Georgia Physical Therapist Assistant license renewal and CE requirements
Georgia physical therapist assistants 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 assistant applies to the Board biennially for renewal, submits proof of continuing competency, and pays the renewal fee by December 31 of odd-numbered years (Rule 490-4-.01(1)). A license not renewed by December 31 is assessed a late fee, and a license not renewed by February 1 of the following year lapses and is revoked by operation of law.
Summary
Georgia physical therapist assistants 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 assistant applies to the Board biennially for renewal, submits proof of continuing competency, and pays the renewal fee by December 31 of odd-numbered years (Rule 490-4-.01(1)). A license not renewed by December 31 is assessed a late fee, and a license not renewed by February 1 of the following year lapses and is revoked by operation of law. Georgia also mandates specific subjects. Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence: 4 clock hours every renewal cycle.
Georgia Physical Therapist Assistant 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.
| Renewal cycle | Two-year (24 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Same date for every licensee, 12/31 each cycle |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 30 clock hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | Not stated |
| First renewal exempt | No |
| Other accepted activities | Undergoing a peer review (15 hours); Conducting a peer review as an adjunct responsibility (10 hours); Presenting an approved continuing education course, workshop, seminar, or symposium (contact hours, maximum 10 hours per topic); Authorship of a presented scientific poster, scientific platform presentation, or published article (10 hours per item, maximum 20 hours); Teaching a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant credit course as an adjunct responsibility (contact hours, maximum 20 hours); Certification of clinical specialization by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (30 hours, in the biennium awarded); Self-instruction from reading professional literature (maximum 3 hours); Acting as a clinical instructor, intern, mentor, or learner in a formal nonacademic advanced clinical internship or mentorship (maximum 10 hours); Donating time as a physical therapist assistant within the scope of practice to a charity event (1 hour per 8 contact hours, maximum 5 hours); Post-professional academic coursework awarding academic credit (1 university credit hour equals 10 continuing competence hours) |
Georgia applies one requirement to both credentials and names them together: Rule 490-4-.02(1) requires each licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant to participate in thirty (30) clock hours of experience per licensure period, not to exceed ten (10) credit hours per calendar day, and Rule 490-4-.02(2) requires those 30 hours to include a minimum of four contact hours in Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence. Content must relate to patient care in physical therapy, whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, education, management, or another content area. If a licensee does not meet the requirement the license is not renewed. Continuing competence requirements apply within the first biennium in which a physical therapist assistant is licensed in Georgia, except that a licensee who graduated during the current renewal biennium and passed the National Physical Therapy Examination is exempt for that biennium (Rule 490-4-.02(5)). A licensee first licensed during the last six months of a biennium is not required to meet the requirement for that biennium, and a licensee reinstated in the last six months may use the coursework submitted for reinstatement (Rule 490-4-.02(7) and (8)). Unacceptable activities include orientation and in-service programs, policy meetings, non-educational association meetings, entertainment or recreational activities, committee meetings and office holding, visiting exhibits, and CPR.
Required CE topics for Georgia physical therapist assistants
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Ethics and JurisprudenceEffective July 1, 2018, the 30 hours of continuing competence per biennium must include a minimum of four contact hours specifically in Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence as defined in the Georgia Physical Therapy Act, or the licensee may pass the Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination, which the rule treats as equivalent to the four-hour requirement provided the same test result has not already been submitted for licensure or under a board order. The course must come from a Georgia college or university with an accredited physical therapy education program or from a provider holding a current Physical Therapy Association of Georgia (PTAG) Approval Certificate. The rule states the requirement in the same paragraph structure that applies to physical therapist assistants under 490-4-.02(1). | 4 clock hours | Every renewal | All licensees | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 490-4-.02(2) |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | Yes |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 5 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | Acceptable programs under Rule 490-4-.02(3) include those approved by the American Physical Therapy Association and its affiliate components, the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia or another state chapter, the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (ProCert), programs at CAPTE-accredited colleges and universities held under the auspices of the school of physical therapy, and programs of similar professional organizations meeting the guidelines. Rule 490-4-.01(1) requires proof of continuing competency with the biennial renewal, and Rule 490-4-.02(6) adopts CE Broker as the board's online recording and reporting system, with every licensee deemed to consent to board access to that record for auditing. Licensees selected for audit submit documentation on receipt of notice (program or outline, certificate or verification of completion, or verification of a peer review), and must keep original continuing competence documents for no less than five years from the date the credit was obtained (Rule 490-4-.02(10)(a)). |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Georgia PTA need to renew?
- Georgia physical therapist assistants must complete 30 clock hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy. Georgia applies one requirement to both credentials and names them together: Rule 490-4-.02(1) requires each licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant to participate in thirty (30) clock hours of experience per licensure period, not to exceed ten (10) credit hours per calendar day, and Rule 490-4-.02(2) requires those 30 hours to include a minimum of four contact hours in Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence. Content must relate to patient care in physical therapy, whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, education, management, or another content area. If a licensee does not meet the requirement the license is not renewed. Continuing competence requirements apply within the first biennium in which a physical therapist assistant is licensed in Georgia, except that a licensee who graduated during the current renewal biennium and passed the National Physical Therapy Examination is exempt for that biennium (Rule 490-4-.02(5)). A licensee first licensed during the last six months of a biennium is not required to meet the requirement for that biennium, and a licensee reinstated in the last six months may use the coursework submitted for reinstatement (Rule 490-4-.02(7) and (8)). Unacceptable activities include orientation and in-service programs, policy meetings, non-educational association meetings, entertainment or recreational activities, committee meetings and office holding, visiting exhibits, and CPR.
- How often does a Georgia PTA license need to be renewed?
- Physical Therapist Assistant licenses in Georgia renew every two years. Every licensed physical therapist assistant applies to the Board biennially for renewal, submits proof of continuing competency, and pays the renewal fee by December 31 of odd-numbered years (Rule 490-4-.01(1)). A license not renewed by December 31 is assessed a late fee, and a license not renewed by February 1 of the following year lapses and is revoked by operation of law.
- What specific CE topics are required for Georgia physical therapist assistants?
- 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 therapist assistants 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 programs under Rule 490-4-.02(3) include those approved by the American Physical Therapy Association and its affiliate components, the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia or another state chapter, the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (ProCert), programs at CAPTE-accredited colleges and universities held under the auspices of the school of physical therapy, and programs of similar professional organizations meeting the guidelines. Rule 490-4-.01(1) requires proof of continuing competency with the biennial renewal, and Rule 490-4-.02(6) adopts CE Broker as the board's online recording and reporting system, with every licensee deemed to consent to board access to that record for auditing. Licensees selected for audit submit documentation on receipt of notice (program or outline, certificate or verification of completion, or verification of a peer review), and must keep original continuing competence documents for no less than five years from the date the credit was obtained (Rule 490-4-.02(10)(a)).
- Is the first Georgia PTA renewal exempt from CE?
- No. Georgia applies the continuing education requirement to the first renewal as well.
Sources
Last verified September 8, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Chapter 490-4 Renewal: Continuing Competence Requirements, Disciplinary Sanctions (Rules 490-4-.01 and 490-4-.02), Georgia Secretary of StateStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 490-4-.02 Continuing Competence Requirements (LII mirror, amended eff. 10/4/2020)Third-party summary, accessed September 8, 2026
Georgia is a state where one rule covers both credentials in the same sentence, so the PTA numbers are the PT numbers and the rule says so: Rule 490-4-.01(1) begins 'Every licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant shall biennially apply to the Board for renewal', and Rule 490-4-.02(1) begins 'The Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy requires each licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant to participate in thirty (30) clock hours of experience per licensure period'. Rule 490-4-.02(5) and (6) name physical therapist assistants again for the first-biennium and CE Broker provisions. The rule text was read on the Secretary of State's own rules site, which the board's link-verification file lists as blocking automated clients but which returned full text here, and confirmed against the Cornell mirror. The board's continuing education landing page on sos.ga.gov returns 403 to automated clients and is not cited; renewal_url points at the rules chapter that governs renewal instead. Whether Georgia charges a different PTA renewal fee was not read; the fee schedule is a separate page that was not fetched.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.