The PT Compact’s Compliance and Education & Outreach Committees work to educate member boards in establishing compliance with PT Compact requirements and licensees about the benefits of utilizing the Compact in their practice. This article is based on a presentation at the 2024 Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) Annual Education Meeting by Bernardine Evans, Susan Gile, and Jeff Rosa.
The Physical Therapy Compact (PT Compact) has become a cornerstone of regulatory innovation, enabling physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) to practice across state lines with greater ease. However, the success of the Compact depends on consistent jurisdiction compliance and robust education. Through the collaborative efforts of the PT Compact’s Compliance and Education & Outreach Committees, jurisdictions are receiving the support they need to meet PT Compact requirements while licensees are gaining the knowledge necessary to fully benefit from compact privileges.
The PT Compact is governed by an Executive Board and supported by two key committees: the Compliance Committee and the Education & Outreach Committee. The Compliance Committee’s primary charge is to ensure that member states adhere to Compact requirements—not through punitive measures, but through education, collaboration, and support. Each quarter, the Compliance Committee reviews member states’ compliance information and generates individualized compliance reports that are shared with each board. These reports highlight areas of success and identify where improvements are needed. The goal is to help states achieve full compliance by understanding the root causes of non-compliance and offering tailored guidance.
Despite the best intentions of member jurisdictions, achieving 100% compliance can be challenging. The reasons for noncompliance are varied and often complex:
The Compliance Committee addresses these challenges by meeting with jurisdictions, identifying roadblocks, and sharing best practices from other states that have overcome similar issues. The committee’s approach is rooted in partnership, not punishment.
One of the most effective tools for improving compliance is FSBPT’s Application Programming Interface (API). The API allows for real-time, automated data exchange between a jurisdiction’s licensure system and the FSBPT’s ELDD (Exam, Licensure, and Disciplinary Database). This eliminates the need for manual uploads and reduces the risk of human error.
Under the traditional data sharing process, jurisdictions must manually prepare and upload licensure files to a secure server. FSBPT staff then download, verify, clean, and import the data into the ELDD. This process is time-consuming and labor-intensive for both the jurisdiction and FSBPT. With the API, updates to licensure records—such as new licenses, expiration dates, or disciplinary actions—are automatically pushed to the ELDD as they occur. This ensures that data is always current and accurate, which is critical for public protection and regulatory decision-making. In addition, the PT Compact can use the API to automatically push compact privilege information to the jurisdiction. This allows for the state’s license lookup page to include compact privilege holder information without board staff needing to manually enter the information.
Several states, including Ohio, Louisiana, and North Carolina, have successfully implemented the API with support from FSBPT grant funding. These states now enjoy streamlined processes and improved data quality, setting a strong example for others to follow.
While the Compliance Committee focuses on helping jurisdictions meet PT Compact requirements, the Education & Outreach Committee is dedicated to informing and empowering stakeholders. Their mission is to ensure that everyone—from board staff to licensees to employers—understands what the PT Compact is, how it works, and how to benefit from it.
The committee targets a wide range of stakeholders:
The PT Compact website hosts a wealth of resources.
One standout resource is the “How to Get a PT Compact Privilege in Minutes” process map, which walks users through the steps to obtain a compact privilege. In many cases, eligible licensees can complete the process in under ten minutes!
A common misunderstanding is that licensees can obtain a compact privilege in their home state and use it to practice elsewhere. In reality, compact privileges are only valid in states other than the licensee’s home state. The Education & Outreach Committee works to clarify these nuances through targeted messaging and outreach.
The success of the PT Compact depends not only on compliance and education, but also on awareness. If stakeholders don’t know about the PT Compact or how it benefits them, its impact is diminished. To address this, the Education & Outreach Committee encourages jurisdictions to take the following actions:
The PT Compact represents a significant advancement in regulatory efficiency and public protection. However, its success hinges on the collective efforts of jurisdictions, licensees, and stakeholders. Through the work of the Compliance and Education & Outreach Committees, FSBPT is helping states overcome barriers, adopt new technologies, and educate their communities. By embracing tools like the API and leveraging the wealth of educational resources available, jurisdictions can achieve full compliance and ensure that the benefits of the PT Compact are fully realized. In doing so, they not only enhance mobility for PTs and PTAs but also strengthen the foundation of public protection across the country.
Bernardine Evans
Chair, District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy
Bernardine Evans is currently a full-time Professor in the department of radiation therapy at Howard University. She graduated from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore with a degree in physical therapy. She received her doctorate in physical therapy from Utica College at Syracuse University. She is board-certified in geriatrics, taught in the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Montgomery College, and full-time at Howard University in the department of physical therapy. She is a docent, presenter, and researcher at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. She currently sits on the board for Howard University’s physical therapy pro bono clinic service. She has served as the Chair of the DC Board of physical therapy since 2017.
Susan Gile
Executive Director, Kansas Board of Healing Arts
Susan serves as the Executive Director of the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. She has served in this capacity since October 2021. Susan is a licensed social worker with a degree from the University of Kansas. Prior to becoming the Executive Director, Susan served as the Operations Manager for the Board.
Before working for the Board, Susan spent twenty-seven years with the Kansas Department for Children and Families in various positions, including the Deputy Secretary. Susan and her husband raised two children and she has two grandchildren who she enjoys spending as much time with as possible.
Jeff Rosa
Compact Administrator, Physical Therapy Compact Commission
Jeff Rosa joined the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy as its Managing Director for Post Licensure Services in August 2015. He was appointed as the PT Compact Administrator in 2022. He previously served for twelve years as the Executive Director of the physical therapy licensing board in Ohio. Prior to joining the Ohio PT Board, Jeff worked for the Ohio Board of Nursing and as a budget analyst with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Jeff holds a bachelor of arts in history from Yale University and a master's degree in public policy from the Gerald Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.