Applying for Licensure
Applications for PT or PTA licensure are not complete until ALL of the items listed below are received by the Board. Applications must be submitted and approved prior to PT or PTA practice in Oregon. A license to practice will not be issued until all items are received and processed by Board staff.
After submitting an application, the Applicant Portal will show a listing of all required application documents and their status. Please note- the Portal will show documents in a status of "Not Received" until Board staff has reviewed the document and manually updated the status. "Not Received" does not necessarily mean that the document has not been sent to the Board, it simply means that staff have not yet attached it to the application. Documents are reviewed by staff in the order that they are received.
Certain individuals may be able to work prior to receipt of all of the items listed below by requesting a temporary permit. The temporary permit must be issued prior to PT or PTA practice-- see Temporary Permits for additional information.
1) Application and Fee
Applications are submitted online through the Applicant Portal.
The first time that you visit the Applicant Portal, you'll click on "New User? Apply Now" to receive a temporary password allowing you to login and access the application.
Application fees are collected when you submit the application through the Applicant Portal. Fees are nonrefundable. You may pay by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or by Check. Applications are not processed until payment is received.
How does OBPT receive the Application?
Applications are submitted online by the Applicant.
Time Considerations: Applications expire 6 months after they are started, so Applicants should ensure that they will be able to provide ALL the documentation listed on this page within 6 months before beginning the application.
Applications are not considered complete until all documentation on this page has been received. Applications cannot be approved until the application is complete.
Important: Be sure to use a personal email address for your account, not one provided through your employer or school, as you may lose access to your university's email once you are no longer a student or your employment may change.
2) OPMC Pain Management Module
In accordance with ORS 413.572 (1)(c), all applicants must complete this free 1.5-hour course before submitting their application. This course is required at initial licensure and at every renewal for licensees of OBPT and 16 other healthcare Boards. The course
How does OBPT receive the Module?
The completion certificate for the course must be uploaded as part of the application.
Time Considerations: Applicants should complete this module prior to completing the application, as this is a required upload. Applicants will be unable to submit their application without the certificate.
3) Additional Background Information
The application asks if you have or have ever had discipline against a professional license (i.e. reprimand, revocation, suspension, surrender, denial, etc.); arrests, citations, charges, DUIs; physical, mental, or emotional conditions that impact your ability to practice; Unresolved or Pending Complaints or Investigations; or Substantiated Fraud or Abuse Cases.
If an Applicant answers YES to any of the questions on this section of the application, they MUST provide a Detailed Explanation and Upload Supporting Documentation.
Failure to disclose background information or failure to provide accurate and complete details pertaining to background information will delay application processing.
How does OBPT receive the information?
If the applicant answers YES to any of the questions on this section of the application, they will be prompted to upload the applicable documentation. The specific questions asked can be reviewed on the background checks
Time Considerations: Information must be disclosed and documentation must be uploaded with the application submission.
4) National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE)
If you have not yet taken the NPTE:
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is the administrator of the NPTE, and determines if you are eligible to take the exam, issues your “Authorization To Test" (ATT) letter and releases your exam scores. The ATT letter is issued once the FSBPT has a completed online test registration, the registration fee has been paid and your program has verified your graduation date. Once issued, you can then schedule your test date with Prometric. You do not need to complete the Oregon application before registering with the FSBPT. Prometric has test centers located throughout the US.
FSBPT will send your score report to the states that you selected when you registered for the exam approximately one week after the exam. Be sure to designate Oregon to receive your score. If you do not select Oregon as a state that you want your score sent to, you will need to request a score transfer from FSBPT.
How does OBPT receive the exam results?
Results are the Board directly by FSBPT if the applicant has designated Oregon as a score recipient when scheduling the exam. The applicant is responsible for making this designation.
Time Considerations: You may take the NPTE up to 90 days before graduation, but a license cannot be issued until we have received all application materials including an official school transcript showing your degree has been conferred.
If you have already taken the NPTE:
If you are applying in Oregon and you did not previously have your NPTE score report sent to Oregon when you initially took the exam, or at any point subsequently, you must have your NPTE score transferred to Oregon directly from the FSBPT.
How does OBPT receive the exam results?
Exam results are sent to the Board directly by FSBPT after the applicant has submitted a Score Transfer to FSBPT. The applicant is responsible for making this request.
5) Oregon Jurisprudence Assessment Module (OR-JAM)
The OR-JAM is a timed 90-minute exam of 50 multiple-choice questions covering Oregon Statutes and Administrative Rules related to physical therapy.
How does OBPT receive the exam results?
Because the exam is state-specific, ALL OR-JAM results are sent to the Board directly by FSBPT after the exam is completed. Applicants do not need to request that the results be sent to the Board.
Time Considerations: You have 96 hours after purchase to complete the OR-JAM exam. The OR-JAM must be taken within the 6 months immediately preceding your application approval.
6) Proof of Graduation from a CAPTE Accredited* Physical Therapy Education Program
Official transcripts must be sent from your school. Transcripts must show the date that the degree was awarded. Transcripts may be sent by mail or electronically. The Registrar's office handles transcripts at most institutions.
How does OBPT receive the proof of graduation?
The applicant is responsible for contacting their school to request that transcripts be sent. Transcripts must be sent to the Board directly by the applicant's education program. The Board cannot accept transcripts sent by the applicant. OBPT accepts transcripts sent via mail or email. Transcripts should be sent to physical.therapy@obpt.oregon.gov or to the Board's office.
Time Considerations: Transcripts cannot be accepted until they show proof that the degree has been conferred. Applicants who have recently graduated are encouraged to confirm with their school that the transcript will show that the degree has been awarded or conferred before they request a transcript.
7) Criminal Background Check
Applicants must be fingerprinted at a FieldPrint location.
The applicant must provide the Board's FieldPrint code when scheduling their appointment. The code ensures that the results will be sent to OBPT after the state police process them.
IMPORTANT: The FieldPrint code is on step 6 of the application. When you get to step 6, please WRITE DOWN THE CODE- it is not available after you submit your application.
How does OBPT receive the background check results?
FieldPrint sends the fingerprints to the Oregon State Police, who process the background check and send the results directly to the Board.
Time Considerations: The results of the background check must be no more than 6 months old at the time of application approval. Background check processing time varies based on current Oregon State Police workload, so applicants are encouraged to get their fingerprinting done early in their application process.
8) Verification of other PT, PTA, or Healthcare Licenses
If you have ever been licensed as a PT or PTA elsewhere, or if you have held other healthcare licenses, you must provide verification of these licenses.
A copy of your license(s) is not a verification. The Applicant is responsible for providing OBPT with a verification of their license(s).
How does OBPT receive the verification?
Option A) Applicants may upload a PDF of the other state's online license verification while completing the online application. Please ensure that the PDF shows the licensee's full name, license number, date of verification, and whether there has been any discipline against the applicant's license.
Hint: “Print" the verification page showing all of the required information and then select “Save as PDF" as the printer!
Option B) Applicants may contact the other state's PT or other healthcare board and request a license verification be sent to the Oregon Board. This process varies state by state. Many states charge a fee for this service. Contact the
Time Considerations: Verifications must be no more than 90 days old at the time of application approval.
*Applicants who did not graduate from a CAPTE-Accredited Program
If you have any questions on Licensure, please Contact the Board.