Physical therapy continuing education requirements are different for every state. They may even differ for physical therapist assistants and physical therapists in the same state. Currently there is no national regulating body. Kentucky PTA continuing education requirements are developed by the Kentucky board of physical therapy.
This guide focuses on the CEU requirements for physical therapist assistants; if you are a PT, you can find the dedicated page for Kentucky PT CEU requirements here.
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Total CEUs Required
Almost all states have continuing education requirements for physical therapist assistants. Generally, PTAs are required to complete a specific number of CEUs every one to two years. The CEU due date is often, but not always, the same as the license expiration date.
Total CEUs required: 20
CEU Due Date: March 31, 2027
As a PTA in Kentucky, you need 20 CEUs every two years by March 31st of odd years.
Currently, CEUs need to be completed between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2027.
First Renewal Rules
CEUs required: 0
For physical therapist assistants renewing for the first time, some states require the full number of CEUs, some require a prorated amount and some do not require any continuing education at all.
The rules may depend on whether you were licensed by examination or by endorsement. Generally, if you are newly licensed by examination, the exemption or prorated amount will apply to you. However, if you are newly licensed by endorsement, you will likely be expected to complete the full number of CEUs.
PTAs in Kentucky are not required to complete CEUs for their first renewal.
Per the Kentucky PT Board website:
"Recent PT and PTA graduates (i.e., those who have completed their academic and clinical requirements for their degrees within the current biennium) have met the continued competency requirements for that biennium, per 201 KAR 22:045 Section 2(c). Accordingly, no additional contact hours for this biennium are required in order to renew a PT license or a PTA certificate during the renewal cycle. Recent PT and PTA graduates must still renew their credentials during the fixed date renewal cycle. All credential holders must also complete the 2-hour Jurisprudence Exam. If taken during your academic program, ensure you verify the completion date is within the required timeframe."
Special Requirements
Category 1 - 10 CEUs
Jurisprudence Exam - 2 CEUs
Some states have requirements regarding specific topics or activity types. There may be a certain number of CEUs required, or you may have to complete a particular course or exam. The CEUs you earn for special requirements can usually be applied toward your total.
Kentucky requires physical therapist assistants to complete the following as part of their total CEU requirement.
Category 1 - 10 CEUs
At least 10 hours shall be earned from Category 1 activities. Activities that qualify can be found at the link below.
Source: Kentucky
Jurisprudence Exam - 2 CEUs
The Jurisprudence Exam must be completed by March 31st of every renewal cycle and will count as 2 contact hours towards the total continued competency requirement. These are *not* considered Category 1 hours.
Source: Kentucky
Clinical Instructor CE Rules
CEUs allowed: Yes
Many states allow physical therapist assistants to earn CEUs for acting as a clinical instructor. For every state that does, there is usually a maximum number of CEUs you can earn this way. In addition, each state has a conversion rate to determine how many hours of supervision equals one CEU.
Kentucky does allow physical therapist assistants to earn continuing education credit for acting as a clinical instructor.
Per the Kentucky rules and regulations:
Description
Clinical instructor for a CAPTE-approved educational program or an APTA credentialed residency or fellowship program.
Conversion
1 contact hour per sixteen 16 hours of student supervision
Max CEUs allowed
A PTA clinical instructor in Kentucky can earn a maximum of 8 CEUs during each renewal cycle.
Choosing Courses
To choose the right physical therapy continuing education courses, consider a few key factors. First, choose topics that are interesting to you, applicable to your current clinical setting, or helpful for transitioning to a new role. However, personal interest isn’t the only priority; make sure the course is specifically approved for your state. Finally, consider the cost, especially if your employer doesn’t pay for continuing education.
A subscription site can simplify this process. They provide unlimited access to a wide variety of subjects, with both live and recorded options, all for one reasonable price. Most sites offer courses in every state, though you should always check for individual course approval. Just because one course is approved for PTAs in Kentucky, you shouldn't assume all courses on that site are approved for PTAs in Kentucky. Before signing up for a course, check with the CE provider to see if it is approved.
Discounts on CEUs
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Compact Privileges
Compact privileges: Yes
Kentucky is actively issuing PT Compact privileges.
What is the PT Compact?
The Physical Therapy Compact allows a PTA licensed in one state to quickly and easily obtain privileges to practice in another state.
In order to take advantage of compact privileges, both your home state (the state you have your driver’s license in) as well as the state you want to practice in need to be part of the compact.
Compact privileges are intended to be temporary. If you move to a new state and you hold a compact privilege there, you won't be able to continue using that privilege. You'll need to apply for a license by endorsement in your new home state.
The PT Compact and CEU Requirements
Compact privileges have the same expiration date as your home state. You only need to meet the continuing education requirements of your home state, but you may need to complete a jurisprudence exam for certain states.
Additional Notes
Five Category 1 contact hours can be earned per renewal cycle by engaging in the practice of physical therapy for at least 1,000 hours during that two year period.
Sources
CEU Keeper strives to simplify Kentucky continuing education requirements for physical therapist assistants. We like to say “we read the rules so you don’t have to”. While we do read them often, the rules are subject to change and it’s always best to confirm or clarify directly from the source, the state board website.
Conclusion
Understanding PTA continuing education requirements can be confusing. When searching for this information on social media, it’s important to remember requirements can be different for each state and profession. If you ask a question about physical therapy requirements, be sure to specify your state and either PTA or PT. With that said, you can always ask us your questions. We want to help and it's what we do!
Curious how Kentucky PTA CEU requirements compare to other states? Check out our state list of physical therapy CEU requirements.