Washington Physical Therapist License Renewal 2026

Washington physical therapist licenses renew annually on the licensee’s birthday. The renewal cycle is annual, but continuing education requirements are tracked and reported on a two-year cycle. See the At-a-Glance table above for current fees and CE requirements. Washington has no grace period after your birthday expiration — late penalties apply immediately, and practicing with an expired license is not permitted.

Washington’s CE framework is more detailed than many states, combining a standard 32-hour CE requirement with a separate 200-hour practice hours requirement, mandatory health equity training, a one-time suicide prevention training, and — for PTs newly licensed on or after January 1, 2026 — a one-time jurisprudence exam requirement in the first CE cycle. Understanding all components is essential to completing renewal without issues.

Washington PT Continuing Education Requirements

Washington’s CE requirements are governed by WAC 246-915-085 and apply on a two-year cycle (birthday to birthday). All requirements below must be met every two years unless otherwise noted.

32 CE Hours

Physical therapists must complete 32 hours of continuing education every two years. CE must be related to the practice of physical therapy. Washington does not maintain a pre-approved provider list — courses must meet the criteria and documentation requirements in WAC 246-915-085. Licensees remain responsible for ensuring coursework satisfies WAC requirements and for maintaining documentation that may be requested during a board audit. Source: WAC 246-915-085

200 Practice Hours

In addition to CE hours, PTs must complete 200 hours involving the application of physical therapy knowledge and skills every two years. These hours may be obtained through clinical practice of physical therapy or through approved non-clinical activities such as PT consulting, management of PT services, research, or PT education. Per WAC 246-915-085(7). Source: WAC 246-915-085

Health Equity Training — 2 Hours (Every Two Years)

All Washington PTs must complete 2 hours of health equity continuing education every two years, per WAC 246-915-085(4). These hours count toward the total 32 CE hour requirement. Free training options are available on the DOH Health Equity Continuing Education webpage. Source: Washington DOH PT CE

Suicide Prevention Training — 3 Hours (One-Time)

All Washington PTs must complete a one-time, 3-hour suicide assessment training as described in WAC 246-915-086. This is a one-time requirement across your licensure, not required every renewal cycle. These hours count toward CE requirements in the cycle they are completed. Source: WAC 246-915-085(5)

Jurisprudence Exam (First CE Cycle — for PTs Licensed On or After January 1, 2026)

PTs who received their Washington license on or after January 1, 2026 must take and pass the Washington State Physical Therapy Jurisprudence Exam once during their first full CE cycle after licensure. This is a one-time requirement. Completion counts as one CE hour toward the 32-hour biennial requirement, per WAC 246-915-085(6). PTs licensed before January 1, 2026 are not subject to this requirement. Source: WAC 246-915-085(6)

CE Category Limits

Washington’s CE rules include category-specific limitations under WAC 246-915-085. For example: recorded electronic instructional media without specific interactive objectives is limited to 4 hours per cycle and requires written takeaways; books or articles reviewed are capped at 8 hours total and require a written synopsis per hour. Review WAC 246-915-085 directly for the complete list of category limitations and documentation requirements. Source: WAC 246-915-085

How to Renew Your Washington Physical Therapist License

1. Log in to your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account
2. Access the HELMS portal and navigate to your license renewal
3. Confirm your CE and practice hours are complete and documented (32 CE hours + 200 practice hours per 2-year cycle)
4. Pay the active renewal fee (see At-a-Glance table) by credit/debit card or e-check online
5. Submit renewal before your birthday — no grace period applies

If renewing by mail, return the physical renewal notice with payment to Washington DOH per DOH instructions. Online renewal via HELMS is the preferred method. Contact DOH at 360-236-4700 or HSQA.CSC@doh.wa.gov for questions about your renewal.

Expired or Inactive Washington PT License — Reactivation Rules

Washington distinguishes between an expired license (not renewed by the birthday deadline) and an inactive license (a PT who formally placed their license on inactive status). The reactivation requirements differ significantly between these two statuses.

Expired License — WAC 246-915-050

If your Washington PT license has expired, the threshold for requiring NPTE retake is five years:

• Expired less than 5 years: No NPTE retake required (if you have not been practicing in another jurisdiction without authorization). Reactivation requires meeting the general requirements of WAC 246-12, Part 2, including paying applicable late penalties and reissuance fees, submitting a reactivation form, and providing a written declaration that continuing competency hours have been met.
• Expired 5 years or more: If you have not been in active practice in another U.S. jurisdiction during the lapsed period, you must retake and pass the NPTE in addition to meeting WAC 246-12, Part 2 reactivation requirements, per WAC 246-915-050.

Source: WAC 246-915-050 — Reactivation of Expired Credential

Inactive License — WAC 246-915-350

If you formally placed your Washington PT license on inactive status (a different status from simply letting it expire), a separate threshold applies:

• Inactive 3 years or less: Return to active status by meeting WAC 246-12, Part 4 requirements.
• Inactive more than 3 years: If you have not been practicing in another U.S. jurisdiction, you must generally pass the NPTE to reactivate, though the board has discretion to waive this requirement if the applicant presents other proof of continuing competency, per WAC 246-915-350.

Source: WAC 246-915-350 — Inactive Credential

PT Compact and Washington License Renewal

Washington is a PT Compact member state. If your Washington license is your home state license and you hold compact privileges in other states, your compact privileges are directly tied to your Washington license status. If your Washington license lapses, expires without renewal, or becomes encumbered, compact privileges you hold in other states may become invalid, as eligibility depends on maintaining an active, unencumbered home state license.

Compact privileges are renewed separately through the PT Compact Commission system — maintaining your Washington home state license is a prerequisite, but it does not automatically renew your compact privileges. You must separately maintain purchased compact privileges through the PT Compact Commission. Source: Washington DOH PT Compact

Practical Notes for Washington PT License Renewal

• No grace period — renew before your birthday. Washington has no grace period after your birthday expiration. Late penalties apply immediately after the deadline, and practicing with an expired license is not permitted. Put your birthday renewal date in your calendar and build in lead time.
• Annual renewal, biennial CE. Your license renews every year, but your CE and practice hours are tracked over a two-year cycle. You are documenting CE continuously, but the full 32-hour + 200-hour requirement is the biennial total — not per year.
• 200 practice hours is a real documentation requirement. The 200-hour practice hours requirement is not a formality — it reflects actual application of PT knowledge and skills through clinical practice or approved non-clinical activities. Keep records of your employment and professional activities as you go; reconstructing two years of documentation at renewal time is far harder than tracking it in real time.
• No pre-approved CE providers — know the criteria. Washington does not maintain a pre-approved CE vendor list. Your responsibility is to select CE that meets the criteria in WAC 246-915-085 and maintain documentation of your courses. Review the WAC directly or the DOH CE webpage before selecting courses.
• Travel PTs: annual renewal means more planning. Annual renewal is a shorter cycle than many states. If you’re working multi-state assignments, track your Washington birthday renewal date carefully — it comes around faster than a biennial cycle.
• Keep CE records after renewal. Washington may audit continuing competency documentation. Retain CE records and practice hour documentation for the period required by WAC — do not discard records after submitting your renewal.
• Expired 5+ years? NPTE retake is likely required. If your Washington license has been expired for five or more years and you have not been actively practicing in another U.S. jurisdiction, you will need to retake the NPTE to reactivate, per WAC 246-915-050. Contact Washington DOH well in advance if this applies to your situation.

Relevant Statutes and Regulations

• Chapter 18.74 RCW — Physical Therapy Practice Act
• WAC 246-915-085 — Continuing Competency
• WAC 246-915-990 — Fee Schedule
• WAC 246-915-050 — Reactivation of Expired Credential (5-year rule)
• WAC 246-915-350 — Inactive Credential (3-year rule)

Related Pages

• Washington Physical Therapist Initial Licensing — Requirements and Application
• Physical Therapist Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to renew my Washington physical therapist license?

Washington PT licenses renew annually on the licensee’s birthday, per WAC 246-915-990. CE requirements are tracked on a two-year cycle, but the license itself requires annual renewal. Source: WAC 246-915-990

What is the renewal fee for a Washington physical therapist license?

The active license renewal fee is $100 per year, per WAC 246-915-990. A $50 late renewal penalty applies if renewal is not submitted by the birthday deadline. An additional $50 expired license reissuance fee applies if the license has expired. Inactive license renewal is $35. Source: WAC 246-915-990

How many CE hours are required to renew a Washington PT license?

Washington PTs must complete 32 hours of continuing education every two years, plus 200 hours of PT knowledge and skills application every two years. Additionally, 2 hours of health equity CE are required every two years (counted toward the 32 hours), a one-time 3-hour suicide prevention training is required, and PTs newly licensed on or after January 1, 2026 must complete the jurisprudence exam during their first full CE cycle. Source: WAC 246-915-085

Is there a grace period if my Washington PT license expires?

There is no grace period. The credential expires on the renewal date if not renewed. Late fees and reissuance requirements apply, and you may not practice with an expired license. Source: Washington DOH PT FAQ

What happens if my Washington PT license has been expired for several years?

The threshold for a significant change in reactivation requirements is five years. If your license has been expired for less than five years, reactivation under WAC 246-12, Part 2 generally does not require NPTE retake (provided you have not been practicing in another jurisdiction without authorization). If your license has been expired for five years or more and you have not been in active practice in another U.S. jurisdiction, you must retake and pass the NPTE to reactivate, per WAC 246-915-050. Contact Washington DOH directly for your specific situation. Source: WAC 246-915-050

If I let my Washington license lapse, do I lose my PT Compact privileges in other states?

Compact privileges are tied to your home state license. If your Washington PT license expires, lapses, or becomes encumbered, compact privileges you hold in other PT Compact states may become invalid, as eligibility depends on maintaining an active, unencumbered home state license. Maintaining your Washington license in good standing is required to hold compact privileges. Source: Washington DOH PT Compact

What are Washington’s mandatory CE topics for PT renewal?

Washington requires: (1) 2 hours of health equity CE every two years, counting toward the 32-hour total; (2) a one-time 3-hour suicide prevention training over the course of your licensure; and (3) for PTs first licensed on or after January 1, 2026, a one-time jurisprudence exam during the first full CE cycle, counting as 1 CE hour. All are codified in WAC 246-915-085. Source: WAC 246-915-085

Can I renew my Washington PT license online?

Yes. Washington DOH offers online renewal through the HELMS portal, accessible via SecureAccess Washington (SAW) at secureaccess.wa.gov. Paper mail renewal is also available. Online renewal is the preferred method. Source: Washington DOH PT Licensing Information

When does a Washington physical therapist license expire?

Washington PT licenses expire annually on the licensee’s birthday, per WAC 246-915-990. There is no grace period — the credential expires on the renewal date if not renewed. A $50 late renewal penalty applies after the birthday deadline, and a separate $50 expired license reissuance fee applies if the license has fully lapsed. You may not practice with an expired license. Source: WAC 246-915-990