Iowa licenses physical therapists and PT assistants through the Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy in the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL). 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.
Iowa 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
$120 application, non-refundable
$120
Law exam
None listed by DIAL
None listed
Background check
FBI fingerprint check, $55 (Fieldprint, or two paper cards with a waiver form)
Same
PT Compact
Member, issuing and accepting privileges. A PT or PTA licensed in another member state can buy a Iowa compact privilege instead of a full license, and a Iowa license held where you live lets you buy privileges in the other member states. (PT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
Iowa, step by step
Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)
Apply online and pay the $120 non-refundable application fee (PT or PTA).
Background check: required for licensure; the $55 FBI background check fee is non-refundable. After you apply, the board sends instructions. Fieldprint lets you be printed digitally in any state; or request a paper packet, have two cards rolled by a local law enforcement agency and return them with the signed waiver form. A new check is required even if you had one before.
The NPTE: register with FSBPT and have your score released to Iowa.
Compact: Iowa is in the PT Compact, so PTs and PTAs licensed in other member states can practice here on a compact privilege.
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.