How to Earn Physical Therapy CEUs: Clinical Instructor

When you think of physical therapy continuing education requirements, do you only think about taking courses? Most people do. However, there are many other activities that you can participate in that allow you to earn physical therapy CEUs. One of the most common is acting as a clinical instructor.

Does Your State Allow Credit for Acting as a Clinical Instructor?

You can earn CEUs as a clinical instructor (CI) in over 30 states.

To find out if yours is one of them:

1. Start with our Physical Therapy CEU requirements page
2. Select your state
3. Click the link in the 'More Details' section to read about the clinical instructor CEU rules for your state
4. If you are a physical therapist assistant, click the PTA button at the top to switch to the PTA detail page

Some states require you to complete the APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program to earn CEUs, but most do not. Even if it isn’t required, you may feel more prepared as a CI after taking this course. And, you’ll earn continuing education credit for completing it.

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How Many CEUs Can You Earn?

Most states that allow CEUs for acting as a CI have a maximum number of CEUs you can earn this way. The number varies from state to state, and ranges from 5 to 15 credits depending on the state. There is also a conversion rate that you need to apply to figure out how many CEUs you can earn.

The most common conversion rate requires 40 hours of supervision to earn one hour of credit. Some states require as many as 120-160 hours of supervision to earn one CEU. A few simply allow a set number of CEUs depending on the length of the student's clinical. For example, in Texas if you are a clinical instructor for 5-11 weeks you earn 5 CEUs and for 12 or more weeks you earn 10 CEUs.

How Can CEU Keeper Help With This?

Just as with continuing education courses, you’ll need to keep some type of proof that you’ve completed this activity. You will likely receive a letter or certificate from the school the student attended. The letter may indicate a number of CEUs earned, but be sure to check your state’s rules and regulations to confirm. The number listed may be using the conversion for the state in which the school is located, and this may be different from the state where you practice

Don't forget, you can store these letters, as well as all of your certificates of completion or other supporting documentations, by using our CEU tracker. Start your free trial today to stay organized!