Physical Therapist Assistant Licensure in Florida
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Timeline 6-9 weeks
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Initial Costs $320
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Renewal Costs $80
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CE Requirements 24 Hours
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Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Physical Therapist Assistant license in Florida, you'll be working with the Florida Board of Physical Therapy. You will submit your application through MQA Online Services. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and transcripts.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get the Ball Rolling: Head over to the MQA Online Services portal to create your account and hit submit on the initial application. This gets you into their system so they can match your incoming documents to your file.
- Background Check: You'll need to complete a Livescan background check. You must use a Livescan service provider approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Make sure you use the specific ORI number found in the application instructions so the results go to the right board.
- Transcripts & Scores: Request your official transcripts be sent directly from your school to the Board. You also need to transfer your NPTE scores via the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
- Jurisprudence Exam: Florida requires you to pass the Florida Laws and Rules Exam. You will register for this exam through the FSBPT website after you've applied.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: Social Security Number, Livescan transaction number/receipt, and your employment history.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from your school), NPTE Scores (sent via FSBPT).
- Exams: Florida Laws and Rules Exam (Jurisprudence).
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Florida:
- Application Fee: $180
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $75 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $65
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $320
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Florida Physical Therapist Assistant renewal happens every two years and is due by November 30 of odd-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $80.
Note: Florida requires you to report all continuing education hours to CE Broker before you can renew your license.
CE Requirements
24 Hours required every two years.
Deadline: November 30th of odd-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: For your Travel Physical Therapist Assistant CEUs, Florida limits home-study to a maximum of 12 hours per biennium. The remaining 12 hours must be "Live" contact hours, which can include interactive, real-time webinars.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be approved by the Florida Board of Physical Therapy or the APTA/FPTA. General portals like MedBridge are accepted as long as the specific course is Florida-approved.
Mandatory Topics
- Prevention of Medical Errors (2 hours)
- Florida Laws and Rules (2 hours)
- Human Trafficking (1 hour)
- HIV/AIDS (1 hour - required for the first renewal only)
- Jurisprudence: The 2-hour Laws and Rules course serves as the required update on the Florida Physical Therapy Practice Act.
Excluded Topics: Courses concerning professional organization business, management, or marketing; basic CPR/First Aid; and courses not directly related to the clinical practice of physical therapy.
New Licensee Rule: If you are licensed in the second year of the biennium, you are exempt from the general 24-hour requirement but must still complete 2 hours of Medical Errors and 1 hour of HIV/AIDS.
Reporting: Florida is a CE Broker state. You must ensure all hours are reported in the CE Broker system to successfully renew your license.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Florida Board of Physical Therapy:
- Address: PO Box 6330 Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (850) 245-4373
- Fax: (850) 414-6860
- Email: MQA.PhysicalTherapy@flhealth.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 Florida, you'll be working with the Florida Board of Physical Therapy. You will submit your application through MQA Online Services. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and transcripts.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get the Ball Rolling: Head over to the MQA Online Services portal to create your account and hit submit on the initial application. This gets you into their system so they can match your incoming documents to your file.
- Background Check: You'll need to complete a Livescan background check. You must use a Livescan service provider approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Make sure you use the specific ORI number found in the application instructions so the results go to the right board.
- Transcripts & Scores: Request your official transcripts be sent directly from your school to the Board. You also need to transfer your NPTE scores via the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
- Jurisprudence Exam: Florida requires you to pass the Florida Laws and Rules Exam. You will register for this exam through the FSBPT website after you've applied.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: Social Security Number, Livescan transaction number/receipt, and your employment history.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from your school), NPTE Scores (sent via FSBPT).
- Exams: Florida Laws and Rules Exam (Jurisprudence).
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Florida:
- Application Fee: $180
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $75 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $65
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $320
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Florida Physical Therapist Assistant renewal happens every two years and is due by November 30 of odd-numbered years.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $80.
Note: Florida requires you to report all continuing education hours to CE Broker before you can renew your license.
CE Requirements
24 Hours required every two years.
Deadline: November 30th of odd-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: For your Travel Physical Therapist Assistant CEUs, Florida limits home-study to a maximum of 12 hours per biennium. The remaining 12 hours must be "Live" contact hours, which can include interactive, real-time webinars.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be approved by the Florida Board of Physical Therapy or the APTA/FPTA. General portals like MedBridge are accepted as long as the specific course is Florida-approved.
Mandatory Topics
- Prevention of Medical Errors (2 hours)
- Florida Laws and Rules (2 hours)
- Human Trafficking (1 hour)
- HIV/AIDS (1 hour - required for the first renewal only)
- Jurisprudence: The 2-hour Laws and Rules course serves as the required update on the Florida Physical Therapy Practice Act.
Excluded Topics: Courses concerning professional organization business, management, or marketing; basic CPR/First Aid; and courses not directly related to the clinical practice of physical therapy.
New Licensee Rule: If you are licensed in the second year of the biennium, you are exempt from the general 24-hour requirement but must still complete 2 hours of Medical Errors and 1 hour of HIV/AIDS.
Reporting: Florida is a CE Broker state. You must ensure all hours are reported in the CE Broker system to successfully renew your license.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Florida Board of Physical Therapy:
- Address: PO Box 6330 Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (850) 245-4373
- Fax: (850) 414-6860
- Email: MQA.PhysicalTherapy@flhealth.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.