California Physical Therapy Continuing Education Requirements

California Physical Therapy Continuing Education Requirements

To renew your license as a Physical Therapist in California, you must complete 30 continuing education hours every two years by the last day of your birth month. Physical Therapist Assistants in California must take 30 continuing education hours every two years as well. The California Physical Therapy continuing education requirements are listed in detail below. 

Therapists must also complete 2 hours of courses on ethics, law, and regulation as well as 4 hours of basic life support in order to renew a PT license. 

Continuing education providers such as MedBridge offer multiple California ethics, laws, regulations for physical therapists courses. Here are a couple of the example courses MedBridge offers that satisfies the California ethics CEU requirement:

You have unlimited access to these courses and 1500 others for just $200 when you use the promo code “PTProgress” at MedBridge. 

California Physical Therapy CEU Requirements

From the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC) website:

“Regulations require all physical therapists and physical therapist assistants renewing their license to complete a required number of hours of continuing competency activity.”

The number of hours you must complete varies, depending on how recently you obtained your license. See the charts below to determine how many CEU hours you’ll need to complete to renew your California PT or PTA license.

New Licensees (within the first 13–24 months of licensure):

Renewal Payment Was Submitted to the PTBCBasic Life Support HoursEthics, Laws and Regulations HoursOther Hours of Coursework Needed*Total Hours Required
On or Before the License Expiration Date4 Hours2 Hours9 Hours15 Hours
After the License Expiration Date4 Hours2 Hours24 Hours30 Hours
Source: PTBC

All Other Licensees:

Renewal Payment Was Submitted to the PTBCBasic Life Support HrsEthics, Laws & Reg. HrsOther Hours of Coursework Needed*Total Hours Required
Before OR After the Expiration Date4 Hours2 Hours24 Hours30 Hours
Source: PTBC

What CEU Courses are Allowed in California?

In order to count towards license renewal, all CEU coursework must come from approved providers. Here is a list of the approving agencies that the PTBC currently recognizes. Online CEUs as well as in-person courses or home study programs must be approved by one of these agencies to qualify.

What’s more, California recognizes two “pathways” for satisfying continuing education: traditional and alternate pathways.

Traditional Pathway: This includes courses such as in-person or online continuing education seminars, home study courses, and college coursework. 

Alternative Pathways: This includes other continuing competency activities, such as publication and leadership. Below is a list of these alternative activities, with hour limitations in parentheses.  

  • Publishing a peer-reviewed journal, article, case study or book chapter (16 hours)
  • Developing or presenting an approved college or CE course for the first time (16 hours)
  • Participating as a subject matter expert in the examination process for the Board, FSBPT, or ABPTS (16 hours)
  • Serving on a Board-appointed task force (16 hours)
  • Performing in a role as a clinical Instructor (12 hours)
  • Attending a conference related to physical therapy (8 hours)
  • Attending a Board meeting (8 hours)
  • Completing a FSBPT practice review tool (6 hours)
  • Successfully passing one of the ABPTS certified specialist/recertification exams (6 hours)
  • Completing training as an expert consultant for the Board (6 hours)
  • Successfully passing the Boards’s California Law Examination (2 hours)

Can I Use MedBridge in California?

Yes, you can use an online CEU company like MedBridge to complete required CEUs for your California Physical Therapy license renewal. A quick check on the MedBridge website shows hundreds of approved courses for California PT license holders looking to renew their license.

Use the MedBridge promo code PTProgress to save 40% on unlimited CEUs.

How much is a Physical Therapy License in California?

It costs $300 to renew your PT or PTA license. A late fee of $150 will be assessed in addition to the California physical therapy license renewal fee of $300 if you renew 30 days after your license expires.

When does my California Physical Therapy license expire?

In California you must renew your physical therapy license every two years. Your California physical therapy license will expire on the last day of your birth month. You should receive a notice within 90 days of expiration, but stay ahead of the process and complete the proper paperwork ahead of time to avoid a delay.

How long does it take to renew a California Physical Therapy license?

It can take 6 weeks to process your request, so be sure to start the process early! If you are processing a name change request, the PTBC recommends sending in your renewal request at least 8 weeks before your license expires.

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 Physical Therapy Board of California does not require that you submit this document or any other proof of your CEU completion with your license renewal. 

Instead, retain records of your continuing education information for 5 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.

Do I need malpractice insurance as a Physical Therapist in California?

While the PTBC does not publish recommendations on malpractice insurance, it’s still a good idea to have coverage. Some states require policies that provide coverage of “$100,000 per claim” with a recommended minimum annual aggregate or total coverage of no less than $300,000 for all claims made during the policy period.

Take a look at our recommended Physical Therapy malpractice insurance article to learn more about coverage.

Compare CEUs by State

Take a look at all of the requirements for CEUs based on your state in this comprehensive article.

Tim Fraticelli DPT, MBA, CFP®

Tim Fraticelli is a Physical Therapist, Certified Financial Planner™ and founder of PTProgress.com. He loves to teach PTs and OTs ways to save time and money in and out of the clinic, especially when it comes to documentation or continuing education. Follow him on YouTube for weekly videos on ways to improve your financial health.