Physical Therapy Business Tips
June 25, 2025
Earning your physical therapy license isn’t for the faint of heart, but it can be a life-changing career choice that makes a big difference in your community. Unfortunately, most aspiring physical therapists don’t know how to get their license or where to start looking for information, making a long journey even more uncertain.
But don’t worry, because we’re going to explain everything you need to know about pursuing a physical therapy license with confidence and clarity. In fact, not only will you learn how to become a physical therapist and get your license in Canada and the USA, you’ll also get helpful tips to make succeeding in your career as a physical therapist much easier.
Let’s dive in!
To get a physical therapy license in Canada, students will need to complete a master's degree in physiotherapy from an accredited institution, pass the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE), and apply for licensing with their respective provincial or territorial College of Physical Therapy.
Physiotherapists in Canada need to complete a Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy, which is a requirement to apply for a physical therapy license. Luckily, many universities across provinces in Canada offer this program, making it a widely accessible degree opportunity for students.
How long is physiotherapy therapy school in Canada? A master’s degree program in physiotherapy typically runs for 2-2.5 years and involves a combination of academic and clinical training, covering a wide range of physiotherapy topics to ensure that all graduates are able to practice at an entry level that is safe for patients.
One important thing to remember is that the required training to get a physiotherapy therapy degree differs by country, so if you train in Canada you may not be qualified to become licensed in places like the United States. For example, while Canada requires a master’s degree in physiotherapy, other countries, such as the United States, require all students to earn a doctorate in physical therapy. These programs are typically one year longer and may involve additional clinical training.
To get a physical therapy degree in the USA, students will need to complete a doctoral degree in physical therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), and apply for licensing through their respective state.
Similar to a master’s program in Canada, physical therapy students in the USA are required to earn a bachelor’s degree in an approved major before being accepted to a doctoral degree program. Many students choose to earn their bachelor’s degree in a related field such as kinesiology, exercise science, or biology. However, students with less common degrees such as business or art can also be accepted with completion of additional prerequisite courses.
Earning a doctor of physical therapy degree is the most important physical therapist education requirement for getting a physical therapy degree in the USA.
How long is physical therapy school in the USA? Doctoral programs typically run for 3 years and include a combination of academic and clinical training, including internships.
Although less common, some students may be selected for a residency program after graduation to receive additional training in a specialty. These residencies are not required to earn a physical therapy license in the USA, but they can be an excellent professional opportunity for students that are selected to participate in them.
Applying for your physiotherapy therapy license in Canada includes two main steps: passing the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) and applying for licensing with your respective College of Physiotherapy Therapy. Depending on the timing of your graduation, you may be able to earn your license within a few months.
The Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) is a 200-question, four-hour, computer-based exam designed to assess graduates’ physiotherapy therapy knowledge. Because the exam covers material from an entire master’s of physiotherapy program, studying for the PCE typically takes several months.
After passing the PCE, graduates can apply for their physiotherapy therapy license through the College of Physiotherapy which represents their province or territory. Following confirmation of your graduation from an accredited master’s program and passing the PCE, your physiotherapy license can be approved.
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Applying for your physical therapy license in the USA includes two main steps: passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and applying for licensing with your state’s Department of Health. Depending on the timing of your graduation, you may be able to earn your license within a few months.
The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is a 225-question, five-hour, computer-based exam designed to assess graduates’ physical therapy knowledge. Similar to the PCE, the exam covers material from an entire doctoral physiotherapy program and usually requires several months of preparation.
Because the USA is divided into states, each state has a Department of Health (DOH) that a physical therapy license applicant should apply to. After graduating from your doctor of physical therapy program and passing the NPTE, your physical therapy license can be approved.
It’s important to note that while physical therapists licensing by state can vary, some states in the USA share licensing through a compact. This allows physical therapists to practice in a number of states with one license.
Starting a successful physical therapy clinic is a multi-step process that requires creating a strong business plan, understanding legal and regulatory requirements, selecting and acquiring the right physical therapy equipment, leveraging effective physical therapy software, marketing your services, and hiring the right staff.
Because all of these tips for a successful PT practice are so valuable, let’s look at each of them in more detail.
A good business plan will be unique to your goals and budget, so make sure to start with thorough research. For example, define the payment model of your clinic (insurance versus cash-based practice), look for areas of PT that you can specialize in (consider some of the top paying physical therapy specialities), and find out who your competitors are in the area.
It’s also essential to find a good location for your practice, understand how many physical therapists you want to have on your staff, and determine what equipment you’ll need to provide great care to your patients. Don’t leave anything off the table at first, then gradually hone in on what fits your mission and brand.
All healthcare practices follow a strict set of guidelines to ensure compliance and patient safety. Take time to learn what your national and local guidelines are (whether you’re in Canada or the USA), then compare them to your business plan to catch potential conflicts early in the development of your practice.
One of the essential steps in satisfying legal requirements for your practice is to set up an LLC. Although very easy to establish, your LLC allows you to run your practice legally and protects you as an individual from a variety of legal risks that naturally come with running a healthcare business.
Owning a physical therapy clinic requires a good sense of interior design, and choosing the right equipment for your physical therapy clinic can be just as important as choosing the right location and staff. When setting up your clinic, make sure to have a thorough physical therapy equipment list that includes the essential items you’ll need for your patients.
Some of the key equipment most clinics need includes big ticket items like treatment tables, modality equipment, and exercise machines. Of course, you’ll also need a good supply of smaller equipment such as dumbbells, exercise bands, and gait belts. When purchasing equipment, always think about the patient population you’ll be working with most often!
In the modern world of physical therapy, the software you use to run your practice can make or break a successful business. For any healthy PT business, it’s essential to have practice management software that offers a range of features spanning patient care, marketing, and revenue management. In fact, choosing bad practice management software can be one of the easiest mistakes to avoid when starting a physical therapy practice.
As one of the best physical therapy practice management software options available today, ClinicSense empowers physical therapy practice owners to manage their online booking, schedules, treatment notes, client outreach, and financial reporting. You can get a free trial of ClinicSense right now to start taking your practice to the next level.
A well-designed marketing plan can not only get clients in the door of your practice, but also create lasting brand recognition that sets you apart from the competition. Some of the first steps to focus on for any practice are creating a logo, ordering business cards, and designing basic marketing materials.
For scaling your marketing strategy, invest in a premium website that highlights the unique selling points of your practice, set up social media accounts for sharing regular content (leveraging specific social media tips for physical therapists), and register with Google My Business to make your practice easier to find and review.
A big part of what makes an exceptional physical therapy practice shine is an energetic and dependable team! Depending on how your practice is organized, you might hire additional physical therapists, front office staff, or even collaborating clinicians like massage therapists and chiropractors.
When hiring staff, focus on overall fit with the brand, mission, and patient population your practice focuses on. As your practice evolves, your staff should be able to represent your values and evangelize the value of your practice to the community.
Launching a successful physical therapy practice goes beyond great patient care and often requires effective community engagement. Key opportunities to focus on include hosting an open house, connecting with local providers and practices, and hosting professional events like lunch & learns at your clinic.
The best strategy for launching your physical therapy practice depends on your community, local competition, and the patient population you want to work with. To maximize your chances of success, dedicate time and effort to creating a regular schedule of public events and outreach to other providers in your area. With persistence, you can earn your place and establish a thriving image for your physical therapy practice.
Regardless of what you’re up against after getting your physical therapy license and starting your physical therapy practice, knowing what to look for in PT documentation software is paramount to reaching your goals. From detailed physical therapy SOAP notes to automated client outreach, you’ll need every tool at your disposal to run a thriving practice.
ClinicSense supports physical therapy practice owners with industry-leading features like customizable physical therapy documentation templates, online scheduling, and simplified invoice management to provide patients with exceptional care and promote financial wellness year after year.
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