What is a Compact Privilege?

A Compact Privilege is the authorization to work in a Compact member state other than your home state. To be eligible for a Compact Privilege, you must hold an active PT or PTA license in your home state and meet other eligibility criteria, such as having no disciplinary action against your license for at least two years. When eligibility is verified and all fees are paid, you receive the Compact Privilege and may begin legally working in the other remote state.

How long is the process to obtain a Compact Privilege?

Once launched, eligible PTs and PTAs will be able to obtain Compact Privileges through a convenient, online verification and purchase process. In most cases, Compact Privileges will be issued within minutes of purchase.

Do I need a separate Compact Privilege for each state in which I want to provide physical therapy services?

You will need to have a Compact Privilege in each state in which you want to provide physical therapy services. You may have a Compact Privilege or a license to work legally in a member state. You need to hold a license to practice/work in non-member states.

Can both physical therapists and physical therapist assistants obtain Compact Privileges?

Yes, eligible PTs and PTAs can purchase Compact Privileges.

What is the governance structure of the PT Compact Commission?How long must a PT or PTA have a license and be practicing/working to be eligible to obtain Compact Privileges?

There is no requirement regarding the length of time a PT or PTA must hold a license or be practicing/working to be eligible to obtain Compact Privileges.

How is a licensee’s home state defined?

As defined by Commission Rules, a licensee’s home state means the person’s true, fixed, and permanent home and is the place where the person intends to remain indefinitely, and to which the person expects to return if absent without intending to establish domicile elsewhere. Special exceptions this rule is provided for active duty military and their spouses.

How do I determine my home state if I am active duty military or a military spouse?

In order to support military members and their families’, alternatives to the home state definition are specified in the Commission Rules. For the purposes of the PT Compact only, active duty military and military spouses may define their home state of residence as one of the following:

• “Home of Record” means the military personnel’s State of Legal Residence on record with the military.
• “Permanent Change of Station” or “PCS” means the state of the duty station noted in the active duty military personnel’s PCS orders.
• “State of current residence” means the state in which the active duty military personnel or spouse is currently physically residing.

How is a remote state defined?

A remote state is a PT Compact member state other than the licensee’s home state, where the individual is exercising or seeking to exercise the Compact Privilege.

Who is eligible to purchase a Compact Privilege?

In order to purchase and maintain a Compact Privilege, you must meet each of these requirements:

1. Hold a current, valid PT or PTA license in your home state, as defined in Commission Rules.
2. Your home state must be a member of the PT Compact.
3. You cannot have any active encumbrances against any PT or PTA license.
4. You cannot have any disciplinary action against any PT or PTA license for a period of two years.
5. The state where you are seeking a Compact Privilege must be a member of the PT Compact.

How much does a Compact Privilege cost?

The fee to purchase Compact Privilege varies from state to state. There is a $45 Commission fee and an optional state fee charged for each Compact Privilege. A list of state fees will be available soon.

What continuing competence requirements must be met?

Continuing competence requirements vary from state to state. You only need to meet the continuing competency requirements of your home state license. You do not need to meet the continuing competence requirements for the state in which you hold a Compact Privilege.

What jurisprudence requirements must be met?

Each member state may require individuals seeking a Compact Privilege to meet an optional jurisprudence requirement. These requirements vary from state to state. It is recommended that you review the requirements of each member state prior to purchasing a Compact Privilege since failure to adhere to jurisprudence requirements may lead to loss of all Compact Privileges. A list of the jurisprudence requirements will be available soon.

Are fees waived for active duty military, military spouses, or veterans?

Some member states have chosen to waive their state fees for current or former members of the military and their spouses. Individuals who indicate they are active duty military, military spouses, or veterans and provide required proof will have the state fees waived in the states where it is applicable. There is no waiver of the Commission fee. A list of member states waiving fees will be available soon.

What information will I need to obtain a Compact Privilege?

Once launched, the online system will require PTs and PTAs to login using their Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy Identification (FSBPT ID) number and password. The system will verify eligibility and ask registrants to complete and update basic contact information, etc. Respective license information provided by state boards of physical therapy will be automatically connected to the corresponding individual’s account.

Is there a time limit that someone can practice on a Compact Privilege in a remote state?

All Compact Privileges expire on the same date as the home state license. The licensee must renew their home state license before they can renew the Compact Privilege if they want to continue practicing with the remote state.

Which state’s scope of practice must be used when practicing under a Compact Privilege?

A Compact Privilege allows the privilege holder to practice physical therapy in a remote state under the scope of practice of the state where the patient/client is located. Links to the scope of practice for member states will be available soon.

Does a Compact Privilege allow the privilege holder to practice via telehealth in a remote state?

A Compact Privilege allows the privilege holder to practice physical therapy in a remote state under the scope of practice of the state where the patient/client is located, whether the practice is in-person or via telehealth.

What is an adverse action?

An adverse action is a publicly available disciplinary action taken against a license or compact privilege by a Licensing Board. Adverse action does not include non-disciplinary remediation required by the Licensing Board.

What is an encumbrance?

An encumbrance is any action taken by the Licensing Board that limits the practice or work of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. An encumbrance may be disciplinary or non-disciplinary in nature.

How and when do I self-report an encumbrance or adverse action?

What happens to my Compact Privileges if one of my licenses is encumbered or receives an adverse action?

An individual immediately loses any and all Compact Privilege(s) upon the effective date of either of the following actions taken by a Licensing Board:

• Adverse action taken against a license or Compact Privilege; or
• Encumbrance placed upon the individual’s license or Compact Privilege.

More details regarding the effect of encumbrances and adverse actions on compact privileges are provided in Section 3.3 of the Rules.

Where can I get additional information on the PT Compact?

Additional information about the PT Compact is available on www.ptcompact.org. Individuals can join the PT Compact Commission email distribution list here. Additionally, emails can be sent to info@ptcompact.org or by using the contact form.

When will the Commission begin issuing compact privileges?

The first member states began issuing compact privileges on July 9, 2018. Please note, however, that not all states are ready to issue compact privileges. Your home state must be a member of the PT Compact and actively issuing compact privileges in order to be eligible to get compact privileges in other issuing states. Please consult the PT Compact map to determine which states are actively issuing compact privileges.

How can I get my Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) ID and Password?

Your FSBPT ID and Password can be retrieved here.

Will I receive a paper certificate and/or wallet card?

The Commission does not provide certificates or wallet cards associated with a compact privilege. Purchase confirmation information can be printed after purchase is completed and an email will be sent to the email on file. Public verification of compact privilege holders can be done at ptcompact.org\verification.

Who can I contact if I still have not found an answer to my question?

Contact the PT Compact Commission through the contact form, by calling 703-562-8500 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern), or emailing info@ptcompact.org.