Tennessee PTs and PTAs alike must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years before their licenses expire. But there’s more to the license-renewal process than hitting a set number of CEU hours. The Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy, which oversees license renewals, has set specific requirements for continuing education. For example, every licensee must complete at least 4 hours in ethics and jurisprudence and at least 20 hours in continuing education of a certain caliber. Below I share all these specifics on Tennessee physical therapy continuing education requirements!
At a glance:
| Tennessee – 30 CEU hours every 2 years by the last day of the month before the license holder’s birthday. |
According to the Board, only 10 of the total CEU hours can be completed online through self-directed coursework.
Tennessee Physical Therapy CEU Requirements
From the Tennessee Physical Therapy Practice Act Website: (TN source)
“The rules require all licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to obtain 30 hours of credits for the 24 months that precede their licensure renewal month. For physical therapists, at least twenty hours must be in Category 1 activities and no more than ten hours may be acquired online. Up to ten of the thirty hours requirement may be from Category 2 activities.
“For both physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, four (4) of the required hours must consist of ethics and jurisprudence courses which are a minimum of two (2) hours each in duration and must be Category 1 continuing competence. Proof of completion of courses in ethics and jurisprudence is required every license renewal cycle.”
What Counts as Continuing Competency?
Technically, the Board prefers the term “continuing competence requirements” over “continuing education,” because you don’t have to crack open a textbook to rack up your 30 hours. There are many ways to complete continuing competency, from authoring a poster and supervising a student to finishing your residency or passing a specialty certification exam. The Board has divided these activities into two main groups: Class I activities and Class II activities. See the two tables below:
| Class I Activity | CEU Equivalent | Hours Allowed |
| Completing CEU coursework, seminars, or workshops approved by appropriate entities | Based on contact hours | 30 |
| Undergoing an external peer review of practice | 20 hours per review | 20 max |
| Undergoing an internal peer review of practice | 2 hours per review | 4 max |
| Completing University credit courses | 12 hours per credit hour | Not specified |
| Presenting a CEU Course | Based on contact hours | 20 hours per topic |
| Authoring a poster, article, or presentation under peer review | 10 hours per event | 20 max |
| Teaching a PT or PTA class adjunct | Based on contact hours | 20 max |
| Completing clinical specialization | Up to 26 hours | 26 max |
| Earning an advanced degree | 26 hours | 26 max |
| Participating in a clinical residency | 5 hours per week | 26 max |
| Class II Activity | CEU Equivalent | Hours Allowed |
| Reading professional literature or Participating in a PT study group | Determined by Board | 1 max |
| Attending a poster session or symposium | 1 hour per hour of activity | 2 max |
| Serving as a clinical instructor for an accredited PT program | 1 hour per 16 contact hours | 10 max |
| Attending or leading an in-service program | 1 hour per 8 contact hours | 4 max |
| Serving on a PT Board or Committee | 1 hour per 24-month period | 1 max |
What CEU Courses are Allowed in Tennessee?
By far, the most common way to demonstrate competency is to complete continuing education. This includes CEU courses, seminars and workshops.
When it comes to your ethics and jurisprudence coursework, you’ll need to make sure the course and provider are approved by the TPTA, or the Tennessee chapter of APTA. You can find a list of all the Ethics and Jurisprudence Courses they approve here on their website.
Otherwise, your remaining CEU courses or activities do not need to be pre-approved by the PT Board. They expect you to use your best judgment in making sure your continuing competency meets the following criteria:
- It’s a planned learning experience occurring beyond the entry-level educational requirement for PTs and PTAs.
- Its content directly relates to physical therapy, whether in clinical intervention, patient management, treatment, documentation, or otherwise.
- It assures safe and effective practice in providing physical therapy to Tennessee citizens.
If you’re unsure whether a course or activity qualifies for continuing competency, just contact the Board.
Can I Use MedBridge in Tennessee?
Yes, you can use an online CEU company like MedBridge Education to complete your Tennessee Physical Therapy continuing education. A quick check on the MedBridge website shows hundreds of courses fit for Tennessee PTs and PTAs.
Although the Board of Physical Therapy has limited how many hours of CEUs you can take online, you may still be able to complete the entirety of your continuing competency through a web-based provider like MedBridge. That’s because in addition to self-directed coursework, MedBridge offers live and interactive webinars, which the Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy does not consider “online.” With MedBridge, you can bypass that 10-hour restriction and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge they offer all year long on their interactive internet platform.
An annual subscription to MedBridge Education grants you unlimited access to their vast library of CEU courses, as well as free registration for live and interactive webinars all year long. Whether you’re a PT or a PTA, you can find plenty of eligible courses on MedBridge. Use the MedBridge promo code PTProgress to save 40% on unlimited CEUs.
Do I need to submit proof of my completed CEUs?
PTs and PTAs in Tennessee are required to report their continuing education through the online portal CE Broker, which is free to use on a Basic account. You’ll also need to upload to CE Broker proof, such as a certificate of completion, that you’ve finished each course. Retain these documents elsewhere for at least 5 years in case you are selected for a formal audit.
How much is the renewal fee?
In Tennessee it costs $55 to renew a PT license and $45 to renew a PTA license.
When do I need to renew my Tennessee Physical Therapy license?
License renewal occurs every other year on the last day of the month before your birthday. Check your license to find the exact expiration date—and give yourself plenty of time to complete all your CEUs!
How long does it take to renew a Tennessee 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.
