Physical therapy continuing education requirements are different for every state. They may even differ for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in the same state. Currently there is no national regulating body. Louisiana PT continuing education requirements are developed by the Louisiana board of physical therapy.
This guide focuses on the CEU requirements for physical therapists; if you are a PTA, you can find the dedicated page for Louisiana PTA CEU requirements here.
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Total CEUs Required
Almost all states have continuing education requirements for physical therapists. Generally, PTs 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: 30
CEU Due Date: It varies
As a PT in Louisiana, you need 30 CEUs every two years by March 31st depending on your birth year. Even year birth licensees are due in even years; odd year birth licensees are due in odd years.
First Renewal Rules
CEUs required: Prorated
For physical therapists 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.
PTs in Louisiana are required to complete a prorated number of CEUs for their first renewal.
The Louisiana Physical Therapy Board website shows: PTs are exempt from CE requirements in the calendar year in which they graduate from an accredited physical therapy education program. For the second year of the licensee’s renewal period, 15 contact hours must be completed and reported. These hours must include 2 hours of Jurisprudence (Online Exam or Live Seminar) and 2 hours of Ethics or Professionalism.
Special Requirements
Jurisprudence - 2 CEUs
Ethics or Professionalism - 2 CEUs
Clinical/Administrative - 26 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.
Louisiana requires physical therapists to complete the following as part of their total CEU requirement.
Jurisprudence - 2 CEUs
Per the Louisiana practice act: "Passage of the jurisprudence examination, which may be taken online, or attendance at a traditional board-sponsored Jurisprudence course, either of which fulfills the two-hourJurisprudence requirement."
Ethics or Professionalism - 2 CEUs
2 hours of Ethics or Professionalism
Clinical/Administrative - 26 CEUs
Administrative - addresses billing or management issues; includes self-help courses such as dealing with stress, anger, etc. Clinical - teaches about a diagnosis, treatment techniques or evaluation methods
Clinical Instructor CE Rules
CEUs allowed: Yes
Many states allow physical therapists 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.
Louisiana does allow physical therapists to earn continuing education credit for acting as a clinical instructor.
Per the Louisiana rules and regulations:
Description
Serving as the primary clinical instructor for PT and PTA students or provisional licensees or serving as a mentor to a resident or fellow.
Conversion
One hour of credit may be earned per 120 hours of clinical instruction or residency or fellowship during the renewal period.
Max CEUs allowed
A PT clinical instructor in Louisiana can earn a maximum of 5 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 PTs in Louisiana, you shouldn't assume all courses on that site are approved for PTs in Louisiana. Before signing up for a course, check with the CE provider to see if it is approved.
Discounts on CEUs
To help take the guesswork out of your search, we’ve partnered with a few of our favorite platforms to offer you the best discounts!
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PhysicalTherapy.com offers a lower-priced option with 500+ evidence-based courses including live webinars, recorded webinars, text courses and audio courses.
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Compact Privileges
Compact privileges: Yes
Louisiana is actively issuing PT Compact privileges.
What is the PT Compact?
The Physical Therapy Compact allows a PT 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
NOTE: Licenses expire on April 30th but renewal is due by March 31. If you renew in April, there is an extra $120 late fee.
Sources
CEU Keeper strives to simplify Louisiana continuing education requirements for physical therapists. 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 PT 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 PT or PTA. With that said, you can always ask us your questions. We want to help and it's what we do!
Curious how Louisiana PT CEU requirements compare to other states? Check out our state list of physical therapy CEU requirements.