Wisconsin Physical Therapist Assistant license renewal and CE requirements
Wisconsin physical therapist assistants must complete 20 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services).
DSPS states that under Wis. Stat. 440.08(2) the required renewal date for the Physical Therapist Assistant credential is 02/28 of odd-numbered years, and that the biennium runs from March 1 of an odd year through February 28 of the next odd year. The statute's renewal date table lists Physical therapist assistant at 440.08(2)(a)57m as March 1 of each odd-numbered year. Renew online through DSPS LicensE before the deadline; a licensee who has not met the continuing education requirement by the renewal deadline must cease practice (PT 9.03(4)).
Summary
Wisconsin physical therapist assistants must complete 20 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services). DSPS states that under Wis. Stat. 440.08(2) the required renewal date for the Physical Therapist Assistant credential is 02/28 of odd-numbered years, and that the biennium runs from March 1 of an odd year through February 28 of the next odd year. The statute's renewal date table lists Physical therapist assistant at 440.08(2)(a)57m as March 1 of each odd-numbered year. Renew online through DSPS LicensE before the deadline; a licensee who has not met the continuing education requirement by the renewal deadline must cease practice (PT 9.03(4)). Wisconsin also mandates specific subjects. Ethics, jurisprudence, or both: 4 contact hours every renewal cycle. Hours do not carry over between cycles and the first renewal is exempt.
Wisconsin 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, 02/28 each cycle |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 20 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | No |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | Activities listed in Table PT 9.04(2) that integrally relate to the practice of the profession (the table itself is published only as a PDF and was not read) |
Wis. Admin. Code PT 9.03(1) provides that every physical therapist assistant shall complete at least 20 hours of board-approved continuing education in each biennial registration period, and that four of the required 20 hours shall be in the area of ethics, jurisprudence, or both. Physical therapists need 30 hours with the same four hour ethics and jurisprudence component. DSPS states the same figures: physical therapist assistants are required to complete at least 20 contact hours of approved continuing education during each biennial two year registration period, at least 4 contact hours of the 20 in ethics and jurisprudence. Hours may apply only to the registration period in which they are acquired, so there is no carryover. Continuing education is not required during the time between initial licensure and commencement of a full two year licensure period, which DSPS phrases as not required during the biennium when the license was first issued. Rule PT 9 sets no cap on online or self-study hours and no live-hour minimum. Postponement or waiver is available for prolonged illness, disability, or other grounds constituting extreme hardship.
Required CE topics for Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics, jurisprudence, or bothFour of the required 20 hours shall be in the area of ethics, jurisprudence, or both. The four hour figure is the same for physical therapist assistants as for physical therapists, even though the totals differ (20 versus 30). Counts toward the 20. | 4 contact hours | Every renewal | All licensees | Wis. Admin. Code PT 9.03(1) |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | Not stated |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | Programs must meet the PT 9.04 approval standards: an organized program of learning that contributes directly to the licensee's knowledge, skill, behavior, and abilities related to the practice of physical therapy, on subject matters that integrally relate to the practice of the profession, taught by instructors with specialized education, training, or experience, fulfilling pre-established goals and objectives, and providing proof of attendance. The rule names no pre-approved provider list. Applicants certify completion of the required hours at renewal (PT 9.05). Policy-decision meetings, non-educational association meetings, entertainment or recreational activities, and visiting exhibits do not qualify (PT 9.04(3)). The board audits any licensee who is under investigation by the board for alleged misconduct; the rule describes no random audit and sets no record retention period. |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Wisconsin PTA need to renew?
- Wisconsin physical therapist assistants must complete 20 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services). Wis. Admin. Code PT 9.03(1) provides that every physical therapist assistant shall complete at least 20 hours of board-approved continuing education in each biennial registration period, and that four of the required 20 hours shall be in the area of ethics, jurisprudence, or both. Physical therapists need 30 hours with the same four hour ethics and jurisprudence component. DSPS states the same figures: physical therapist assistants are required to complete at least 20 contact hours of approved continuing education during each biennial two year registration period, at least 4 contact hours of the 20 in ethics and jurisprudence. Hours may apply only to the registration period in which they are acquired, so there is no carryover. Continuing education is not required during the time between initial licensure and commencement of a full two year licensure period, which DSPS phrases as not required during the biennium when the license was first issued. Rule PT 9 sets no cap on online or self-study hours and no live-hour minimum. Postponement or waiver is available for prolonged illness, disability, or other grounds constituting extreme hardship.
- How often does a Wisconsin PTA license need to be renewed?
- Physical Therapist Assistant licenses in Wisconsin renew every two years. DSPS states that under Wis. Stat. 440.08(2) the required renewal date for the Physical Therapist Assistant credential is 02/28 of odd-numbered years, and that the biennium runs from March 1 of an odd year through February 28 of the next odd year. The statute's renewal date table lists Physical therapist assistant at 440.08(2)(a)57m as March 1 of each odd-numbered year. Renew online through DSPS LicensE before the deadline; a licensee who has not met the continuing education requirement by the renewal deadline must cease practice (PT 9.03(4)).
- What specific CE topics are required for Wisconsin physical therapist assistants?
- Ethics, jurisprudence, or both: 4 contact hours every renewal cycle. Citations: ethics, jurisprudence, or both (Wis. Admin. Code PT 9.03(1)).
- Do Wisconsin physical therapist assistants have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates and the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation. Programs must meet the PT 9.04 approval standards: an organized program of learning that contributes directly to the licensee's knowledge, skill, behavior, and abilities related to the practice of physical therapy, on subject matters that integrally relate to the practice of the profession, taught by instructors with specialized education, training, or experience, fulfilling pre-established goals and objectives, and providing proof of attendance. The rule names no pre-approved provider list. Applicants certify completion of the required hours at renewal (PT 9.05). Policy-decision meetings, non-educational association meetings, entertainment or recreational activities, and visiting exhibits do not qualify (PT 9.04(3)). The board audits any licensee who is under investigation by the board for alleged misconduct; the rule describes no random audit and sets no record retention period.
- Is the first Wisconsin PTA renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. Wisconsin does not require continuing education for a PTA's first renewal.
Sources
Last verified September 8, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter PT 9, Continuing Education (PT 9.01 through 9.05), including the 20 hour physical therapist assistant requirement in PT 9.03(1)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026
- Wis. Admin. Code PT 9.04, Standards for approval of continuing educationStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026
- Physical Therapist Assistant Continuing Education (20 contact hours, 4 in ethics and jurisprudence, biennium 3/1 odd to 2/28 odd), Wisconsin DSPSState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
- Physical Therapist Assistant profession page (renewal date under Wis. Stat. 440.08(2)), Wisconsin DSPSState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
- Wis. Stat. 440.08(2)(a)57m, Physical therapist assistant renewal dateStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026
PT 9.03(1) states the physical therapist assistant requirement in its own sentence at 20 hours, distinct from the 30 hours it requires of physical therapists, and applies the same four hour ethics and jurisprudence component to both. DSPS's physical therapist assistant continuing education page repeats 20 contact hours with 4 in ethics and jurisprudence and gives the biennium as 3/1 odd to 2/28 odd. Wisconsin lists the physical therapist assistant credential separately in the statutory renewal date table at 440.08(2)(a)57m, one entry after physical therapist at 57, and both read March 1 of each odd-numbered year, while DSPS words the same deadline as 02/28 of odd years; fixed_deadline_month_day records the DSPS date and the description gives both. The Table PT 9.04(2) list of qualifying activities is published only as a linked PDF and was not read, so alternatives_accepted names the table rather than its contents.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services) before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.