Which states participate in licensure compacts and what that means for your travel therapy career.
Licensure compacts are interstate agreements that allow healthcare professionals to practice in member states without obtaining a separate license in each one. For travel therapists, compacts dramatically reduce the time, cost, and paperwork of multi-state licensure.
The PT Compact covers physical therapists and PT assistants. The OT Compact covers occupational therapists and OT assistants. There is currently no SLP compact. Full details in our Licensure Guide.
The PT Compact includes 40+ member states and is the most established therapy compact. Check the official PT Compact Commission website for the current member list, as states continue to join.
Cost: $75-$150 per state privilege (much less than individual licenses at $150-$400+).
The OT Compact is newer but growing rapidly. It functions similarly to the PT Compact. OTs and COTAs with an active license in a member home state can apply for compact privileges.
Because the OT Compact is newer, fewer states are currently active — but the list is expanding each year. SLPs should check for updates, as an ASLP Interstate Compact has been proposed.
Many travel therapists choose a tax home in a compact state that also has no income tax — maximizing both licensure convenience and tax savings:
Check if these states are current PT/OT Compact members. See the state tax guide for more on tax-free states.
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