Mississippi licenses physical therapists and PT assistants through the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy. New graduates apply online by examination; applications are not complete until every fee is paid. 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.
Board jurisprudence exam, inside the online application
Same
Background check
Fingerprint and criminal history check; the board mails you a card after you apply
Same
Temporary license
With a Supervision Agreement for Temporary License
Same
PT Compact
Member, issuing and accepting privileges. A PT or PTA licensed in another member state can buy a Mississippi compact privilege instead of a full license, and a Mississippi license held where you live lets you buy privileges in the other member states. (PT Compact, checked October 18, 2026)
Mississippi, step by step
Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy
Apply online by examination (Steps to Licensure in the board's packet) and pay every fee; all are non-refundable: application $125, initial license $150 (PT) or $125 (PTA), and a $50 examination registration fee to the board. The NPTE fee itself goes to FSBPT.
Photo: a current color head-and-shoulders photo (no sunglasses, hats or ID-card photos), uploaded or emailed.
Background check: every new applicant needs a fingerprint and criminal history check; the board mails a fingerprint card once you have started the application and paid. No license until it is reviewed.
Jurisprudence exam: required, and taken through the online application.
Temporary license (optional): complete the Supervision Agreement for Temporary License online; report any change in supervision. Mississippi 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.