New York Physical Therapist license renewal and CE requirements
New York physical therapists must complete 36 contact hours of continuing education every three years to renew their license with the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Physical Therapy).
Registration to practice is renewed every three years. The first registration runs three years from licensure; the Department then adjusts the second period (between two and three years long) so that later renewals fall in the licensee's month of birth. A renewal application is mailed about four months before the registration expires.
Summary
New York physical therapists must complete 36 contact hours of continuing education every three years to renew their license with the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Physical Therapy). Registration to practice is renewed every three years. The first registration runs three years from licensure; the Department then adjusts the second period (between two and three years long) so that later renewals fall in the licensee's month of birth. A renewal application is mailed about four months before the registration expires. Hours do not carry over between cycles and the first renewal is exempt.
New York 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.
| Renewal cycle | Three-year (36 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Tied to the licensee's birth month |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 36 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | No |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | Teaching a course (two hours of credit per in-class contact hour, including preparation); Authoring a peer-reviewed article (15 hours) or book chapter (15 hours per chapter); Specialty certification (10 hours initial, 5 hours recertification); Completing a 12-month clinical residency (36 hours) |
Education Law Article 136 and Regulations of the Commissioner section 77.10 require a minimum of 36 hours of acceptable formal continuing education in each triennial registration period. For registration periods shorter than three years the requirement is prorated at one hour per month. The Department's FAQ states there is no restriction on the number of hours completed online versus in person, and that contact hours may not be carried over to a later registration period. Licensees are exempt for the triennial registration period in which they are first licensed in New York.
Required CE topics for New York physical therapists
The New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Physical Therapy) pages and rules we read do not mandate specific subject areas for this license type. Hours may be in any approved subject.
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 6 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | Courses must be taken from a sponsor approved by the Department (Education Law Article 136). Section 77.10 deems national and state physical therapy organizations, hospitals and health facilities, and institutions of higher education approved sponsors; the Department publishes a list of approved providers. Licensees retain records for at least six years and make them available on request; the Department audits random samples of continuing education records. |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a New York PT need to renew?
- New York physical therapists must complete 36 contact hours of continuing education every three years to renew their license with the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Physical Therapy). Education Law Article 136 and Regulations of the Commissioner section 77.10 require a minimum of 36 hours of acceptable formal continuing education in each triennial registration period. For registration periods shorter than three years the requirement is prorated at one hour per month. The Department's FAQ states there is no restriction on the number of hours completed online versus in person, and that contact hours may not be carried over to a later registration period. Licensees are exempt for the triennial registration period in which they are first licensed in New York.
- How often does a New York PT license need to be renewed?
- Physical Therapist licenses in New York renew every three years. Registration to practice is renewed every three years. The first registration runs three years from licensure; the Department then adjusts the second period (between two and three years long) so that later renewals fall in the licensee's month of birth. A renewal application is mailed about four months before the registration expires.
- Does New York require specific CE topics for physical therapists?
- The New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Physical Therapy) does not list mandated subject areas for PT renewal on the pages we verified; the 36 contact hours may be in any approved subject.
- Do New York physical therapists have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates, the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation, and records must be kept for 6 years. Courses must be taken from a sponsor approved by the Department (Education Law Article 136). Section 77.10 deems national and state physical therapy organizations, hospitals and health facilities, and institutions of higher education approved sponsors; the Department publishes a list of approved providers. Licensees retain records for at least six years and make them available on request; the Department audits random samples of continuing education records.
- Is the first New York PT renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. New York 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.
- Regulations of the Commissioner, Part 77 Physical Therapy, section 77.10 Mandatory continuing educationStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Education Law Article 136, Physical Therapy (mandatory continuing education section)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Continuing Education, Physical Therapists, NYSED Office of the ProfessionsState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Continuing Education FAQs for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist AssistantsState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Online Registration Renewal, NYSED Office of the ProfessionsState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
36 hours per triennial registration period, first-period exemption, one-hour-per-month proration, six-year retention, and approved-sponsor rules read from section 77.10 and Education Law Article 136 on the Office of the Professions site. No online cap, no carryover, audit practice, and alternative-activity credit values come from the Department's CE FAQ. The three-year period and birth-month alignment come from the Department's registration renewal page. New York mandates no specific CE subject for physical therapists. The regulation itself says teaching credit is instruction time plus up to two additional preparation hours per hour presented; the FAQ summarizes this as two hours per in-class hour.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Physical Therapy) before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.