Georgia Physical Therapist license renewal and CE requirements

Summary

Georgia physical therapists must complete 30 clock hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy. Every licensed physical therapist renews biennially by December 31 of odd-numbered years, submitting proof of continuing competence and the renewal fee (Rule 490-4-.01). The 30 continuing competence hours must be completed within that two-year licensure period. Georgia also mandates specific subjects. Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence: 4 clock hours every renewal cycle. The first renewal is exempt.

Georgia Physical Therapist renewal and continuing education rules

"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.

Rule 490-4-.02(1) requires thirty (30) clock hours of continuing competence per licensure period, not to exceed ten (10) credit hours per calendar day. The rule uses clock hours for the total and contact hours for the ethics and jurisprudence component; one clock hour equals one contact hour of credit for attendance at approved programs. The only numeric cap on non-course learning that was read is the 3 hour cap on self-instruction from reading professional literature; the rule text read did not state a general cap on online or home study courses, and did not state whether excess hours carry over. Licensees who graduated during the current renewal biennium and passed the National Physical Therapy Examination are exempt from the continuing competence requirement for that biennium (Rule 490-4-.02(5)).

Required CE topics for Georgia physical therapists

State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.

Documentation and audit

Common questions

How many CE hours does a Georgia PT need to renew?

Georgia physical therapists must complete 30 clock hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy. Rule 490-4-.02(1) requires thirty (30) clock hours of continuing competence per licensure period, not to exceed ten (10) credit hours per calendar day. The rule uses clock hours for the total and contact hours for the ethics and jurisprudence component; one clock hour equals one contact hour of credit for attendance at approved programs. The only numeric cap on non-course learning that was read is the 3 hour cap on self-instruction from reading professional literature; the rule text read did not state a general cap on online or home study courses, and did not state whether excess hours carry over. Licensees who graduated during the current renewal biennium and passed the National Physical Therapy Examination are exempt from the continuing competence requirement for that biennium (Rule 490-4-.02(5)).

How often does a Georgia PT license need to be renewed?

Physical Therapist licenses in Georgia renew every two years. Every licensed physical therapist renews biennially by December 31 of odd-numbered years, submitting proof of continuing competence and the renewal fee (Rule 490-4-.01). The 30 continuing competence hours must be completed within that two-year licensure period.

What specific CE topics are required for Georgia physical therapists?

Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence: 4 clock hours every renewal cycle. Citations: Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 490-4-.02(2)).

Do Georgia physical therapists have to submit CE certificates at renewal?

Proof of completion must be submitted with the renewal, the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation, and records must be kept for 5 years. Acceptable activities under Rule 490-4-.02(3) include programs approved by the American Physical Therapy Association, the state chapter (PTAG), ProCert, courses from CAPTE-accredited colleges and universities, and programs of similar professional organizations, plus the enumerated alternative activities. Rule 490-4-.01 requires licensees to submit proof of continuing competence with the biennial renewal, and Rule 490-4-.02(6)(a) states the board adopts CE Broker as its online recording and reporting system. Licensees must keep original continuing competence documents for no less than five years (Rule 490-4-.02(10)(a)) and those selected for audit must submit documentation of compliance on notice (Rule 490-4-.02(9)).

Is the first Georgia PT renewal exempt from CE?

Yes. Georgia does not require continuing education for a PT's first renewal.

Sources

Last verified September 7, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.

• Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Chapter 490-4, Licensure Renewal and Continuing Competence (Rules 490-4-.01 and 490-4-.02)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026

Renewal cycle (biennial, December 31 of odd years), 30 clock hours, 10 hours per day cap, 4 hour Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence requirement with the examination alternative, new graduate exemption, five year retention, audit, CE Broker adoption, and the alternative activity caps were all read from the board's rules as published on the Georgia Secretary of State rules site (Chapter 490-4). The board's own web pages at sos.ga.gov (board home page and continuing education page, listed above as board_url and renewal_url) returned HTTP 403 to automated fetching and were not used as sources; they should be spot-checked by a person. Not stated in the rule text read: whether unused hours may carry over, any general cap on online or distance hours, and whether the first renewal is prorated for licensees who did not graduate in the biennium. The board also maintains a policy document (Policy 13) describing the Georgia Jurisprudence exam, which was not fetched.