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Lousiana Physical Therapy Continuing Education Requirements 

Updated 8/18/2024

How many continuing education hours are required during a reporting period?

Physical therapists licensed in Louisiana must complete at least thirty (30) hours of board-approved continuing education courses or activities every two (2) years.

Physical therapy assistants licensed in Louisiana must complete at least thirty (30) hours of board-approved continuing education courses or activities every two (2) years.

New Licensees

PTs or PTAs licensed in Louisiana are exempt from the continuing education requirements for the continuing education year, beginning April 1 and ending March 31 of the following year, in which they graduate from an accredited physical therapy education program.

For the second year of the licensee’s renewal period, fifteen (15) contact hours must be completed and reported in keeping with the requirements.

How long is the reporting period?

Continuing Education Year - beginning April 1 and ending March 31 of the following year.

How is contact hour defined?

Contact Hour - 60 minutes of continuing education instruction.

Can CE credits be carried over into the next reporting period?

N/A

Are there any specific courses that must be taken?

The three types of approved courses or activities and requirement for each are:

    • Jurisprudence - a minimum of two (2) contact hours;
    • Ethics or professionalism - a minimum of two (2) contact hours;
    • Clinical/preventive - a minimum of twenty-six (26) hours.

What types of activities can be used for the continuing education requirements?

Activity

Hours

Teaching an approved clinical/preventive course or activity.

A licensee may receive two (2) hours of credit for each contact hour approved for the course or activity, not to exceed ten (10) hours.

This credit will be given only for the first time the course is presented, during the renewal period.

Initial certification by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

Ten (10) hours of credit.

Approved post–professional clinical residency or fellowship.

One (1) hour of credit for every two hours spent, not to exceed ten (10) hours of credit.

Coursework in a postgraduate physical therapy curriculum, transitional DPT program, or an accredited college or university that meets content criteria may be accepted.

Courses will be credited for each satisfactorily completed hour resulting in a grade of B or higher.

One (1) semester hour shall be equal to ten (10) contact hours.

Teaching in a CAPTE-accredited program.

One (1) semester hour shall be equal to ten (10) contact hours. Credit earned shall not exceed ten (10) hours.

Board-approved self-assessment tool.

Six (6) hours of credit.

Licensees serving in elected or appointed positions of national or state physical therapy organizations.

A maximum of five (5) contact hours for serving in that role.

Clinical instructors serving as the primary clinical instructor for PT and PTA students or provisional licensees or serving as a mentor to a resident or fellow.

Proof of clinical instruction or mentorship shall be documented on a form provided by the board and shall be signed by two (2) of the following: 

    • Clinical instructor or mentor;
    • Student or mentee;
    • Site coordinator of clinical education;
    • Director of clinical education; or
    • Program coordinator of the residency or fellowship.

One (1) hour of credit may be earned per 120 hours of clinical instruction or residency or fellowship during the renewal period.

A maximum of five (5) hours of credit.

Publication of scientific papers, abstracts, textbook chapters and poster or platform presentations at conferences relating to PT.

A maximum of five (5) hours credit.

Textbook chapter credit will be given only for the year of publication.

What type of courses or activities are not allowed?

N/A

What type of approval is needed for the courses?

Courses and activities sponsored by the APTA, Louisiana Physical Therapy Association, and by any Louisiana CAPTE accredited program that meet the content criteria described in §195 are automatically approved by the board for continuing education credits toward the biennial requirements.

Courses or activities not approved by the board may generate acceptable continuing education credits for licensees under these circumstances:

    • The licensee submits an application for approval of the course or activity using the form provided on the board website;
    • The course or activity submitted for approval shall only be considered for the licensee who submits for approval;
    • In no case will such application for course or activity approval be considered during the last 60 days of the requestor’s license term.

What are the reporting requirements?

The reporting of continuing education hours by course or activity sponsors and by licensees shall be made only on forms approved by and available from the board website. Forms filed by course or activity sponsors or licensees shall be legibly printed or typewritten, and shall be completed and verified by the course or activity sponsor or licensee. A stamp or other image provided by and imprinted by the course sponsor on course materials shall suffice for proof of completion of that continuing education activity.

How long must continuing education records be retained?

Continuing education activities undertaken for the purpose of license renewal shall be maintained by the licensee in a file in which records of activities are kept, including dates, subjects, duration of the program, certificates of participation and completion, and any other appropriate documentation for a period of four (4) years after the program date. Upon request, course or activity sponsors and licensees shall supply the board with such documentation.

Waiver

Upon approval by the board of a written request made in compliance, the board may extend the period for compliance or exempt the following from compliance with the continuing education requirements:

    • Licensees on extended active military service for a period in excess of three (3) months during the applicable reporting period; or
    • Licensees who are unable to fulfill the requirement because of illness, natural disaster, or other personal hardship.

Written requests for an exemption under Subsection B, including supporting documentation, must be received by the board at least 45 days prior to the end of the renewal period for which the exemption is sought, or immediately after the licensee becomes aware of the facts or circumstances upon which the exemption is sought, whichever is later.

    • A licensee who is a member of the armed forces reserves and called to active military service will have his CEUs prorated in proportion to the number of months of documented active duty.
    • A licensee whose license expires during a period of active military service will be given a complete waiver of continuing education requirements for the renewal period in which he is activated. Active duty military personnel shall be exempt proportionally for continuing education for months of documented active service in the renewal cycle during which active military service terminates

Audit

The board shall conduct an audit of the continuing education records of a number of the licensees to be determined by the board each renewal period. The board will notify licensees who are randomly selected for audit to determine compliance with the continuing education requirements. Licensees chosen for the audit shall submit to the board by the specified date copies of all records and documentation showing completion of the continuing education courses or activities previously submitted for fulfillment of continuing education requirements.

References

46 LIV §123

46 LIV §194

46 LIV §197

46 LIV §198

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