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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