PT Compact & OT Compact States

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. Audiologists and speech-language pathologists have their own compact, the ASLP-IC (below). Full details in our Licensure Guide.

38 states issue PT Compact privileges and 3 more have enacted the compact but are not issuing yet, according to the PT Compact Commission (as of October 4, 2026). The full PT Compact guide lists every state's status, fee and jurisprudence rule.

Cost: $45–$309 per state privilege for PTs as of October 4, 2026: the PT Compact Commission's $45 fee plus the state's own fee, which varies by state.

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.

ASLP-IC (audiology and speech-language pathology): the compact is issuing privileges. As of October 4, 2026, the ASLP-IC is issuing compact privileges in Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia (aslpcompact.com and CompactConnect’s live list, checked October 4, 2026). More member states will issue as they onboard; check the Commission for the current list.

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.