Having the freedom to take different jobs in various parts of the country is by far the best, and most obvious, perk of being a travel PT. But it comes at a cost. The sometimes arduous task of obtaining a new state license.
There is the jurisprudence exam, state license fee, FSBPT test score verification fee, and license verification letters – with subsequent fees (of course) that need to be sent to any state you have ever been licensed in. Whew! Thats exhausting just to type out let alone piece all together and mail off. Oh, then you have to wait anywhere from 2-6 months to find out if you’re new license has been granted or not.
But fear not! The PT Compact License is designed to fix all of that!
In case you have yet to hear about the PT Compact License here is a quick summary. Initiated in 2017, the PT Compact Commission was created to provide a vehicle for improved interstate license accessibility while maintaining the safety of the public consumer as set forth by each state’s practice act. The PT Compact Commission has since built up an impressive list of states (21 so far) willing to recognize the validity of PT and PTA licenses from other participating states. The first privileges were then officially granted in July of 2018. While all 21 states have passed legislation to be members, not all states are currently issuing privileges at this time and are still resolving internal issues (or just dragging their feet). At the time of this writing, 9 states are active participants in the compact license process, with more joining every month!
PROs and CONs of the PT Compact License for travelers
PROs
Therapy privileges can be granted in minutes rather than months
Once you take the jurisprudence exam for your new state (often completed online), and pay the necessary fees, you are eligible to begin working in the new state
Low Fees
Compared to sending out license verification fees for each state you have ever had a license, the fees involved with the new PT Compact are very minimal. $45 goes to the PT Compact Commission, and then each state has their own respective fee as well – Most range from $45-60, with the exception of Mississippi at $150 (Come On Mississippi!)
One set of CEUs to manage
Since you do not have a full state license in every state that you obtain privileges for you do not have to maintain their CEUs. The only set of CEUs that you absolutely must follow are that of your home state. Gone are the headache inducing hours of cross checking CEU dates with license expiration dates!
Renewal
So this is one of the coolest aspects of the Compact system. 60 days before your home license expires they will email you a reminder. Once you renew your license at home, the Compact will automatically notify you that you are eligible to renew your Compact Privileges as well (within a week)!
Responsive Admin Team
When I was doing some research for this article I had a few questions that I could not find on their website. Opting to call instead of email I was quickly connected with the lead administrator who thoroughly answered my questions and was exceedingly friendly. This was definitely not the typical experience I have come to expect when dealing with licensing staff at the various states I have worked in. A pleasant surprise.
Telehealth?
While not entirely applicable to the traveler, based on the language written into the Compact Commission it appears that Compact privileges can also be used to treat remotely via telehealth. In a burgeoning field this is super exciting news! Especially for the therapist looking to mix in some patient care in a state where they previously worked as a traveler or will soon work as a traveler. Instead of being limited to one license per job, multiple licenses can be utilized all at once depending on the patients location, not the PTs.
CONs
Few states fully participating
Obviously, if your home state is not a participant you are fully excluded from the entire process… bummer. However, for those of you who are fortunate enough to have a home state proactive enough to join up, your options for states to travel to may be slim pickings. Currently only nine states are fully active. On the positive side they are some pretty cool states. OR, UT, NH and ND all have some great outdoor experiences. TX, TN, MO and MS all have some killer food and Southern hospitality. And IA… well, Field of Dreams is there! Thats something! There are 11 other states on the doorstep to full participation so check the site often to see if your home state or dream location is up and running.
When you renew your home license you have to renew ALL of your Compact Privileges
This will negatively impact folks living in a home state that requires yearly license renewal. These therapists will now have to pay all of the Compact fees again as well as fees to the state they are working in. Now, compared to paying all of the other fees typically involved in maintaining multiple licenses, this very well could end up still being a cost savings, but you will have to do the math on your specific situation to be sure.
Overall the PT Compact License is, or is going to be (once more states get involved) a huge improvement in the logistics of being a travel therapist. Gone are the days of lists of various fees and charges to pay for every new license. Gone are the days of struggling to track CEUs or license expiration dates. If every state were to get involved it would mean 1 license to worry about, one set of CEUs, and only paying fees to states where you are actually working.
This story originally appeared on Healthcare Traveler Today (HCTToday.com). HCT Today is a national news platform dedicated to covering the travel healthcare industry.
Written by: Stephen Stockhausen PT, DPT, OCS
