Continuing Education Requirements
The following information pertains to continuing education requirements for maintaining licensure in the State of North
Dakota, once a permanent license has been obtained.
All physical therapists and physical therapist assistants must obtain twenty-five contact hours of continuing education
every two years to be eligible for registration or re-registration. One contact hour equals sixty minutes of instruction. There may be no
carryover of credit hours to the next reporting period.
Even-numbered licenses will report CEU hours during even-numbered renewal years. Odd-numbered
licenses report CEU hours during odd-numbered renewal years. The licensee will be required to verify compliance with the CEU
requirements by checking the checkbox on the online renewal form. A random sample of licensees will be chosen annually for audit by the
Board. Licensees that are selected for audit will be required to submit the Continuing Education Reporting Form within 30 days of
receiving notice of the audit.
New Graduates are exempt from reporting continuing education hours for the renewal period following graduation,
but are required to complete the full number of hours for all subsequent years. Endorsed licenses must report continuing education hours
in accordance with section 61.5-03-03-01 of the ND PT rules and regulations.
As stated in the Rules & Regulations, article 61.5-03, any course related to physical therapy sponsored by the American Physical Therapy
Association, state physical therapy associations, medical institutions or educational institutions, is automatically approved. In addition,
any course planned or sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, American Heart Association or similar organizations, is approved. Credit
shall not be given for entertainment or recreational activities, orientation sessions, holding an office, meetings to establish policies,
keynote speakers, or meals.
Fifteen hours of the required coursework for any reporting period must be clinically
(direct patient care skills) related, of which 5 hours may be CPR. (Please refer to article 61.5-03-02-02 for specifics).
All licensed persons are responsible for maintaining records to verify that they have completed the required CEUs. If the Committee
questions any entry on the reporting form, additional documentation to verify the coursework may be requested. A person who claims
extenuating circumstances in not being able to meet the continuing education requirements, may petition the Committee for consideration
of those special conditions.
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