Illinois Physical Therapist License Renewal — CE Requirements and Fees

ByAllied License Guide Editorial Team
Editorial Note: This page covers renewal of an Illinois Physical Therapist License, governed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Data on this page is based on IDFPR sources and 68 Ill. Admin. Code Part 1340 reviewed in May 2026. This page is editorially reviewed by an ARDMS-credentialed sonographer as part of AlliedLicenseGuide.com’s allied health licensing database. View the IDFPR PT Continuing Education Fact Sheet.
Who this guide is for:
  • Illinois-licensed physical therapists approaching the September 30 biennial renewal deadline
  • Travel PTs holding an Illinois PT license who need to renew before or during an assignment
  • PTs whose Illinois license has lapsed who need to understand restoration requirements

Illinois Physical Therapist License Renewal — At a Glance

Renewal Cycle Every 2 years (biennial)
Renewal Fee $60 per 2-year cycle ($30/year, per 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1340.57)
Restoration (lapsed license) $50 restoration fee plus all lapsed renewal fees, not to exceed $200 total
License Expiration September 30 of every even-numbered year (statewide fixed date — all Illinois PT licenses expire the same day)
Grace Period No formal grace period published. Practice on an expired license is considered unlicensed activity. IDFPR online renewal portal opens before the September 30 expiration date. Check idfpr.illinois.gov for current renewal availability.
CE Hours Required 40 contact hours per 2-year prerenewal period (1 CE hour = 50 minutes). CE not required for first renewal.
Mandatory CE Topics At least 3 hours: ethical practice of physical therapy. At least 1 hour: sexual harassment prevention. At least 1 hour: implicit bias awareness. At least 1 hour: Alzheimer’s/dementia (if serving adults age 26+). At least 1 hour: cultural competency (once every 6 years / 3 renewal cycles). All mandatory hours count within the 40-hour total.
Self-Study / Online Limit Maximum 75% (30 hours) may be earned through self-study, web-based courses, or pre-recorded presentations from approved sponsors (per §1340.61(b)(3)(E), amended April 5, 2024). Online courses must include a test that must be passed to earn credit.
Approved CE Providers APTA and IPTA-approved programs; FSBPT (including ProCert); accredited colleges and universities; IDFPR-approved CE sponsors
Renewal Method Online via IDFPR renewal portal — check IDFPR for current renewal window timing
Renewal Contact 1-800-560-6420 (IDFPR call center) | IDFPR Online Renewal Portal
PT Compact Illinois is NOT currently a PT Compact member state. Compact legislation has been introduced but not yet enacted as of May 2026. Compact privileges are not available for Illinois practice.

Illinois Physical Therapist Licenses renew biennially, with a statewide fixed expiration of September 30 of every even-numbered year — meaning every Illinois-licensed PT renews on the same date. The IDFPR online renewal portal opens before the September 30 deadline; check idfpr.illinois.gov for current renewal window availability. Missing the renewal window requires a formal restoration process rather than standard online renewal.

Renewal requires 40 hours of continuing education completed during the preceding 24-month prerenewal period. Illinois has several mandatory CE topic requirements embedded within that 40-hour total — including ethics, sexual harassment prevention, and statewide health professional mandates on implicit bias and cultural competency. All mandatory hours count within the 40-hour total, not in addition to it.

What Makes Illinois Different for Renewal

  • September 30 statewide expiration — even years only. All Illinois PT licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years: September 30, 2026; September 30, 2028; and so on. PTA licenses expire September 30 of odd-numbered years. Every PT in Illinois is on the same renewal deadline.
  • First renewal CE exemption. New Illinois PT licensees are not required to complete any continuing education for their first license renewal. CE requirements begin with the second renewal period.
  • 75% self-study cap (as of April 2024). Per §1340.61(b)(3)(E) as amended effective April 5, 2024, a maximum of 75% of the 40 required CE hours (30 hours) may be earned through correspondence or web-based courses, including pre-recorded presentations and webinars, from approved sponsors. Online courses must include a test that must be passed to receive credit.
  • Multiple mandatory statewide topics. In addition to the PT-specific 3-hour ethics requirement, Illinois imposes statewide mandatory CE topics on all licensed healthcare professionals: sexual harassment prevention (1 hour per cycle), implicit bias awareness (1 hour per cycle), Alzheimer’s/dementia (1 hour per cycle for those serving adults 26+), and cultural competency (1 hour once every 6 years). All count within the 40-hour total.
  • Do not submit CE documentation at renewal. Illinois licensees certify CE compliance on the renewal application but do not submit CE certificates to IDFPR at renewal. However, licensees must retain documentation for a minimum of 5 years in case of audit.
  • Restoration, not late renewal, for missed deadlines. If the IDFPR renewal portal window closes before you renew, you cannot complete standard online renewal — you must request a formal Restoration application from IDFPR.

Continuing Education Requirements for Illinois PT Renewal

Per 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1340.61 and the IDFPR PT Continuing Education Fact Sheet, Illinois PT licensees must complete 40 contact hours of CE during each prerenewal period (the 24 months preceding September 30 of the renewal year). One CE hour equals 50 minutes of instruction.

Mandatory CE topics

The following mandatory topics must be included within the 40-hour total:

  • 3 hours — Ethical practice of physical therapy, including jurisprudence (per §1340.61(a)(1); PT-specific requirement, effective September 2016 renewal)
  • 1 hour — Sexual harassment prevention training (per IL Public Act 100-0762; applies to all IDFPR-licensed professionals)
  • 1 hour — Implicit bias awareness (per Public Act 102-0004; applies to all major IDFPR healthcare licensees)
  • 1 hour — Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (per Public Act 102-0399; required for healthcare professionals serving adults age 26 or older)
  • 1 hour — Cultural competency (per 68 Ill. Adm. Code §1130.525; required once every 6 years / 3 renewal cycles)

CE category limits

Per §1340.61(b)(3)(E) as amended effective April 5, 2024 (48 Ill. Reg. 6034), a maximum of 75% of the total CE requirement (30 hours) may be earned through self-study activities — including web-based courses, correspondence courses, and pre-recorded professional presentations and webinars from approved sponsors. These courses must include a test that must be passed to receive credit. An additional 50% cap applies to APTA publication-based tests/quizzes specifically. Teaching CE courses also carries a 50% cap. Other specific category caps include: journal clubs (up to 5 hours), IPTA district meeting programs (up to 5 hours), departmental in-services (up to 5 hours), skills certification courses (up to 5 hours), clinical instruction for PT students (up to 10 hours), and clinical instruction for PTA students (up to 5 hours). Serving on APTA or IPTA boards earns up to 8 hours; serving on other chartered professional organization boards earns up to 8 hours.

Approved CE providers

Approved CE sponsors include the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and its components (including IPTA-approved programs), the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT, including ProCert), all accredited colleges and universities with CAPTE-accredited PT programs, and any other person, firm, or organization approved by IDFPR upon Board recommendation. CE earned in another state from a non-Illinois-approved sponsor requires an individual program approval request submitted to IDFPR with a $20 fee, at least 90 days before license expiration.

CE record retention

Licensees must retain documentation of CE compliance for a minimum of 5 years. Do not submit CE certificates at renewal — IDFPR may request documentation during an audit, but it is not submitted routinely.

How to Renew Your Illinois Physical Therapist License

  1. Complete your 40 CE contact hours during the prerenewal period (24 months before September 30 of the renewal year), including all mandatory topic requirements
  2. Access the IDFPR Online Renewal Portal — check IDFPR for current renewal window timing
  3. Complete the renewal application and certify compliance with CE requirements (do not submit CE certificates unless specifically requested)
  4. Pay the $60 renewal fee online
  5. Submit and retain confirmation of your renewed license

If you miss the online renewal window, you must request a Restoration application from IDFPR — standard online renewal will not be available. Contact IDFPR at 1-800-560-6420 for restoration procedures.

PT Compact and Illinois Renewal

As of May 2026, Illinois is not a PT Compact member state. Compact legislation has been introduced in Illinois but has not yet been enacted. Compact privileges are not currently available for practice in Illinois, and Illinois-licensed PTs cannot use their license as a home-state license for compact privileges in other states.

Travel PTs holding compact privileges from other member states cannot use those privileges to practice in Illinois — a standalone Illinois PT license is required. Monitor ptcompact.org/compact-map for updates on Illinois’s compact status.

Practical Notes for Illinois PT License Renewal

From the field: These notes reflect practical considerations beyond the official requirements.
  • September 30 is the same for all Illinois PTs — don’t wait. Every Illinois PT renews on the same day. The IDFPR portal can experience high volume near the deadline. Complete CE and submit renewal well before September 30.
  • First renewal is CE-free. If this is your first Illinois PT license renewal, you are exempt from CE requirements. CE compliance begins with your second renewal.
  • Track mandatory topics separately from general CE. With five mandatory topic requirements embedded in the 40-hour total, it is easy to lose track. Build a checklist: 3 hours ethics + 1 hour sexual harassment + 1 hour implicit bias + 1 hour Alzheimer’s (if applicable) + cultural competency every 6 years.
  • Self-study is capped at 30 hours (75%), not 20. Following a 2024 amendment to §1340.61 (effective April 5, 2024), up to 75% of required CE hours may now be earned through web-based or correspondence courses from approved sponsors. This is a meaningful increase from the prior 50% cap — but online courses must still include a test to earn credit.
  • Out-of-state CE from non-approved sponsors requires pre-approval. If you earn CE in another state from a sponsor not on Illinois’s approved list, you must submit an individual program approval request to IDFPR with a $20 fee at least 90 days before expiration. Late approval adds a $10/hour penalty up to $150.
  • Missing the online window means a formal restoration process. The IDFPR renewal portal is only open for a set window. If you miss it, online renewal is no longer available — you must contact IDFPR for a Restoration application and pay $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees (total not to exceed $200).
  • Keep CE documentation for 5 years. You certify compliance at renewal but do not submit certificates. Retain all CE documentation for the 5-year audit window.

Relevant Illinois Laws and Regulations

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Illinois PT licenses renew every two years (biennial). All licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years — this is a statewide fixed date shared by all Illinois-licensed PTs. Source: 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1340.57

What is the renewal fee for an Illinois Physical Therapist License?

The renewal fee is $60 per two-year cycle, calculated at $30 per year per 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1340.57. This is one of the lower PT renewal fees nationally. Source: 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1340.57

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

40 contact hours of continuing education are required per two-year prerenewal period. One CE hour equals 50 minutes. CE is not required for the first renewal of an Illinois PT license. Source: IDFPR PT CE Fact Sheet

What are the mandatory CE topics for Illinois PT renewal?

Illinois PT licensees must include within the 40-hour total: at least 3 hours in ethical practice of physical therapy; 1 hour in sexual harassment prevention; 1 hour in implicit bias awareness; 1 hour in Alzheimer’s/dementia (if serving adults 26+); and 1 hour in cultural competency once every 6 years. All mandatory hours count within the 40-hour total. Source: IDFPR PT CE Fact Sheet

Is there a limit on how many online or self-study CE hours I can use?

Yes, but the cap is 75% (30 hours), not 50%. Per 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1340.61(b)(3)(E) as amended effective April 5, 2024, a maximum of 75% of the total CE requirement may be earned through self-study activities including web-based courses, correspondence courses, and pre-recorded presentations from approved sponsors. Online courses must include a test that must be passed to receive credit. Source: 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1340.61 (current text)

What happens if I miss the Illinois PT renewal deadline?

Practicing on an expired Illinois PT license constitutes unlicensed activity. If the IDFPR online renewal portal has closed after September 30, standard online renewal is no longer available — you must contact IDFPR to request a formal Restoration application. The restoration fee is $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees, not to exceed $200 total. Source: 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1340.57

Does Illinois require a CE ethics course for PT renewal?

Yes. At least 3 of the 40 required CE hours must include content related to the ethical practice of physical therapy. This is a PT-specific requirement per 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1340.61, separate from the statewide mandatory topics. Source: IDFPR PT CE Fact Sheet

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on IDFPR and Illinois Administrative Code sources reviewed in May 2026. Renewal requirements, fees, and CE requirements are subject to change. Always verify current renewal requirements directly with IDFPR before submitting a renewal application. This page does not constitute legal or professional licensing advice. Verify at IDFPR →
Change Log: 2026-05-29 — Page created. Data based on IDFPR and 68 Ill. Admin. Code Part 1340 sources reviewed May 2026. Critical corrections applied: (1) Illinois compact status corrected — legislation introduced but not yet enacted, compact privileges not available; (2) self-study cap corrected from 50% to 75% per §1340.61(b)(3)(E) as amended April 5, 2024; (3) ethics CE wording updated to include “including jurisprudence” per statute; (4) renewal window language softened to remove unverified “2–3 month” claim. This page is reviewed periodically for regulatory updates.

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