Physical Therapist Licensure in California
-
Timeline 9 weeks or more
-
Initial Costs $589
-
Renewal Costs $300
-
CE Requirements 30 Hours
-
Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Physical Therapist license in California, you'll be working with the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC). You will submit your application through the BreEZe Online Services portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your school documents to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Register for the CAL-JAM: California requires a specific jurisprudence exam called the California Jurisprudence Assessment Module (CAL-JAM). Head over to the FSBPT website to register and pay for this. You can take it online, and your scores will be sent directly to the Board.
- Submit Your Application: Create an account on BreEZe and select the application for "Physical Therapist by Endorsement." Hit submit and pay the application fees.
- Handle Fingerprinting: If you are currently in California, you must use Live Scan. If you are out of state, you will need to request Hard Cards through the BreEZe application (answer "Yes" to the hard card question). The Board will mail you a packet with specific cards to use. Do not use generic cards.
- Verify Your Education: California uses a specific form called the Certificate of Completion (P1E). Download this from the Board's website, fill out your portion, and send it to your PT program. They must complete it and send it directly to the Board.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A valid driver's license or ID, your Social Security Number, and a passport-style photo (you may need to upload this).
- Items to Request:
- NPTE Scores: Request a score transfer from FSBPT to California.
- License Verification: Request verification of licensure from every state where you hold or have held a license.
- P1E Form: As mentioned, this must come directly from your school.
- Exams: You must pass the CAL-JAM (Jurisprudence Assessment Module).
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in California:
- Application Fee: $450
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $74 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $65
- Verifications: $0 (if the board charges to verify other licenses)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $589
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: California Physical Therapist renewal happens every two years and is due by the last day of your birth month.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $300.
Note: Watch out—a delinquent fee applies if you renew more than 30 days after your expiration date!
CE Requirements
30 Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: The last day of your birth month during your renewal year.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Physical Therapist CEUs: California currently allows all 30 hours to be completed through home-study or online courses, provided they are from approved providers.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be offered by a provider approved by the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC) or an agency recognized by the board, such as the CPTA. General portals like MedBridge are widely accepted as they maintain approved provider status. Note: 1 CEU is equivalent to 10 hours.
Mandatory Topics
- Ethics, Laws, and Regulations (2 hours)
- Life Support Education (4 hours): Must be comparable to or better than the American Heart Association's Basic Life Support (BLS) course.
- Jurisprudence: While there is no separate exam for renewal, the 2 hours of Ethics/Laws must cover the California Physical Therapy Practice Act.
Excluded Topics: Courses related to business, administration, marketing, or those not directly related to the clinical practice of physical therapy (e.g., financial planning or personal growth).
New Licensee Rule: If you are renewing for the first time and your license expires within two years of issuance, you only need to complete 15 hours (half the standard requirement). Mandatory topics still apply.
Reporting: California is an audit-based state. You do not need to submit certificates unless specifically audited, but you must maintain your records and certificates for at least 5 years.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Physical Therapy Board of California:
- Address: 2005 Evergreen St, Suite 1350 Sacramento, CA 95815
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (916) 561-8200
- Fax: (916) 263-2560
- Email: pt@dca.ca.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
vStart your job search
Find vetted recruiters who have the jobs you want!
Get matched with vetted recruiters from multiple agencies who have the most jobs in your preferences!
How to Apply
To secure your Travel Physical Therapist license in California, you'll be working with the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC). You will submit your application through the BreEZe Online Services portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your school documents to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Register for the CAL-JAM: California requires a specific jurisprudence exam called the California Jurisprudence Assessment Module (CAL-JAM). Head over to the FSBPT website to register and pay for this. You can take it online, and your scores will be sent directly to the Board.
- Submit Your Application: Create an account on BreEZe and select the application for "Physical Therapist by Endorsement." Hit submit and pay the application fees.
- Handle Fingerprinting: If you are currently in California, you must use Live Scan. If you are out of state, you will need to request Hard Cards through the BreEZe application (answer "Yes" to the hard card question). The Board will mail you a packet with specific cards to use. Do not use generic cards.
- Verify Your Education: California uses a specific form called the Certificate of Completion (P1E). Download this from the Board's website, fill out your portion, and send it to your PT program. They must complete it and send it directly to the Board.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A valid driver's license or ID, your Social Security Number, and a passport-style photo (you may need to upload this).
- Items to Request:
- NPTE Scores: Request a score transfer from FSBPT to California.
- License Verification: Request verification of licensure from every state where you hold or have held a license.
- P1E Form: As mentioned, this must come directly from your school.
- Exams: You must pass the CAL-JAM (Jurisprudence Assessment Module).
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in California:
- Application Fee: $450
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $74 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $65
- Verifications: $0 (if the board charges to verify other licenses)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $589
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: California Physical Therapist renewal happens every two years and is due by the last day of your birth month.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $300.
Note: Watch out—a delinquent fee applies if you renew more than 30 days after your expiration date!
CE Requirements
30 Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: The last day of your birth month during your renewal year.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Physical Therapist CEUs: California currently allows all 30 hours to be completed through home-study or online courses, provided they are from approved providers.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be offered by a provider approved by the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC) or an agency recognized by the board, such as the CPTA. General portals like MedBridge are widely accepted as they maintain approved provider status. Note: 1 CEU is equivalent to 10 hours.
Mandatory Topics
- Ethics, Laws, and Regulations (2 hours)
- Life Support Education (4 hours): Must be comparable to or better than the American Heart Association's Basic Life Support (BLS) course.
- Jurisprudence: While there is no separate exam for renewal, the 2 hours of Ethics/Laws must cover the California Physical Therapy Practice Act.
Excluded Topics: Courses related to business, administration, marketing, or those not directly related to the clinical practice of physical therapy (e.g., financial planning or personal growth).
New Licensee Rule: If you are renewing for the first time and your license expires within two years of issuance, you only need to complete 15 hours (half the standard requirement). Mandatory topics still apply.
Reporting: California is an audit-based state. You do not need to submit certificates unless specifically audited, but you must maintain your records and certificates for at least 5 years.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Physical Therapy Board of California:
- Address: 2005 Evergreen St, Suite 1350 Sacramento, CA 95815
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (916) 561-8200
- Fax: (916) 263-2560
- Email: pt@dca.ca.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
v