Verify a Virginia Physical Therapist or PTA Without Guessing
Use this Virginia Physical Therapy Verification guide to confirm a Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant before treatment, hiring, credentialing, interstate practice, renewal or another licensing transaction.
Start with Virginia Department of Health Professions License Lookup. Then match the exact occupation, license number, current status, expiration date and any additional public information before relying on the record.
Quick Answer: How to Do a VA PT License Verification
Open Virginia DHP License Lookup and search by the Virginia license number when you have it. If you do not, select the correct occupation and search by name. Open the complete result and confirm the practitioner, occupation, status, expiration date and additional public information field.
DHP identifies its License Lookup as primary-source verification of credentials issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The free public service is intended for individuals, agencies and employers performing occasional or low-volume searches.
The database includes current licenses and licenses that have expired since January 1, 2000. A searchable historical record therefore does not prove that a therapist is currently authorized to practice.
VerificationLicense.org does not issue Virginia PT or PTA licenses and is not the Virginia Department of Health Professions. Use this page to understand the process, then use the official DHP record for the final verification or licensing action.
Confirm the person before treatment
Match the therapist’s name, occupation, license number and current status. A clinic biography or social profile should not replace the official state record.
Save dated primary-source proof
For credentialing, retain the source, date checked, occupation, license number, status, expiration and review of any public information shown by DHP.
License and compact privilege are different
A home-state PT/PTA license and a PT Compact privilege answer different questions. Verify the applicable authority for the state where the patient is located.
For a broader state-by-state workflow, use our Physical Therapy License Verification nationwide guide.
Virginia Physical Therapy License Lookup: Step by Step
Use this workflow for a patient check, hiring decision, travel-therapy file, payer credentialing, facility onboarding or your own license confirmation.
Open the official DHP License Lookup
Use the Department of Health Professions public database rather than a private people-search or professional-directory page when the result will affect care, hiring or credentialing.
Search by license number when possible
A known license number is normally the cleanest search because it reduces the risk of choosing another practitioner with a similar name.
Otherwise choose the correct occupation
Select Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant before adding the person’s name. Do not assume PT and PTA records are interchangeable.
Use only the filters you actually need
First name, last name, state, ZIP and status can narrow results, but too many filters can hide a valid record when one detail is outdated or entered differently.
Open the full record
Match the practitioner’s name, occupation and license number. Then read the initial license date, expiration date, current status and additional public information field.
Document the verification when it matters
For employment or compliance use, save the official source, date checked, license number, status, expiration and any public Board information reviewed.
DHP limits heavy use of the free lookup. Organizations performing regular or high-volume verification should use DHP Health Professional Data Services rather than repeatedly querying the free public tool.
What Information Can You Use to Search?
Virginia DHP provides three main search methods. Use the least-sensitive option that reliably identifies the correct practitioner.
License number
If you already know the license number, use the dedicated license-number field. This usually gives the most precise result.
Occupation, name, state, ZIP and status
DHP lets users combine these public fields. Selecting “Current Licensees” in the status field is useful when you only want unexpired records.
Last four SSN digits + last name
DHP also provides an SSN-assisted search. Never enter Social Security information into an unrelated third-party website.
Start with occupation plus last name. Add first name, ZIP or status only when the result list is too broad.
How to Read a Virginia PT or PTA License Result
The result should lead to a practical decision. Read status, expiration and public-information indicators together rather than relying on one field.
| Result | What it means | What to do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Active | The license is currently shown in active status for the listed occupation. | Match the person and save the expiration date and date checked. | Assuming “active” means there has never been public Board history. |
| Expired | A historical license record exists, but the credential is not currently active. | Determine whether late renewal or formal reinstatement applies. | Using an old wall certificate as current proof. |
| Inactive | The credential is maintained in inactive rather than active-practice status. | Use the Board’s reactivation process before returning to active practice. | Treating inactive and expired as the same status. |
| Suspended / other restriction | The record has a status that requires further review. | Open associated public information and Board documents. | Relying only on an old license card. |
| Additional Public Information: Yes | DHP has information that must be made publicly available. | Open and read the linked document before drawing a conclusion. | Assuming every posted document represents a finding of violation. |
| No result | Search criteria, profession, name history, state or application status may be the issue. | Retry with fewer filters and the correct occupation. | Treating one failed search as proof the person was never licensed. |
DHP explains that a “Yes” in the additional-public-information field can include proceedings in which a finding of “no violation” was made. Read the underlying record rather than interpreting the flag by itself.
If the person is a physician, physician assistant or another Board of Medicine practitioner, use the Virginia Medical License Verification guide instead.
Need Virginia PT License Verification Sent to Another State?
The free public lookup is appropriate for ordinary primary-source verification, but another licensing jurisdiction may require the Virginia Board to send a formal verification directly.
Use the Board verification request
Submit the current Request for Verification of a Virginia Physical Therapy License when another jurisdiction requires Board-issued verification.
$10 verification fee
The current Virginia Physical Therapy fee regulation lists $10 for a letter of good standing or verification sent to another jurisdiction.
Allow about 5–7 business days
The Board advises allowing five to seven business days after receipt for processing.
The verification includes profession, license number, issue date, expiration date, method of Virginia licensure and available disciplinary information. The Board sends the verification electronically to the jurisdiction designated by the licensee.
Ask the receiving licensing board whether a printed DHP License Lookup record is sufficient or whether it requires a verification sent directly by Virginia.
Virginia PT and PTA Renewal Requirements for 2026
Virginia Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant licenses renew biennially by December 31 of each even-numbered year. The current renewal deadline is December 31, 2026.
December 31, 2026
A PT or PTA who intends to continue practice must renew by the end of the current even-numbered renewal year.
At least 320 hours
Active renewal requires at least 320 hours of active physical therapy practice during the preceding four years.
30 contact hours
Active PT and PTA renewal generally requires at least 30 contact hours of continuing learning during the two years immediately preceding renewal.
Use DHP Online Licensing
The Board’s renewal page directs licensees to DHP Online Licensing. The 2026 renewal PIN is provided with the emailed renewal notice.
Call (804) 367-4444
The DHP Technology Call Center assists with Online Licensing and renewal PIN access problems.
Late fees can apply
A license not renewed by the first day of the following month becomes subject to the applicable late-renewal fee.
No. The Virginia Board states that criminal background checks are required for initial licensure by examination and endorsement, not for routine license renewal.
Virginia Physical Therapy Continuing Competency
The total requirement is 30 contact hours, but PTs and PTAs have different minimum Type 1 requirements. Keep records after renewal because the Board performs random audits.
| Requirement | Physical Therapist | Physical Therapist Assistant | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total hours | 30 contact hours | 30 contact hours | Complete during the two years immediately before active renewal. |
| Minimum Type 1 | 20 hours | 15 hours | Type 1 courses must meet Board requirements. |
| Maximum Type 2 | 10 hours | 15 hours | Type 2 activities must still relate to clinical physical therapy practice. |
| Record retention | 4 years | 4 years | Keep the competency form and supporting records. |
| Audit response | Within 30 days | Within 30 days | Applies when selected for the Board’s random audit. |
Examination-license exemption
A licensee is exempt from continuing-competency requirements for the first biennial renewal following initial licensure by examination in Virginia.
Up to one year for good cause
The Board may extend the continuing-competency deadline for up to one year when a qualifying written request is submitted before renewal.
Circumstances beyond your control
The Board may grant an exemption for qualifying circumstances such as temporary disability, mandatory military service or an officially declared disaster.
Virginia PT and PTA Fees
The amounts below come from the current Virginia Physical Therapy fee regulation. NPTE, fingerprinting, PT Compact Commission or other third-party charges may be separate.
| Transaction | PT | PTA | Important detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensure by examination | $140 | $100 | Board application fee; outside exam-related charges may be separate. |
| Licensure by endorsement | $140 | $100 | For applicants using the endorsement route. |
| Active renewal | $135 | $70 | Due December 31 in each even-numbered year. |
| Inactive renewal | $70 | $35 | Inactive status does not authorize active practice. |
| Late renewal | $50 | $25 | Added to the applicable renewal fee within one renewal cycle. |
| Reinstatement after 2+ years expired | $180 | $120 | Formal reinstatement requirements also apply. |
| Verification / letter of good standing | $10 | $10 | Used when verification must be sent to another jurisdiction. |
| Direct Access Certification | $75 | Not applicable | For eligible physical therapists who need the separate certification. |
| Virginia compact privilege state fee | $50 | $50 | The PT Compact Commission may charge separate fees. |
Fee regulations and third-party charges can change. Confirm the current transaction amount before submitting an application, renewal or compact payment.
Virginia PT Compact Privilege Verification
A compact privilege is separate from a full state license. Interstate practice may require you to confirm both the therapist’s home-state license and the applicable compact privilege.
Verify the underlying PT or PTA license
The practitioner’s compact eligibility depends on the applicable home-state license and other Compact requirements.
Use PT Compact verification
The Physical Therapy Compact Commission provides the official privilege process and verification route for compact practice.
Renew Virginia first
If Virginia is the practitioner’s home state, Virginia guidance says the home-state license must be renewed before compact privileges can be renewed.
When Virginia is the home state, compact privileges are set to expire on December 31 of even-numbered years along with the Virginia renewal cycle.
Applying for a Virginia Physical Therapist or PTA License
If no license has been issued yet, repeated public lookup searches will not replace the application process. Use the Board route that matches your education and existing licensure.
Education + NPTE
A Virginia PT applicant must be at least 18, meet the Board’s qualifying education requirements and satisfactorily pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for physical therapists.
PTA education + NPTE
A PTA applicant must be at least 18, complete qualifying PTA education and pass the applicable National Physical Therapy Examination.
Current unrestricted license
Virginia provides an endorsement route for qualified applicants with a current unrestricted license in the United States, its territories, the District of Columbia or Canada.
Check the examination route
The Board directs applicants licensed for less than one year in another U.S. jurisdiction to apply through the examination pathway.
Fingerprint-based background check
Initial applicants by examination and endorsement must complete the Board’s fingerprint-based criminal-background-check process. Routine renewals do not require a new CBC.
An application is not a license
Do not treat application submission, NPTE eligibility or an employer’s offer as proof that Virginia licensure has been issued.
Current Board application instructions state that completed applications are generally processed within about 7–10 business days. Applications remain on file for one year; incomplete or non-routine applications may take longer.
Virginia Direct Access Certification: Do Not Confuse It With the PT License
Direct Access Certification is a separate Virginia credential for qualifying physical therapists. It does not replace the underlying active Virginia Physical Therapist license.
Active unrestricted Virginia PT license
An applicant seeking Direct Access Certification must already hold an active, unrestricted Virginia Physical Therapist license.
Transitional program or experience
The regulation allows a recognized transitional physical therapy program or at least three years of post-licensure active practice plus 15 contact hours in medical screening or differential diagnosis, including a post-course examination.
Current application fee
The Virginia fee regulation lists a $75 Direct Access Certification application fee.
The Board states that a physical therapist originally licensed in Virginia with a qualifying CAPTE-approved Doctorate of Physical Therapy is not required to obtain a separate Direct Access Certification under the Board’s current guidance.
Inactive or Expired Virginia PT License: Which Route Applies?
Inactive status, a lapse of two years or less and a lapse of more than two years require different actions. Check the DHP record first and then use the correct Board route.
| Situation | Route | Main requirements | Practical warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactive license | Reactivation | Reactivation application, continuing-education documentation, active-practice verification and other-jurisdiction verification when applicable. | Inactive status is not active practice authority. |
| Lapsed 2 years or less | Reinstatement with renewal + late-fee requirements | Applicable renewal and late fees plus continuing-competency compliance. | Verify the updated public status before returning to practice. |
| Lapsed more than 2 years | Formal reinstatement | Application, reinstatement fee, required continuing competency and at least 320 active-practice hours in the preceding four years. | Normal online renewal alone is not enough. |
| Cannot document active practice | Board-approved traineeship | A 320-hour traineeship may be required under Board rules. | Obtain the required Board authorization before beginning a traineeship. |
The Board advises allowing up to 30 days for an inactive-to-active reactivation application, even though some applications may be completed sooner.
Discipline, Public Information and Complaints
A current active license can still have public Board information. Patients and credentialing teams should review the complete DHP record when restrictions, proceedings or discipline matter.
Open additional public information
If the DHP record says additional public information is available, open the linked information before summarizing the practitioner’s history.
Public actions remain important
DHP makes Board decisions and disciplinary information available through its public resources and individual License Lookup records.
Use DHP Enforcement
If the concern involves a possible violation of Virginia health-profession law or regulation, use the official DHP complaint process rather than a private review platform.
No Virginia PT License Result? Troubleshoot It in This Order
| Problem | Possible reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No record by name | Spelling, former name or too many filters. | Try the license number, exact last name and fewer optional search fields. |
| Too many results | The name is common. | Add occupation, first name, ZIP, status or license number. |
| PTA not found | Physical Therapist was selected instead of Physical Therapist Assistant. | Repeat the search using the correct occupation. |
| Compact practitioner missing | The person may be practicing under a compact privilege. | Verify the home-state license and the PT Compact privilege. |
| Applicant does not appear | No Virginia license has been issued yet. | Use the application process or applicant checklist rather than treating an application as licensure. |
| Old record appears | DHP includes licenses expired since January 1, 2000. | Read the actual current status and expiration date. |
Contact the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy at (804) 367-4674 or ptboard@dhp.virginia.gov. For Online Licensing technical help, contact the DHP Technology Call Center at (804) 367-4444.
Employer and Credentialing Checklist
A good credentialing record should allow another reviewer to reproduce the check and understand exactly what was relied on.
- Virginia DHP License Lookup as the source.
- Date and time checked.
- Practitioner’s full name.
- License number.
- Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant occupation.
- Current status.
- Expiration date.
- Additional-public-information indicator.
- Compact privilege verification when interstate practice applies.
- Screenshot or printout when required by policy.
- Clinic biography.
- Resume or CV.
- Old wall certificate.
- LinkedIn or social profile.
- Private paid directory.
- Similar-name search result.
- NPTE result without issued state licensure.
- Home-state license without required compact authority.
If you are checking a Virginia nurse aide rather than a therapist, use the Virginia CNA License Verification guide. Different professions use different credential types even when DHP is the public lookup platform.
Virginia Board of Physical Therapy Contact Information
| Contact | Official detail | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Board phone | (804) 367-4674 | PT/PTA licensure, applications, renewal and Board-process questions. |
| Board email | ptboard@dhp.virginia.gov | Physical Therapy Board correspondence. |
| Fax | (804) 939-5973 | Documents when current Board instructions permit fax submission. |
| Complaints | (800) 533-1560 | DHP complaint intake involving regulated health professionals. |
| Technology Call Center | (804) 367-4444 | Online Licensing, PIN and account-access problems. |
| Office address | Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233-1463 | Board correspondence or visits when an official instruction requires them. |
| Office hours | Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–5:00 p.m., except holidays | Planning contact with the Board office. |
Official Virginia Physical Therapy Verification Resources
The guide above explains the process. Use the appropriate official source below when you are ready to complete the actual lookup, application, renewal or verification request.
Virginia Physical Therapy Verification FAQs
How do I verify a Virginia physical therapist license online?
Use Virginia DHP License Lookup. Search by license number when available, or select Physical Therapist and search by name and other public filters. Open the matching record and confirm the practitioner’s license number, status, expiration date and additional public information.
Can I verify a Virginia physical therapist assistant license in the same lookup?
Yes. Virginia DHP License Lookup includes Physical Therapist Assistant records. Select Physical Therapist Assistant as the occupation or search by the known license number, then confirm the exact person’s status and expiration.
Is Virginia DHP License Lookup primary-source verification?
Yes. Virginia DHP states that License Lookup serves as primary-source verification of credentials issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Why does an expired Virginia PT license still appear in the lookup?
The DHP database includes current license records and records of licensees whose licenses have expired since January 1, 2000. Always read the current status and expiration date instead of assuming that a searchable record is active.
When do Virginia PT and PTA licenses renew?
Virginia Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant licenses renew by December 31 of each even-numbered year. For the current cycle, the deadline is December 31, 2026.
How many continuing education hours are required for Virginia PT renewal?
An active Virginia PT or PTA license generally requires 30 contact hours of continuing learning during the two years immediately preceding renewal. Physical therapists need at least 20 Type 1 hours, while physical therapist assistants need at least 15 Type 1 hours.
How much does Virginia PT or PTA license renewal cost?
The current Virginia regulation lists active renewal at $135 for a Physical Therapist and $70 for a Physical Therapist Assistant. Inactive, late and reinstatement transactions have different fees.
How do I send Virginia PT license verification to another state?
Submit the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy verification request with the required fee when another jurisdiction requires formal Board-issued verification. The current verification fee is $10, and the Board advises allowing about five to seven business days for processing.
How do I verify a Virginia PT Compact privilege?
Verify the underlying home-state PT or PTA license through the appropriate licensing authority and verify the compact privilege through the Physical Therapy Compact Commission. A compact privilege is separate from a full state license.
What should I do if I cannot find a Virginia PT or PTA license?
Retry with the license number, exact last name and correct occupation, and remove unnecessary filters. If the person is a recent applicant, a license may not have been issued yet. If the issue remains unresolved, contact the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy at (804) 367-4674.
Bottom Line for VA PT License Verification
Start with Virginia DHP License Lookup and confirm the exact Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant record, license number, status, expiration date and any additional public information. For hiring or credentialing, save dated primary-source verification rather than relying on an old certificate or private profile.
Licensees approaching December 31, 2026 should separately confirm active-practice hours, continuing competency and renewal fees. Use formal Board verification only when another jurisdiction requires it, and use PT Compact verification when interstate practice depends on a compact privilege.