Mississippi Physical Therapist Licensing Guide

Mississippi PT License Overview

Mississippi is a PT Compact member state. A Physical Therapist or assistant who lives in another compact state can get a Mississippi privilege to practice instead of a Mississippi license: apply to the Physical Therapy Compact Commission, pay the required fees, and pass the Board's jurisprudence exam. Everyone else applies for a Mississippi license by endorsement (reciprocity).

For travelers, this means you may be able to work in Mississippi on a PT Compact privilege instead of a Mississippi license, provided your home-state license is in another PT Compact state that is also issuing privileges. A compact privilege is something you apply for through the compact before you start; it is not automatic.

How to Get a Mississippi PT License by Endorsement

Mississippi uses an online application endorsement process for Physical Therapists already licensed in another state. You'll need to submit your completed application along with supporting documents and the $125 application fee.

1. Complete the online application for licensure by endorsement/reciprocity, including the online practice history
2. Request verification of every license you have held (active and closed) from each state board, sent directly to the Board (can run concurrently)
3. Pass state jurisprudence examination (can run concurrently)
4. Await board review and license issuance

License verification is handled through direct verification of every license you have held (active and closed), sent to the Board by each issuing state. Request verification early so your application is not delayed.

Confirm the current fingerprinting and background check steps with the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy. Where fingerprinting applies, submit your authorization as early as possible.

Check the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy website for status updates on your application.

Mississippi PT License Fees

Physical Therapist Assistants: renewal is $125 (figures above are for Physical Therapists).

Travelers should factor these licensing costs into their assignment budgeting.

Mississippi Temporary PT License

Mississippi issues temporary physical therapy licenses valid for 60 days, allowing Physical Therapists to begin practicing while their permanent endorsement application is being processed.

Eligibility requirements:

• The completed online licensure application (including fees and practice history) on file and satisfactory to the Board
• Verification of one current license in good standing from a jurisdiction with license requirements equal to or greater than Mississippi's
• A Mississippi address of record where you will live

Issuance timeline:

• The Board has on file, and finds satisfactory, your completed online application, the verification of one current license, and your Mississippi address of record

Denial risks:

• Application found incomplete after initial review (temporary license may be denied pending resubmission)
• Applicant fails jurisprudence exam

Important for travelers: Temporary license automatically revokes if permanent license application is denied after board review. The temporary license lasts no more than 60 days, so the permanent license must be issued by then for you to keep practicing.

Mississippi PT License Processing Time

Mississippi Physical Therapist endorsement applications typically take 4-6 weeks to process.

In the best-case scenario, processing can be as fast as 3 weeks (complete application received, verification obtained via FSBPT within 5 days, jurisprudence exam passed on first attempt, board processes at next available meeting).

Common sources of delay:

• Board review and issuance is sequential (step 4); applications cannot proceed until steps 1-3 complete, creating 4-6 week baseline
• The Board's review starts only after every licensure requirement is on file (it then usually takes one to two days), so one missing document holds up the whole application
• Jurisprudence exam must be completed before board review; delayed exam scheduling or failure extends timeline by 2-4 weeks per attempt

We have not found an expedited processing option on the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy's site. The best way to minimize your wait time is to ensure all application components — fingerprints, verification, and any required exams — are completed before or immediately after submitting your application.

Mississippi PT Continuing Education

Mississippi requires 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years for Physical Therapist license renewal.

• Mandatory topics: 3 hours of study in ethics, professionalism or jurisprudence each licensing period, counted within the total continuing competence requirement

Mississippi PT License Renewal

• Renewal cycle: Every 2 years, expiring June 30 of odd-numbered years if your surname begins with A through L, or of even-numbered years if it begins with M through Z — $150 via Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy portal
• CE topics: 3 hours of study in ethics, professionalism or jurisprudence each licensing period, counted within the total continuing competence requirement
• Late penalty: Renewals filed after June 30 owe a late fee and the license lapses at the end of the licensure period, and if all renewal requirements are not in by September 30 you also pay a reinstatement fee

Mississippi Licensing Board and Resources

Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy

Board Website · Application Portal

Phone: (601) 352-2918

Email: [email protected]