How to Get Your PTA License in Mississippi (2026 Guide)

How to Become a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant in Mississippi

Mississippi offers strong career opportunities for Physical Therapist Assistants, especially in rural underserved communities where travel PTAs and permanent hires are in steady demand. The state has one of the highest CE requirements in the country, so plan your professional development calendar accordingly.

Step 1: Complete a CAPTE-Accredited PTA Program

Mississippi applicants must hold a degree from a CAPTE-accredited PTA program. These two-year associate degree programs integrate classroom instruction with supervised clinical internships. Mississippi has CAPTE-accredited programs at community colleges within the state's community college system. Confirm current accreditation status before enrolling at capteonline.org.

Step 2: Pass the NPTE-PTA Exam

Mississippi requires passage of the FSBPT's NPTE-PTA exam before licensure:

• Fee: approximately $485 per attempt
• Format: 200 questions over 4 hours
• Passing score: 600 or higher (scaled score)
• Attempt limit: maximum 6 lifetime attempts

Register and schedule your exam at fsbpt.org. Results are sent electronically to the Mississippi Board.

Step 3: Apply for Your Mississippi PTA License

Apply to the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy. Required items:

• Completed state application form
• Official transcripts from your CAPTE-accredited program
• Verification of passing NPTE-PTA score
• Licensure fee of approximately $50-$75
• Background check

Mississippi's Board processes applications in the order received. Check the Board's website for the most current fee schedule and processing timeline before applying.

PT Compact Membership

Mississippi is a member of the Physical Therapy Compact. This allows licensed Mississippi PTAs to obtain compact privileges in other member states without separate licensure applications, particularly valuable for travel PTA assignments in the Southeast and beyond. Visit ptcompact.org for details on activating compact privileges.

Continuing Education Requirements

Mississippi has one of the nation's highest CE requirements: 40 contact hours every two-year renewal cycle. This is double the requirement of some neighboring states. PTAs must make sure their CE coursework is directly related to physical therapy practice. The Board may require documentation of completed hours during renewal, so retain all certificates. Planning ahead is essential, scrambling for 40 hours in the final weeks of a renewal period is a common pitfall.

Mississippi PTA Salary Ranges

Mississippi salaries reflect the state's cost-of-living profile, but demand in rural and Delta region communities creates leverage for experienced PTAs:

• Entry-level (0-2 years): $48,000-$54,000/year
• Mid-career (3-7 years): $54,000-$62,000/year
• Experienced (8+ years): $62,000-$70,000/year
• Rural Delta travel PTA contracts: $1,300-$1,800/week
• Home health premium: often adds $3,000-$6,000 annually vs. clinic-based roles

Top Employers

Mississippi's healthcare system is anchored by academic medical centers, regional hospital networks, and contract rehab companies servicing SNFs statewide:

• University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), Jackson's flagship academic medical center with inpatient and outpatient rehab
• Baptist Memorial Health Care, multi-site hospital and clinic system across Mississippi
• Select Medical / Select Rehabilitation, contract rehab covering SNFs statewide
• Merit Health, community hospital network with rehab departments
• Encompass Health, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Jackson and surrounding areas
• Rural health clinics and Critical Access Hospitals, Delta and rural communities actively recruit PTAs year-round

Travel PTA demand in Mississippi's rural communities is persistent, driven by chronic shortages of locally-based therapists in the Delta and coastal regions.