California Physical Therapy License Requirements

California is often viewed as the hardest state to get your physical therapy license in, and for good reason in most cases.  However, recently, I tamed this beast and received my license in what I consider to be record breaking time.

Some things like the processing speed of your application are out of your control.  However, you are able to control how quickly you can put together your application and get the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC) all of their required documents and information.  

This can be done by first knowing what all needs to be completed, and then organizing it in a way to maximize the speed.  I feel like after getting my license completed in under a month that I have mastered this process and want to attempt to show others how to do the same. 

Steps You Can Perform Prior to Starting Your Application

The following steps are steps that you can perform prior to submitting your application if you know you want to begin getting things prepared prior to when you actually plan to submit your application for your license. This will save you time once you begin the application process.  

The board recommends not completing this preparation prior to 30 days from application submission but I will touch on time frames with each requirement since I don’t believe this to be the case in all requirements. 

1. Register for the California Jurisprudence (Law) Exam
   • To register for the “CAL-Law” Exam, go to the FSBPT website, login and click the box “JAM and Jurisprudence” then follow the prompts. 
   • When you submit, you will receive your “Authorization to Test” (ATT) form within 48 hours which is needed to sign up for a test time.
   • Once you apply for and receive your ATT form, you will only have 60 days to take your test, so prepare accordingly. 
   • Cost: $66
2. Study for and Take the CAL-Law Exam
   • Take your ATT form and register for a testing time at a Prometric testing center
   • Cost: $29.50
   • I recommend studying for 1 week prior to taking your test.
     • Note: Do not take the test lightly. It’s a 50 question/1 hour test that is completed at a Prometric testing center.  I made the mistake of taking my AZ law exam lightly assuming it would all just be common sense and I failed…Not only is it embarrassing, it delays your license and costs more money to retake.
   • Click here to find out how to get access to my FREE CAL-LAW Study Guide!
     • It helped me pass my test on my first attempt.  This way you won’t have to actually study boring law code like I did for my test
   • Your test scores will be directly sent from Prometric to the PTBC, so no need to worry about transferring the scores yourself
3. Take a Passport Style Photo
   • Size: 2” x 2”
   • Must be in Color
   • White Background, clear image, whole head centered, nothing covering your face
   • Taken within 30 days prior to submitting your application.  
     • Very lenient as no submission of proof is required.  As long as there isn’t some large change to your appearance 6 months is viable. 
   • Cost: $15-$20 at CVS, Walgreens etc. (which I recommend as they have the technology to center your head appropriately which will prevent possible denial)
4. Create a Work Resume
   • A document that lists all your physical therapy employment since graduation.  
     • List the facility, location, job title and dates
   • This is required for your application but it will save you time to complete this prior to beginning your application
   • Only required when applying by endorsement (i.e. you have your PT license in another state already)
   • No time limit on how early you can put together this list
   • Cost: $0
5. Have your PT school send a completed “Certificate of Completion” (P1E) Form to the PTBC
   • Form is located on the PTBC website
   • Every school will have a different process.  Some have a formal request process whereas mine simply required an email with the P1E form attached as a pdf
     • I would include some formal instructions of where to send the completed form and some please and thank yous to speed the process up. 
   • The board asks that the form isn’t sent to them prior to 30 days before you complete your application.  However, between your school’s processing time and the time it takes for the form to get there and be processed by the PTBC, I feel you can start this step around the 45 day mark from when you submit your application. 
   • Cost: $0-$25 (some schools charge a small fee for this task)
6. Transfer NPTE Scores to PTBC
   • This is accomplished by logging into your FSBPT account, click “score transfer to state”, and then follow the prompts.
   • Try to send no more than 30 days prior to submitting your application
   • Cost: $85
7. Obtain a Fingerprint Card
   • I highly suggest if you are in a neighboring state to CA or are visiting to perform the live scan fingerprints.  It may even be worth it to plan a vacation to CA to get these scans done before laying on the beach.
     • This is only available in CA but available to all non-CA residents
     • Very easy. Take completed “live scan service form” (available at PTBC) to any of the numerous live scan locations. Takes 5 minutes and they submit it for you.
     • Always request prints for both DOJ and FBI
     • Do not fingerprint 30 days before application submission. 
   • Out of state applicants who won’t be visiting CA must request a hard copy fingerprint card which will be mailed to the applicant.
     • The applicant will then be required to take the card to any authorized fingerprint roller, get prints taken, mail the card back to the PTBC, who then mails the card to the DOJ. 
     • The kicker is that the hard copy fingerprint card will not be mailed to the applicant until AFTER the application is submitted. So this can add to delay times.
   • Cost: $49 Fingerprint Processing Fee ($32 for DOJ, $17 for FBI)
     • $10-$40 for live scans or hard copy fingerprints.  (cheapest tends to be local police stations)
8. Prepare any license discipline information, evidence of honorable discharge, evidence of marriage or partnership with an active military member
   • Only if applicable.
9. Complete and submit “Disability Accommodation Request” (D1) form if applicable.
   • Only if applicable

Note: You do NOT need to put together license verifications.

• Most states require a license verification from every state you have or have had your license in.
  • Normally this accomplished by the applicant
  • In CA, this is accomplished by the PTBC
  • I repeat: You DO NOT need to gather your license verifications, the PTBC will do it for you.  
  • I even called the PTBC to verify this since it seemed too good to be true for a person with 6+ licenses now. 

Completing Your Application

You do not have to complete the above in order to begin your application.  The above are just steps that you can perform early and steps that eventually will need to be done.  However, you can begin working on your application while completing the above steps which is what I did. 

1. Create a BeEZe Account
   • This is the location where you will create and fill out your application.
   • It’s a very easy, straightforward application
2. Enter demographic information, education, and general questions regarding eligibility to receive your CA license
3. Report whether or not you need a hard copy fingerprint form
4. Enter ALL of your current and PAST licenses held in other states
   • Will need license number, issue date, and expiration date (if applicable)
   • Again: You do NOT need to verify your license yourself. The board will verify for you once you submit your application.
5. This is where you will attach your work resume, passport photos, “live scan service form” (if applicable), and any other necessary forms regarding disability, disciplinary information, etc.
6. Before you can officially submit, you will need to pay for your license.
   • Cost: $450 (total): $300 (application fee) + $150 (initial licensure fee)

Steps to Perform After the Completion of Your Application

1. Get Your Hard Copy of Fingerprints Take (if applicable)
   • This is the most important thing you need to get done after submitting your application because it can take the longest.
   • If you know you need a hard copy of your fingerprints, I recommend prioritizing the application
     • Note: Get hard prints done at a quality location so they aren’t rejected for mistakes, smudges, etc. 
2. Complete Any of the Remaining Steps Listed Above
3. Wait

Time Breakdown

1. Once the PTBC receives all of the required documents and is able to verify all of your previous licenses they will issue your license.  
2. Everyone likes to assume that the board will issue you your license in 45 days from application submission, but all the board states is that the PTBC will “Acknowledge receipt of application via email within 45 days of receipt”.  
   • The PTBC then “Evaluates application and notifies you of status via email (separate from acknowledgement). If you are eligible, PTBC will also grant license applicant status”
   • If there are deficiencies in your application, the board will notify you in this status update. 
     • Applicant will then fix the noted deficiencies where then the board will “issue license within 45 days of last fulfilled deficiency” 
3. So you can see why people sometimes aren’t the most happy with the PTBC and often plan months in advance to get their license
4. Basically, the faster you get each step done, the faster the board will get the necessary information to process your license request in a timely manner. 
   • The problem, besides the board’s potential processing times, occurs when you are relying on multiple sources to process your requests and send the appropriate information to the PTBC for them to process. 
   • That’s why I recommend sending in all requests before completing your application to avoid delays because the processing time doesn’t start when the application is submitted it starts once the PTBC has ALL required documents and information. 

I was able to get all of my required materials to the board and submit my application in about 1 full month accounting for processing times and studying for the law exam. The PTBC then processed and issued my license in 30 days.  It was amazing.  

So I am not trying to tell you that you can’t get your license quickly in California, but I still recommend planning for the first.  I didn’t plan to start working in CA until June and I began my application process in December to be safe. 

Cost Breakdown

1. Application Fee: $300
2. Initial License Fee: $150
3. Registration for CAL-Law Exam: $66
4. Registration to take CAL-LAW Exam at Prometric Testing Center: $29.50
5. NPTE Score Transfer: $92
6. Certificate of Completion Form (P1E) to School: $0-$25 (depends on school)
7. Passport Photos: $15-$20
8. Fingerprint Processing Fee: $49
9. Fingerprint Rolling Fee: $10-$40 (location dependent)

TOTAL COST: $711.50 – $771.50

Conclusion

Hopefully this helps lay out the process a little bit better and will help you stay on top of all of the required information.  It’s an expensive and time consuming license compared to other states but the opportunities and lucrative pay should make it very worth it!

Let me know if you have any questions!

-Zach