Virginia PT & PTA continuing education requirements

Board-verified details Last checked 2026-10-17

PT hours

30 contact hours

PTA hours

30 contact hours

Renewal cycle

2 years

Ethics, jurisprudence & required topics

No specific mandatory topic-hours in 18VAC112-20-131; licensees are told to consider ethics, standard of care, patient safety, new technology and communication when choosing courses

Live vs. online limits

PT: at least 20 hours Type 1 (organized courses from board-approved organizations), no more than 10 hours Type 2 (self-directed: independent study, teaching, clinical supervision, etc.). PTA: at least 15 Type 1, no more…

Rules change. This summary is for orientation only and may be out of date or incomplete. Confirm with your state board. Fields marked “Check with your board” could not be verified.

Full requirements

PT hours required
30 contact hours (18VAC112-20-131(A))
Source: [4]
PTA hours required
30 contact hours (18VAC112-20-131(A))
Source: [4]
Renewal cycle
2 years
Source: [5]
Deadline pattern (PT)
Renew biennially by December 31 of each even-numbered year; hours count from the 2 years before renewal.
Source: [1] [2] [3]
Deadline pattern (PTA)
Same as PTs.
Source: [1] [2] [3]
Live / in-person / online limits
PT: at least 20 hours Type 1 (organized courses from board-approved organizations), no more than 10 hours Type 2 (self-directed: independent study, teaching, clinical supervision, etc.). PTA: at least 15 Type 1, no more than 15 Type 2.
Source: [1] [2] [3]
Required topics
  • No specific mandatory topic-hours in 18VAC112-20-131; licensees are told to consider ethics, standard of care, patient safety, new technology and communication when choosing courses

Source: [1] [2] [3]
Course approval rules
Type 1 courses must be approved or provided by an organization the board approves. Type 2 activities need not be. APTA specialty certification/recertification can satisfy a biennium.
Source: [1] [2] [3]
First renewal
Exempt for the first biennial renewal after initial licensure by exam in Virginia.
Source: [1] [2] [3]
Official state board
Virginia Board of Physical Therapy
(804) 367-4674 · [email protected]
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Unlimited plans, prices checked

Before buying, check that a course is approved for Virginia (look for the state on the course’s approval statement).

Sources

Numbers next to each field point to the source(s) used for that field.

  1. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency112/chapter20/section131/
  2. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency112/chapter20/section130/
  3. https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/PhysicalTherapy/PractitionerResources/ContinuingEducation/
  4. https://www.fsbpt.org/lrg/Home/LicenseRenewalUnitsRequired
  5. https://www.fsbpt.org/lrg/Home/LicensureRenewalTerm
  6. https://www.fsbpt.org/lrg/Home/LicensureRenewalRequirement
  7. https://www.fsbpt.org/lrg/Home/LicenseRenewalCourseApproval

Last checked: 2026-10-17. Primary source: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency112/chapter20/section131/