- What is the Compact license/ privilege as a travel PT?
- How will the Compact license affect me as a traveler?
- Can I use a Compact license to travel?
- What states are a part of the PT Compact ?
The Compact Privilege is an agreement between participating states to make reciprocity and licensing between participating states faster and easier. For example, if your home state is CO (in the Compact), and you want a license in NC (another state in the Compact), the process is within hours instead of weeks.
Pros: It’s easy to get a license as a traveler, if your state participates.
Cons: Competition for jobs is greater between travel PTs in Compact States because any PT with a Compact privilege can apply for positions, so the pool of candidates is bigger for positions in Compact States.
However, in order to participate in the Compact Privilege, your home state MUST participate in the compact. If it is not, you cannot participate in the compact, and you have to go through the normal licensure process for the state. It’s not enough to just get a license in a participating state. It must be your HOME state. For example, my home state is FL, and it is not in the compact, so I have to go through the process to get individual licenses and cannot use the compact privilege. With that being said, since it is so easy and quick to get compact state licenses, if your home state IS in the compact, I would not recommend getting other compact licenses unless you KNOW that you are going to use them. Because if you need a license in a compact state, you can get it within days or even hours.
If your home state is in the compact license, GREAT! This will give you the opportunity to get licensed quickly in other compact states. However, if your home state is not in the compact license, (ptcompact.org) you cannot participate in it, and you have to get licensed individually in each state. If your home state is NOT in the compact, I recommend getting licensed in other NON Compact states, because the amount of therapists that can apply to those jobs is only limited to those who have licenses in those states, and is not open to ANYONE with a compact license.
Click here for the Official Physical Therapy Compact Licensurewebsite.
