Military Application Process FAQ

Saturday, February 22, 2025
The Board designates the following as a military applicant, and all are eligible to have the application fee portion of payment waived. Proof of military identification (military id, military orders, or military discharge forms) must be submitted to receive a waiver of the application fee.

For the purposes of this document, Military is defined as either a:

  • Military-Trained
  • Active Military Member
  • Active Military Member Spouse
  • Vetera/Veteran Spouse

NOTE: Military Member/Military Member Spouse with active military orders that brought them to the state of North Carolina should consult the Military Information page before beginning an application.

A qualifying military applicant who obtains a North Carolina PT/PTA license is not exempt from the annual license renewal fee.

By completing the on-line application and answering questions concerning military status. An applicant must submit the qualifying documentation of military status for the Board to review and determine eligibility for the fee waiver. If the applicant is not eligible to have the application fee portion of payment waived, Board staff will contact the applicant who must provide payment before the application can be processed.

Active Military Member/Military Member Spouse with active military orders that brought them to the state of North Carolina may practice in NC with a Military Privilege or Compact Privilege if they are licensed in their home state and intend on keeping that license. This is in lieu of getting a NC PT/PTA license.

If the applicant has an active home state license in a state that is a member state of the PT Compact, they must apply for Compact privileges to practice in North Carolina per Public Law - 117-333, Section 19, effective January 5, 2023. ( Visit www.ptcompact.org to confirm your eligibility, find additional information, and purchase a NC PT Compact Privilege.)

Public Law - 117-333, Section 19 also states that if the current, verified license is from a state that is not a member state of the PT Compact, then “practice privileges” are issued by the Board. This privilege ends when the active military orders expire. An active license must be maintained in another state during the period covered by the active military orders. Copies of active military orders, your military ID, a notarized certification statement (found on the last page of the military privilege application), a marriage license/certificate (for military spouses), and license verification from the state in which you hold an active license must be submitted and verified by the Board. Please click here to begin the Military Privilege Application.

NOTE: This law does not preclude active military member/spouse from becoming licensed as a PT/PTA in the state of North Carolina, especially if planning to become a North Carolina resident after the active military orders expire.

A qualifying Military-Trained PTA applicant:
  • has been awarded a PTA military occupational specialty;
  • has practiced as a military-trained PTA for at least two (2) of the five (5) years preceding the date of application;
  • has committed no act in any jurisdiction that would have been grounds for a refusal, suspension, or revocation of a license to practice physical therapy in North Carolina and has no pending complaints;
  • has a substantially equivalent PTA education as compared to a U.S.-educated PTA.
Military-trained PTA applicants need to submit the following documents with their licensure application:
  • • a U.S. Department of Defense Form 214 (DD-214) or similar document that establishes the applicant's military occupational specialty certification and experience; and
  • • documentation proving that the applicant has practiced as a military-trained PTA for at least two (2) of the five (5) years preceding the application.

Veterans and veteran spouses who are applying for licensure and have a current, active PT/PTA license in another U.S. jurisdiction may obtain a temporary permit to practice that expires one year from the date the temporary permit is granted. Once documentation has been received and approved by the Board, a temporary permit will be issued.

The temporary permit holder has one year to complete their application for licensure, and must maintain their current, active PT/PTA license in another U.S. jurisdiction until the North Carolina PT/PTA license is issued.

The application is active for one year from the date of submission after which it will be destroyed if it has not been completed, including the furnishing of all documents and records that are requested. File to be destroyed per the state functional record retention schedule. 

Note: Applicants without a social security number at the time of application should consider waiting to submit an application until after it has been received. A license cannot be granted without a social security number.