in five sections and five hours of testing time, and it is offered on set dates four times a year (FSBPT). Scores are reported on a 200–800 scale, and you must earn at least 600 to pass (FSBPT).

After you pass, your state board issues your license once you have met all of its requirements. FSBPT's requirements and your state's requirements are separate, and you must meet both (FSBPT). Check with your state to make sure it does not need any additional information.

Step 5: Specialization

After licensure, some physical therapists choose a clinical residency, a fellowship or board certification to deepen their practice in one area. None of these is required to practice (APTA).

Clinical Residency

A clinical residency is a postprofessional, planned learning experience that builds advanced knowledge and skills in a defined area of physical therapy practice. Where board certification exists in that specialty, a residency prepares you to take the certification exam. Residencies include one-to-one mentoring, structured coursework and guided learning (American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education).

Clinical Fellowship

A fellowship is a similar postprofessional program focused on a subspecialty area of practice. To enter one, you must have completed a residency in a related specialty area or be an ABPTS board-certified specialist in a related specialty. Like residencies, fellowships include one-to-one mentoring (American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education).

Board/Specialty Certification

Physical therapists can pursue board certification through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). The ABPTS Candidate Guide for the fall 2026 and spring 2027 exams covers certification in cardiovascular and pulmonary, clinical electrophysiology, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics, pediatrics, pelvic and women's health, sports, and wound management (ABPTS Candidate Guide). Primary care was approved as a specialty in 2025, but its first certification exam is expected in 2028 or 2029 (ABPTS).

Under the guide's general rules, you need a current U.S. physical therapist license and either 2,000 hours of direct patient care in the specialty within the last 10 years, with a minimum share of those hours in the last three years, or completion of an accredited residency in the specialty within the last 10 years. Several specialties add their own requirements, and the rules can change from one exam cycle to the next, so read your specialty's addendum in the guide before you apply. You must then pass the specialty's certification exam (ABPTS Candidate Guide).

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Physical Therapist

How long does it take to become a physical therapist?

A professional DPT program typically takes three years, and most programs require a bachelor's degree before you start (APTA). In a 3+3 program, three years of preprofessional courses lead into the three-year DPT, about six years in all (our calculation from APTA's description). The NPTE is offered four times a year, and FSBPT lets you test up to 90 days before graduation, though your state may set a stricter limit (FSBPT).

Can you become a physical therapist with a master's degree?

Not if you're starting a physical therapy education in the U.S. now. For a new U.S.-educated applicant, the route to practice is a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from a CAPTE-accredited program plus a passing licensure exam (APTA). Applicants educated outside the U.S. instead need their education found substantially equivalent by a recognized credentialing agency (see Step 3). To compare entry-level, transition and bridge options, see our guide to types of physical therapy degrees.

How much do physical therapists earn?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapists in the United States had a median annual wage of $102,760 in May 2025. The median covers physical therapists at every experience level, so it is not a starting wage. For pay by state and work setting, see our physical therapist salary guide.

Do physical therapists need a license or a certification?

A license. To practice as a physical therapist, you must pass a state licensure exam (APTA), and you must meet both FSBPT's requirements and your state's requirements (FSBPT). Board certification through ABPTS is a separate, voluntary credential, and you need a current U.S. license before you can apply for it (ABPTS Candidate Guide).