How Do I Apply for a Physical Therapist License?

Create an account, apply and pay online.

The application fee is $120, and the background check fee is $55. Application fees are non-refundable.

Submit a completed background check packet, which will be forwarded after an application is submitted to the board.  The background check fee ($55) is non-refundable. 

The background check requires applicants to submit the following items.  Return the completed items to the address provided below.

1. Two fingerprint cards. Take the fingerprint cards to a local law enforcement agency for completion. 

Note: Applicants may be fingerprinted at other locations; however, the individual providing the service should be familiar with fingerprinting and determining when a set of fingerprints may be illegible.

1. Background check waiver form. Complete and sign the waiver form.  Return the waiver with the fingerprint packets.

Iowa Board of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy
6200 Park Ave. #100
Des Moines, IA 50321

Applicants must provide evidence of one of the following:

• Official transcripts conferring a degree from a nationally-accredited physical therapy program, sent directly to the board office from the college or university.
• If the degree was granted on or before January 31, 2004, the degree must be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. If the degree was granted on or after February 1, 2004, the degree must be a master’s degree or higher.
• Foreign degrees from new graduates are evaluated with the current Course Work Tool (CWT).
• Foreign degrees from applicants previously licensed in another state are evaluated with the CWT in relation to your graduation date. Course Work Tools (CWT) 1 - 6 information from FSBPT.

Applicants must submit proof of passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), sent directly to the board office by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).

• Licensure in Another State if applicable: Applicants that have previously been licensed, registered or certified in another state must provide official verification of licensure for all states in which the applicant has received a license.
  • The license verification must include the following: 
    • Issue date;
    • Expiration date; and
    • Status of license including a reference to any pending or past disciplinary action.

The verification may be printed from another state licensing board’s website if it contains all of the information noted above. If an online verification is not available, the verification must be sent directly from the licensing board(s).

Applicants who have not been issued a license in another state may disregard this requirement.

Note: Applicants that have been previously licensed in another state must also provide evidence one of the following:

1. Proof of completion of 40 hours of board-approved continuing education courses during the two years immediately preceding the Iowa license application submission;
2. Proof of practice as a licensed PT for a minimum of 2,080 hours during the two years immediately preceding the Iowa license application submission (e.g. a letter from the PT’s employer);
3. Proof of serving the equivalent of one year as a full-time faculty member teaching PT in an accredited school of PT for at least one of the two years immediately preceding the Iowa license application submission (e.g. a letter from the PT’s employer); or
4. Proof of NPTE exam passing score within two years immediately preceding the Iowa license application date.

• Foreign-Educated Applicants

Foreign-educated applicants must meet the requirements listed above and also submit evidence of the following:

• Board-approved evaluation of your professional curriculum from FCCPT; and
• Certified proof of passing IBT-TOEFL sent directly from the examination service.