Maryland licenses physical therapists and PT assistants through the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners in the Maryland Department of Health. Expect the process to take up to 60 business days, mostly waiting on other organizations. 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.
Maryland 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
$150 application (COMAR 10.38.07.02)
$150
Law exam
MD JAM through FSBPT: $65, 90% to pass, unlimited attempts
Same
Background check
Criminal background check (Maryland DPSCS)
Same
Temporary license
90 days, licensure-by-examination applicants only
Same
PT Compact
Member, issuing and accepting privileges. A PT or PTA licensed in another member state can buy a Maryland compact privilege instead of a full license, and a Maryland license held where you live lets you buy privileges in the other member states. (PT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
Maryland, step by step
Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (Maryland Department of Health)
Apply to the board and pay the $150 application fee. Maryland law does not let a health board require proof of lawful presence or a Social Security number.
The NPTE: register with FSBPT.
Maryland JAM: every applicant, by exam or endorsement, must pass the Maryland Jurisprudence Assessment Module through FSBPT: $65, and you need 90% to pass (most states' JAMs need 80%). There is no limit on attempts.
Criminal background check: see the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services background checks page linked from the board.
Temporary license (optional): only licensure-by-examination applicants may request a temporary 90-day license.
Timing: allow up to 10 business days for a received document to post to your application, and up to 60 business days overall. Renewal is $325 (PT) or $300 (PTA) every two years.
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.