Physical Therapist (PT)

Renewal Information

For a list of renewal dates please see: Renewal Date Page

To Renew:

You will be able to renew your credential approximately 4 weeks prior to your license expiring. You will receive an email to the email address on file with instructions on how to renew.

1. ​Online Log In: Go to LicensE

2. Select "Renew My License"

3. Complete the application

4. Upload any required documents

5. Submit payment

6. See fees list here: Credential Fees

Physical therapists are required to complete at least 30 contact hours of approved continuing education during each biennial (2 year) registration period.  In addition, at least 4 contact hours of the 30 must be in ethics and jurisprudence.

Please consult PT 9.04 for approved providers and activities.

Continuing education is not required during the biennium when license was first issued.

Renewal Period

The two-year reporting period runs from:

March 1 of an odd-numbered year through February 28 of the next odd-numbered year

(example: March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2027).

To become licensed as a physical therapist in Wisconsin, you must complete the following examination requirements:

• Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).

• Pass the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code Examination, an open-book exam covering Wisconsin laws and rules related to the practice of physical therapy.

• Complete an oral examination, if required by the Physical Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board.

The oral examination is only required in certain situations, as determined by the Board.

Exam

You must register directly with and pay the required fee(s) to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).

Score Transfers

If you want to transfer your National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) scores from one state or jurisdiction to another, contact the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) Exam Application Processing & Score Transfer Service.

For questions or to understand more about transferring exam scores, email fsbptap@proexam.org

Results

Exam results are reported to the Wisconsin licensing board by FSBPT, per applicant instructions.

The passing score for Physical Therapist Assistant is 85%. You will receive your exam name, password and student ID to take this test after you submit your application.

Open-Book Exam Content:

The exam content is drawn from applicable state statutes and administrative code chapters specific to the profession. The purpose of the exam is to familiarize yourself with locating the statutes and administrative code that regulate the practice of the profession.

The state exam consists of material taken from the following statutes and code chapters:

PT 2

PT 3

PT 4

PT 5

PT 6

PT 7

PT 8

PT 9

Chapter 48

Chapter 252

Chapter 440

Chapter 448

Chapter 940

Instructions:

1. Instructions for the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules exam will be emailed to applicant within 30 minutes of submitting application including exam fee.

2. Be sure to select "Test Launching” not “Test Administration”

3. The exam is not timed. You may exit and return to the test any time over the next 3 months. Exit by clicking the “X” at the top right-hand corner of any screen.

4. Do not click “Done” until you are ready to submit the exam. If you accidentally click done before you are ready to submit your exam, just go back in and start again. Your first score will be deleted.

5. Print out a copy of your score report and retain it for your own records.

6. Exam results will be forwarded to DSPS once a week and will be manually added and reviewed in your application.

7. You will receive an email from LicensE when your exam scores have been added to your application.

8. Your Due Diligence page will be updated after your score has been reviewed.

Retake:

If you fail the exam, you must pay the $75 retake fee and retake the exam. Once you receive your exam results email from DSPS, log into your LicensE account, go to Check Application Status, click arrow under Action (turn phone sideways to see option on far right) and select JP Exam to pay the $75.00 retake fee to the Department. Instructions for the exam will be emailed when your fee is processed.

Questions:

Additional technical or exam content-related questions can be answered by logging into your LicensE account, click on Request Support in the blue ribbon and submit your specific questions.

Oral Examination must only be completed if needed. Please see Wisconsin Administrative Code Pt2 for more information.

An applicant may be required to complete an oral examination if he/she:

1. has a medical condition which in any way impairs or limits the applicant's ability to practice physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant with reasonable skill and safety;

2. uses chemical substances so as to impair in any way the applicant's ability to practice physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant with reasonable skill and safety;

3.  have been diagnosed as suffering from pedophilia, exhibitionism or voyeurism;

4. has within the past two (2) years engaged in the illegal use of controlled dangerous substances;

5. has been subject to adverse formal action during the course of physical therapist or physical therapist assistant education, postgraduate training, hospital practice, or other physical therapist or physical therapist assistant employment;

6. has been disciplined or had licensure denied by a licensing or regulatory authority in Wisconsin or another jurisdiction;

7. has been convicted of a crime, the circumstances of which substantially relate to the practice of physical therapist or of a physical therapist assistant;

8.  has not practiced physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant for a period of three (3) years prior to application, unless the applicant has graduated from a school of physical therapist or physical therapist assistant within that period;

9. has graduated from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant school not approved by the Board.

An applicant who meets any of the above criteria (1-9) will be reviewed by the Physical Therapy Examining Board members. The Board shall determine whether the applicant is eligible for a regular license without completing an oral examination.

All examinations shall be conducted in the English language. Where both written and oral examinations are required, they shall be scored separately, and the applicant is required to achieve a passing grade on both examinations to qualify for a license. If you are selected to appear for an oral examination, you will be advised of the date upon completion of your application.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), TWE, TSE must only be completed by candidates who graduated from a school of physical therapy assistant in which English was not the primary language see TOEFL website for more information. 

• You can pay all fees associated with your credential by going to LicensE. 

• You will be asked to pay automatically at the end of your application. 

• You can pay with a credit or debit card, or via an automated clearing house or (ACH) payment.  

Please note, using an ACH payment can increase credential processing times by 3-5 business days.

You can view a list of fees for initial credentials and renewing your credential here: 

Credential Fees

The term credential is used universally to mean license, certification, permit, registration, enrollment and authorization.

• Applicants with convictions, who do not already have a credential, may apply for a predetermination. Predetermination is an optional, first step that happens before you would submit an initial credential application while meeting all credentialing requirements (e.g., education, training, examination, etc.)

  • To apply for a predetermination, log into LicensE.

  • If you have not created an account, you will first need to register.

  • After creating your account, log in, and select “Apply for a Pre-Determination.”

  •   Select the type of credential you would like to apply for.

  •   Follow all application instructions and upload all required documents.

• If the Department decides your record would not disqualify you, you can then apply for the actual credential and meet all the typical requirements like education, training, and exams.

• You may skip the predetermination process and submit your initial application for your credential. You must complete all steps to meet the credentialing requirements such as education, training, exams, and disclose your conviction record on your application.  Convictions and pending charges will be reviewed as part of the application process.

• Some applications require review by Department Legal staff.   

• This can be for a number of reasons, including but not limited to disclosure of convictions or pending charges, professional discipline, malpractice, termination, medical condition, supervised experience and application via reciprocity/endorsement.   

• Applications that require legal review will require additional processing time.  

• An application in the status “Legal File Preparation” is with DSPS and under review. 

Support Ticket
Submit a support ticket on LicensE and click "request support." Please provide as much detail as possible regarding your concern so we can work to answer your question with a one touch resolution. 

Call
608-266-2112

Email
dsps@wisconsin.gov

Office Hours
7:45am-4:30pm
Department of Safety and Professional Services
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI, 53705

Note: The in-person office does not process same day.

• LicensE at (license.wi.gov) is a self-guided online system where you can manage your professional credential from start to finish. 

• You will still need to review the requirements for the credential you are applying to. These can be found on the A-Z profession page. 

• With LicensE you can: 

  • Apply for a credential for the first time, with steps guiding you to upload your application documents, and pay all required fees.  

  • Renew an existing credential when it is time, to keep your credential active.  

  • View or download your credential for your records or verification.  

  • Update your personal information, including your phone number, email, and mailing address 

  • Submit support tickets and receive responses to your email from our staff experts.  

  • Allow third parties to review and upload required documents on your behalf 

  • Check the status of someone's credential using the public LicensE look up. 

• If you have never held a credential, you will need to create an account the first time you are on LicensE. 

  • To create an account, visit LicensE. You will then select “register for an individual” if you are applying for a license held by an individual, or “register for an organization” if you are applying for a license held by an organization.  

  • If you are not sure if the license you are applying for is an individual or organization license, please visit our A-Z professions page and review the profession page for more information.  

• When you create an account, please be sure to use an email you will always have access to.  

• For more information on LicensE, please see link to LicensE "How To" Page.