Physical Therapist Assistant Licensure in California
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Timeline 9 weeks or more
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Initial Costs $724
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Renewal Costs $300
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CE Requirements 30 Hours
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Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Physical Therapist Assistant 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 transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Create Your Account: Head over to the BreEZe portal to create your account and start the "Physical Therapist Assistant Endorsement" application. This is your hub for the entire process, so keep your login handy.
- Fingerprinting: You’ll need a background check. If you are currently in California, use the Live Scan method (it’s faster). If you are out of state, you must request hard fingerprint cards from the PTBC and have them rolled at a local law enforcement agency.
- Request Transcripts: Even if you are already licensed elsewhere, California requires official transcripts. Request these directly from your school to be sent to the PTBC. Do not send them yourself; they must come from the source.
- Score Transfer: Log in to your FSBPT account and request a score transfer of your NPTE results to California.
- Take the CAL-JAM: Good news—the old "CAL-Law" exam has been replaced by the California Jurisprudence Assessment Module (CAL-JAM). It is an online, on-demand assessment you can take from anywhere. You'll need to complete this before your license is issued.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A valid SSN, a passport-style photo (digital is usually fine for the upload), and your driver's license.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts from your PTA program and your NPTE Score Transfer from FSBPT.
- Exams: You must have passed the NPTE and the new online CAL-JAM.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in California:
- Application Fee: $600
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $74 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $50
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $724
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 Assistant renewal happens every two years and is due by the last day of your birth month.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $300.
Note: You must complete 30 hours of continuing competency to qualify for renewal, so track your credits early.
CE Requirements
30 Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: The last day of your birth month.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Physical Therapist Assistant CEUs: California 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). Major platforms like MedBridge are accepted and commonly used by travelers to meet these requirements.
Note on Units: California uses "Hours." If a provider uses CEUs, 1 CEU is equivalent to 10 Hours.
Mandatory Topics
- Ethics, Laws, and Regulations (2 Hours)
- Life Support Education (4 Hours): Must be comparable to the American Heart Association's Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers.
- 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 dealing with administrative/business aspects of practice (billing, marketing, etc.), personal growth, or financial enrichment.
New Licensee Rule: If you are renewing for the first time and your license expires before the second year of licensure, you only need to complete 15 Hours (half the requirement).
Reporting: California is an audit-based state. You do not need to submit your certificates at the time of renewal, but you must maintain your records 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 Street, Suite 1350 Sacramento, CA 95815
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (916) 561-8200
- Fax: (916) 263-2560
- Email: pta@dca.ca.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
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How to Apply
To secure your Travel Physical Therapist Assistant 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 transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Create Your Account: Head over to the BreEZe portal to create your account and start the "Physical Therapist Assistant Endorsement" application. This is your hub for the entire process, so keep your login handy.
- Fingerprinting: You’ll need a background check. If you are currently in California, use the Live Scan method (it’s faster). If you are out of state, you must request hard fingerprint cards from the PTBC and have them rolled at a local law enforcement agency.
- Request Transcripts: Even if you are already licensed elsewhere, California requires official transcripts. Request these directly from your school to be sent to the PTBC. Do not send them yourself; they must come from the source.
- Score Transfer: Log in to your FSBPT account and request a score transfer of your NPTE results to California.
- Take the CAL-JAM: Good news—the old "CAL-Law" exam has been replaced by the California Jurisprudence Assessment Module (CAL-JAM). It is an online, on-demand assessment you can take from anywhere. You'll need to complete this before your license is issued.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A valid SSN, a passport-style photo (digital is usually fine for the upload), and your driver's license.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts from your PTA program and your NPTE Score Transfer from FSBPT.
- Exams: You must have passed the NPTE and the new online CAL-JAM.
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in California:
- Application Fee: $600
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $74 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $50
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $724
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 Assistant renewal happens every two years and is due by the last day of your birth month.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $300.
Note: You must complete 30 hours of continuing competency to qualify for renewal, so track your credits early.
CE Requirements
30 Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: The last day of your birth month.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Physical Therapist Assistant CEUs: California 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). Major platforms like MedBridge are accepted and commonly used by travelers to meet these requirements.
Note on Units: California uses "Hours." If a provider uses CEUs, 1 CEU is equivalent to 10 Hours.
Mandatory Topics
- Ethics, Laws, and Regulations (2 Hours)
- Life Support Education (4 Hours): Must be comparable to the American Heart Association's Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers.
- 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 dealing with administrative/business aspects of practice (billing, marketing, etc.), personal growth, or financial enrichment.
New Licensee Rule: If you are renewing for the first time and your license expires before the second year of licensure, you only need to complete 15 Hours (half the requirement).
Reporting: California is an audit-based state. You do not need to submit your certificates at the time of renewal, but you must maintain your records 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 Street, Suite 1350 Sacramento, CA 95815
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (916) 561-8200
- Fax: (916) 263-2560
- Email: pta@dca.ca.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.