Do You Need to Complete CEUs if You Recently Graduated as a PT or PTA?

You might assume if you recently graduated as a PT or PTA, you don’t have to worry about CEUs yet. In theory, this makes perfect sense. You just spent years learning about your profession and then passed a national certification exam to get licensed. It should be time for a break!

For many of you, you would be assuming correctly. For others, the clock has already started ticking!

How Do You Know If You Need CEUs as a New Grad?

Follow the steps below for state specific information on CEU requirements for the first renewal cycle. Or continue reading to learn more about first renewal rules and licenses by examination versus endorsement

1. Start with our Physical Therapy CEU requirements pages
2. Select your state to see the total CEUs for a normal renewal cycle, as well as special requirements and limitations
3. Click the link in the 'More Details’ section to go to the state detail page
4. If you are a physical therapist assistant, click the PTA button at the top to switch to the PTA detail page
5. Navigate to the 'First Renewal Rules' section

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First Renewal Requirements

Full CEUs Required

There are only a few states that require the full number of CEUs for your very first renewal. Meaning between the time you are licensed and the time your license expires, you need to complete the total number of CEUs specified by your state, including any special requirements.

Pro-Rated CEUs

There are many more states that only require a pro-rated amount of PT CEUs. Some states pro-rate depending on if you were licensed in the first year of the renewal cycle vs the second year. If you were licensed in the second year, you may only have to complete half of the CEUs.

Other states pro-rate down to the month. For example, if the state requires 12 CEUs each year and you get licensed during month 3 of that year, you will be required to complete 9 CEUs. If you were licensed in month 7, you will only have to complete 5 CEUs. If there is a special requirement, they generally require you to complete that requirement as part of your individual total.

No CEUs Required

About half of the states give you a pass and don’t require any CEUs for your first renewal. If your state has a two year renewal cycle, you might not need to complete continuing education requirements for the first two years after you get licensed.

But what if you are working in a setting that you don’t have much experience in and you *want* to take some courses to feel more confident? You can always take the courses, but you may or may not be able to count them to your second renewal cycle when you will be required to complete CEUs.

Do These Rules Apply to Licensure by Examination and Endorsement?

An initial license by examination is the very first license a PT or PTA is granted after taking the NPTE. As a new grad, you are licensed by examination.

A license by endorsement is granted when you are already licensed in one state and apply for a license in a new state.

The rules above generally apply to new grads licensed by examination.

Some of the first renewal rules may be different if you are licensed by endorsement. You may be required to complete the full number of CEUs for your first renewal. You may even need to show previously completed CEUs just to obtain a license by endorsement in some states.

Still Have Questions?

It's always best to check the state rules and regulations documents. You can find these on the state board websites. There are links to these sites on the main CEU requirements page as well as on each detail page.

You can also feel free to Contact Us if you have trouble finding what you need and we’ll point you in the direction!