Healthcare Recruiting
How to Get a Physical Therapist License in Missouri (2026)
Missouri is a PT Compact member with licensing through the Missouri Division of Professional Registration. Kansas City and St. Louis are both significant PT markets — Kansas City's University of Kansas Health System (the dominant academic employer on the KS/MO border) and BJC Healthcare / Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis anchor the two markets. PTs working the Kansas City metro typically hold both MO and KS licenses.
Missouri PT license at a glance
- Issuing board: Missouri Division of Professional Registration, Physical Therapy Board
- PT Compact member: Yes
- Compact Privilege processing: 1–3 business days
- Endorsement processing: 5–7 weeks
- Application fee: ~$80–$100
- Jurisprudence exam: Not separately required
Missouri PT compensation 2026
| Setting | Median Base | Sign-On Range |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient clinic | $76,000 | $4,000–$10,000 |
| Acute care hospital (Kansas City / St. Louis) | $88,000 | $6,000–$16,000 |
| Academic hospital (Barnes-Jewish / UMKC) | $92,000 | $8,000–$18,000 |
| SNF / sub-acute rehab | $84,000 | $5,000–$14,000 |
| Travel PT (13-week) | $96,000 + housing stipend | — |
Where PT demand is highest in Missouri
St. Louis metro: BJC Healthcare / Barnes-Jewish Hospital (Level I trauma, major academic PT — 15 hospitals), SSM Health (12 hospitals), Mercy Health St. Louis, St. Luke's Hospital. Kansas City: Saint Luke's Health System (KCMO flagship), Truman Medical Centers / University Health, AdventHealth. Many KC PTs hold dual MO/KS license for the metro. Rural Missouri (Ozarks, Bootheel): NHSC loan repayment widely available in underserved counties.
Bottom line
Missouri's dual-city market offers both academic (Barnes-Jewish, St. Louis Children's) and regional system employment at Midwest-competitive compensation. Barnes-Jewish is a nationally recognized PT training environment. Rural Missouri loan repayment is accessible for PTs willing to serve underserved communities.
Related: PT License Florida 2026, Healthcare Recruiting in Missouri 2026, PT Salary by State 2026.
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