As a Physical Therapist in Arkansas, you must complete 20 continuing education hours every two years by December 31st of even-numbered years. Physical Therapist Assistants need to complete just 10 hours. Besides the Arkansas physical therapy continuing education, you’ll also need to pass the jurisprudence exam biennially.
At a glance:
| Arkansas – 20 PT CEU hours every 2 years by December 31st of even years. |
Arkansas Physical Therapy CEU Requirements
From the Arkansas Physical Therapy Practice Act Website:
“CEU = continuing education unit. One unit is defined as 10 contact hours of an accredited course or program. A contact hour is equal to actual time in a seminar or workshop.
“According to the Arkansas Physical Therapy Practice Act, physical therapists must complete, in each biennium, two (2) CEUs and physical therapist assistants are required to complete, in each biennium, one (1) CEU…. A passing score on the jurisprudence exam is part of continuing education.”
What CEU Courses are Allowed in Arkansas?
The Arkansas State Board of PT specifies that “no more than 50% of continuing education may be taken through online/home study courses.” The mandatory jurisprudence exam counts as one of those online hours.
Although online coursework is limited to 50% of your total CEU credit, the state board considers interactive and live webinars as “in-person attendance.” That means, with the right provider, you could complete all your CEUs online through a combination of courses, live webinars, and the jurisprudence exam.
Whether online or in-person, each CEU program, course, or activity must be relevant to physical therapy and approved by the Arkansas Board or by an entity which the Board approves. Acceptable topics include clinic application, clinic management, behavioral science, scientific research, and more.
If you’re unsure whether a course or activity qualifies for continuing education, simply contact the Board.
Can I Use MedBridge in Arkansas?
Yes, you can use an online CEU company like MedBridge Education to complete the CEUs for your Arkansas Physical Therapy license renewal. A quick check on the MedBridge website shows hundreds of courses for Arkansas PTs and PTAs looking to renew their license.
In fact, MedBridge offers live, interactive webinars that could qualify towards your in-person CEU requirements. These webinars occur on a regular basis all year long, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities over the two-year renewal period to find a topic you’ll like. Best of all, access to these webinars is included in the price of an annual subscription to the MedBridge course library.
Use the MedBridge promo code PTProgress to save 40% on unlimited CEUs.
Do I need to submit proof of my completed CEUs?
Every valid CEU provider, including MedBridge, will give you a certificate of completion when you finish a CEU course or activity. The Arkansas Board of Physical Therapy no longer requires that you submit this document or any other proof of your CEU completion with your license renewal.
Instead, you will simply fill out this this renewal form and retain records of your continuing education information for 4 years after your license renewal period ends. Be sure to store these documents safely in case you are selected by the board for an audit.
How much is the renewal fee?
It costs $70 to renew a PT license and $45 to renew a PTA license. You’ll need to pay an additional $10 fee to take the jurisprudence exam.
When does my Arkansas Physical Therapy license expire?
All Arkansas Physical Therapy licenses expire annually. To keep your license active, you must pay a renewal fee each year by March 1st and finish your continuing education before December 31st of odd-numbered years.
How long does it take to renew a Arkansas Physical Therapy license?
For many states, it can take 4-8 weeks to process your request, so start the process early!
Compare Physical Therapy CEUs by State
How does your state compare? Take a look at all of the state-by-state CEU requirements in this comprehensive article.
