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Becoming a Physical Therapist in North Dakota – ND

With the U.S. unemployment rate hovering at the 10% mark since September 2009, North Dakota has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 3.3%; Wyoming’s unemployment rate is only one-tenth of one percent lower. As of 2006, there were nearly 173,000 physical therapists in the United States; this number is anticipated to top 219,000 by 2016. In North Dakota, the totals for physical therapists are expected to rise 14% during the same ten-year period, from 620 to 710. This good news for physical therapists is partly due to the increase in North Dakota’s senior citizen demographic (those who fall into the 65-year old or older age group), which, by 2030, is expected to make up 25% of the state’s population. Seniors are especially at risk for chronic conditions, including orthopedic problems.

To become a physical therapist in North Dakota, in addition to completing the requisite undergraduate and graduate programs, it is necessary to acquire a license by successfully completing two exams: the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and the Juris Prudence Examination (JPE). The NPTE is given daily by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and the JPE is a requirement of the North Dakota State Board of Physical Therapy (NDBPT). Certain physical therapists may be exempt from having to obtain licensure in North Dakota. Some of these cases might include physical therapists that are practicing in the United States armed services or other health-related public facilities, or might include physical therapists that are licensed in another state or foreign country as long as they are working in a teaching capacity or providing consulting services to a physical therapist who is licensed in North Dakota. For individuals seeking additional information concerning licensing, contact the North Dakota State Board of Physical Therapy.