California PT and PTA license renewal and continuing competency
The Physical Therapy Board of California lists 30 continuing competency hours for a licensee who has renewed one or more times: 4 hours of basic life support, 2 hours of ethics, laws and regulations, and 24 other hours.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
Source read on November 12, 2026: the board’s Continuing Competency page. It states: “Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants are subject to the same continuing competency requirements.” The page points to CCR Sections 1399.90-1399.99 for full text; those were not read for this page.
Cycle
“Continuing competency hours must be earned during the renewal period - two years prior to the expiration of your license or from your first license issue date to the your license expiration for first time renewal.”
Hours
For licensees not renewing for the first time, the chart lists “4 Hours (Hands-on required)” of basic life support, “2 Hours” of ethics, laws and regulations, and 24 other hours, for a total of 30 (paraphrased from the chart). For a first-time renewal paid on or before the expiration date, the chart totals 15 hours; paid after that date, 30 (paraphrased).
Approved coursework
Coursework must come from a board-recognized approval agency or a provider approved by one, or be college coursework at an accredited institution; alternate pathways are listed in CCR Section 1399.94(b) (paraphrased). “The Board does not approve individual continuing competency courses or providers.”
Records
“Retain documentation of continuing competency activity completion for a period of five years after the course or activity concludes. You must submit the evidence of completion if you are audited by the Board.” The page read does not name a carryover allowance.
What this page does not do
It covers the state physical therapy license only, and only what the official page or pages named above say. It does not list fees and does not replace the board’s own instructions. Rules change; check the board before you renew.