Arizona licenses physical therapists and certifies physical therapist assistants through the Arizona Board of Physical Therapy. The requirements below come from the state's statutes and rules (A.R.S. 32-2022, A.A.C. R4-24) and FSBPT. Everything below comes from the board's own pages and rules, checked October 18, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm on the linked pages before you pay.
Check with your board. PT Ticket is a study aid, not clinical or legal guidance. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), CAPTE, the PT Compact Commission or any state board; NPTE and FSBPT are their marks, used here only to name the exam.
Arizona at a glance
Physical therapist (PT)
PT assistant (PTA)
Exam
NPTE-PT (225 questions, 5 hours), $485 to FSBPT
NPTE-PTA (180 questions, 4 hours), $485 to FSBPT
Board fees
$260 if you apply Sept 1 of an even year to Aug 31 of an odd year; $190 otherwise
Certificate: $160 or $120 on the same schedule
Law exam
AZ JAM through FSBPT: 80% to pass, $48
Check with the board whether PTAs take it
Background check
A valid DPS fingerprint clearance card (A.R.S. 32-2022)
Check with the board
PT Compact
Member, issuing and accepting privileges. A PT or PTA licensed in another member state can buy a Arizona compact privilege instead of a full license, and a Arizona license held where you live lets you buy privileges in the other member states. (PT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
Arizona, step by step
Arizona Board of Physical Therapy
Application packet: a signed, verified application with your education, five years of employment history, criminal and discipline history questions, proof of lawful presence, and the fee (A.A.C. R4-24-201). The PT fee is $260 if you apply between September 1 of an even-numbered year and August 31 of an odd-numbered year, $190 in the other half of the cycle; a PTA certificate is $160 or $120 on the same schedule (R4-24-107).
The NPTE: pass the national exam the board approves, with the original notice of results sent to the board.
Arizona JAM: state law requires PTs to pass a jurisprudence exam on Arizona's PT statutes and rules. Arizona uses FSBPT's AZ JAM: online, 80% to pass, $48 (plus a small card fee). Compact privilege holders take it too.
Fingerprint clearance card: PT applicants must hold a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (A.R.S. 32-2022 and 41-1758.03).
Keep it: active renewal is $160 (PT) or $55 (PTA). Arizona is in the PT Compact.
Every state licenses physical therapists and PT assistants on the NPTE, with the same passing score everywhere (600 on a 200-800 scale): a CAPTE-accredited degree, your state board's application, then NPTE registration with FSBPT ($485 plus Prometric's sitting fee), which your board approves before FSBPT sends your Authorization to Test. The PT exam is 225 questions in 5 hours and the PTA exam 180 questions in 4 hours, both on fixed dates four times a year; you may test 3 times in 12 months and 6 times in a lifetime (FSBPT NPTE Candidate Handbook). The full walk-through: How to get your PT license.