Georgia Physical Therapist License Renewal — CE Requirements and Fees

Georgia Physical Therapist Licenses renew biennially, with a statewide fixed expiration date of December 31 of every odd-numbered year. Every Georgia-licensed PT and PTA is on the same renewal cycle — there is no individual birth-month expiration. This means the renewal season is predictable, but it also means the entire Georgia PT community renews at the same time, so submitting early avoids any portal congestion near the deadline.

Renewal requires 30 hours of continuing competence completed during the biennium, including a mandatory 4-hour ethics and jurisprudence component. Georgia uses CE Broker to track CE completion. On the renewal application, licensees attest to having completed all CE requirements — by attesting, you are confirming completion. Submitting a renewal application before completing your CE is a disciplinary risk the Board explicitly warns against.

What Makes Georgia Different for Renewal

• Fixed statewide expiration date. All Georgia PT licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years. Unlike states with birthday-based expirations, every Georgia PT faces the same deadline — December 31, 2025; December 31, 2027; and so on.
• Revocation by operation of law on February 1. Georgia’s renewal window runs through January with a late fee. Any license not renewed by February 1 of the following year is revoked automatically by operation of law — not simply lapsed or inactive. Reinstatement is then required, with increasing requirements depending on how long the license has been expired.
• Mandatory 4-hour Ethics and Jurisprudence CE. Of the 30 required CE hours, at least 4 must cover Georgia ethics and jurisprudence. This can be satisfied by completing an approved Georgia Ethics & Jurisprudence course, or by retaking the GA-JAM — but the GA-JAM score used for initial licensure cannot be reused for renewal CE credit. A fresh GA-JAM is required.
• CE Broker for tracking. Georgia requires PT licensees to register with CE Broker and use it to track and report continuing competence hours. CE completion is attested on the renewal application.
• 10-hour daily CE cap. Per Board Rule 490-4, no more than 10 CE credit hours may be earned in a single calendar day. This prevents credit-farming through marathon single-day seminars.
• Standards-based CE approval. Georgia does not publish a pre-approved provider list. CE activities must meet the standards in Board Rule 490-4. Licensees are responsible for ensuring CE activities qualify before claiming credit.

Continuing Education Requirements for Georgia PT Renewal

Per Georgia Board Rule 490-4, licensed physical therapists must complete 30 contact hours of continuing competence during each two-year renewal period. Of those 30 hours, a minimum of 4 must address ethics and jurisprudence.

Ethics and Jurisprudence requirement

The mandatory 4 hours in ethics and jurisprudence may be satisfied in one of two ways: completing an approved Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence course from an eligible provider, or retaking the GA-JAM with a passing score of 80%. Per Board policy, the GA-JAM score used for initial licensure cannot be applied to renewal CE — a separate examination must be completed. Additionally, a GA-JAM score used for renewal CE credit cannot be reused for subsequent renewal cycles or for the terms of any Board Order.

CE tracking via CE Broker

Georgia uses CE Broker for PT continuing competence tracking. Licensees must register with CE Broker and ensure their CE records are current at renewal. CE documentation is not submitted to the Board at renewal — licensees attest to completion on the renewal application. However, the Board may audit CE compliance, and CE hours cannot carry over from one biennium to the next.

10-hour daily cap

Board Rule 490-4 limits CE credit to a maximum of 10 hours earned in any single calendar day. Activities spanning multiple days are credited only for the hours attributable to each respective day.

How to Renew Your Georgia Physical Therapist License

1. Complete your 30 CE contact hours (including the mandatory 4 hours in ethics/jurisprudence) during the biennium and ensure they are recorded in CE Broker
2. Log in to the GOALS portal and navigate to your PT license renewal application
3. Complete the renewal application — you will be asked about CE completion, criminal history, drug and alcohol treatment, and citizenship. Read all questions carefully; inaccurate responses delay or deny renewal
4. By answering “Yes” to the CE question, you are certifying that you have completed ALL CE requirements at the time of submission. The Board is explicit: submitting renewal before CE is complete creates disciplinary exposure. Complete all CE before submitting.
5. Pay the $65 renewal fee (on time, before December 31) or the $90 late fee (after December 31 through January)
6. Submit and retain confirmation of your renewed registration

Late renewals submitted after December 31 through January require the $90 late fee. Licenses not renewed by February 1 are revoked by operation of law and require reinstatement. Contact the Board at (404) 424-9966 or visit sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-physical-therapy for reinstatement procedures.

Reinstatement for Lapsed Georgia PT Licenses

If your Georgia PT license is revoked by operation of law (not renewed by February 1), reinstatement is required before you may legally practice. Reinstatement requirements depend on how long your license has been expired and whether you have maintained documented practice:

• Expired less than 2 years: Reinstatement fee of $100 + $10 processing fee. Must provide proof of CE completion.
• Expired 2–5 years, with documented practice in last 2 years: Reinstatement fee plus proof of CE completion for the relevant period.
• Expired 2–5 years, practice 2–5 years prior to reinstatement: Reinstatement fee plus CE plus 480 hours of continuous supervised practice under a Georgia-licensed PT, completed within 3 months, with Board-specified documentation.

Reinstatement applications must be reviewed and approved at a regularly scheduled Board meeting — per the Georgia SOS About page, the Board meets approximately six times each year. Contact the Board directly before attempting to practice during reinstatement proceedings. Per the Georgia PT Board Policies document, practicing without a current license while seeking reinstatement may result in a consent agreement or public reprimand that includes a $25 fine for each day of unlicensed practice, among other sanctions. Source: Georgia PT Board Policies

PT Compact and Georgia Renewal

Georgia is an active PT Compact member state. For PTs whose home state is Georgia, your Georgia license is your home-state license for compact privilege purposes. When you renew your Georgia license, your compact privileges in other member states remain tied to your Georgia license expiration — compact privileges expire when your home-state license expires.

For travel PTs holding a Georgia Compact Privilege (home state elsewhere): your compact privilege expires when your home-state license expires. You must renew your home-state license first. When renewing a Georgia Compact Privilege, the GA-JAM must be passed again — per FSBPT’s official GA JAM page, “all applicants purchasing an initial compact privilege or renewing an existing compact privilege in Georgia must take and pass the Georgia JAM before purchasing or renewing the compact privilege.” The renewal compact privilege fee is $110 ($65 Georgia state fee + $45 PT Compact commission fee).

Practical Notes for Georgia PT License Renewal

• December 31 is the same for everyone — start early. Every Georgia PT faces the same renewal deadline on the same day. Don’t wait until late December when GOALS and CE Broker may be handling high traffic from thousands of simultaneous renewals.
• Attest only after CE is complete. The Board is explicit: answering “Yes” to the CE question on the renewal application means you are certifying that all CE is already done. Submitting your renewal and planning to finish CE afterward creates disciplinary exposure. Finish CE first, then submit.
• The GA-JAM for renewal is a fresh exam — not a repeat of your licensure score. If you plan to satisfy the 4-hour ethics/jurisprudence requirement by retaking the GA-JAM, register through FSBPT well before your renewal deadline. The GA-JAM exam is available on-demand, but results need to be in hand before you submit your renewal.
• February 1 revocation is automatic and harsh. Georgia’s revocation-by-operation-of-law mechanism means there is no waiting period, no notice, no Board vote — your license is simply revoked if you miss the February 1 deadline. Reinstatement requires a Board meeting review, which occurs approximately 6 times per year.
• CE hours don’t carry over. CE hours completed this biennium cannot be applied to the next renewal period. Don’t bank hours early thinking they’ll count twice.
• Travel PTs holding compact privileges: GA-JAM required at every renewal. Georgia is one of the states that requires the GA-JAM for compact privilege renewal — not just the initial application. Build GA-JAM retesting into your compact privilege renewal plan for Georgia assignments.

Relevant Georgia Laws and Regulations

• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 490-4 — Renewal and Continuing Competence Requirements
• O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 33 — Georgia Physical Therapy Practice Act
• Georgia PT Board FAQ
• Georgia Board of Physical Therapy Board Policies

Related Pages

• Georgia Physical Therapist License Requirements — Initial Licensing
• Ohio Physical Therapist License Renewal
• New York Physical Therapist License Renewal
• Physical Therapist Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to renew my Georgia Physical Therapist License?

Georgia PT licenses renew every two years (biennial). All licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years — this is a statewide fixed date, not an individual birthday-based date. Source: Georgia PT Board FAQ

What is the renewal fee for a Georgia Physical Therapist License?

The on-time renewal fee is $65, submitted before December 31 of the renewal year. A late renewal fee of $90 applies if submitted after December 31 through January. Licenses not renewed by February 1 require reinstatement. Source: Georgia PT Board Fee Schedule

How many CE hours are required for Georgia PT license renewal?

30 contact hours of continuing competence are required per biennial renewal period. At least 4 of those hours must address Georgia ethics and jurisprudence. Hours completed in one biennium do not carry over to the next. Source: Georgia PT Board FAQ

How do I satisfy the mandatory 4-hour ethics and jurisprudence CE requirement?

The 4-hour ethics and jurisprudence requirement may be satisfied by completing an approved Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence course, or by retaking the GA-JAM with a passing score (80%). The GA-JAM score used for initial licensure cannot be applied to renewal CE — a fresh examination must be completed. GA-JAM scores from prior renewal cycles or Board Orders also cannot be reused. Source: Georgia PT Board Policies

What happens if my Georgia PT license is not renewed by February 1?

Any Georgia PT license not renewed by February 1 of the year following the renewal deadline lapses and is revoked by operation of law. Reinstatement is then required before you may practice. Reinstatement fees are $100 (expired less than 2 years) or $150 (expired more than 2 years), plus a $10 processing fee. Additional supervised practice requirements may apply depending on length of lapse. Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 490-4

Does Georgia use CE Broker for PT continuing education tracking?

Yes. Georgia requires PT licensees to use CE Broker to track and report continuing competence hours. On the renewal application, licensees attest to having completed all CE requirements — the Board may audit CE records at any time. Ensure your CE Broker records are current before submitting your renewal. Source: Georgia PT Board Renewal Webinar

Does Georgia require the GA-JAM for PT Compact Privilege renewal?

Yes. Per FSBPT’s official GA JAM page, all applicants purchasing an initial compact privilege or renewing an existing compact privilege in Georgia must take and pass the GA-JAM before purchasing or renewing the compact privilege. The GA-JAM score used for licensure or a prior renewal cycle cannot be reused. The renewal compact privilege fee is $110 ($65 Georgia state fee + $45 PT Compact commission fee). Source: FSBPT Georgia JAM Page