Minnesota Physical Therapist License Renewal 2026

ByAllied License Guide Editorial Team
Editorial Note: This page covers renewal of a Minnesota physical therapist license, governed by the Minnesota State Board of Physical Therapy. Data is based on official Minnesota Board sources and Minnesota Rules Chapter 5601 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 primary source at Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy.
Who this guide is for:
  • Minnesota-licensed physical therapists approaching their annual license renewal deadline
  • Travel PTs holding a Minnesota PT license who need to renew before or during assignments
  • PTs whose Minnesota license has lapsed and need to understand reinstatement requirements

Minnesota Physical Therapist License Renewal — At a Glance

Renewal Cycle Annual — every year by December 31
License Expiration December 31 annually — fixed statewide date; all Minnesota PT licenses expire the same day
Renewal Fee $60 annual renewal fee
Late Renewal Fee $20 additional late fee (total $80 if renewed late)
Grace Period No grace period — practice after December 31 without renewal is considered practicing without a license and is subject to discipline under MS 148.75(a)(18)
Renewal Notice Renewal notices distributed before the December 31 deadline; renew early online to allow time for technical issues — per Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy
CE Requirement 20 contact hours every two years (biennial CE cycle; annual renewal)
Mandatory CE Topics Minimum 2 hours professional ethics per biennial cycle
Jurisprudence Exam Required annually as part of online renewal — open-book, self-study exam on MN PT Practice Act; retakable until passing; per Minn. Rules 5601.1700(2)
Self-Assessment CE Limit Maximum 9 hours per biennial cycle from FSBPT or APTA self-assessment tools
Work History / Active Practice Five-year work history entry required at annual renewal; certain licensees who have not actively practiced 320 hours in the past five years may face additional competency requirements — per Minn. Rules 5601.1700
Renewal Method Online via Board’s Online Services Account (recommended); paper/mail also available
Payment Methods Online: Visa or MasterCard; Mail: personal check, corporate check, cashier’s check, or money order payable to MN Board of Physical Therapy
Renewal Portal mn.gov/boards/physical-therapy/renew
Renewal Contact (612) 627-5406 | physical.therapy@state.mn.us

Minnesota PT licenses renew annually and expire on December 31 every year — this is a fixed statewide date shared by all Minnesota PT licensees. The renewal fee is $60. Practice after December 31 without a renewed license is expressly considered practicing without a license and is subject to discipline under MS 148.75(a)(18). There is no grace period.

Minnesota’s renewal framework has two important features that distinguish it from most states: annual license renewal with a biennial CE cycle, and a mandatory annual jurisprudence examination embedded in the online renewal process. Understanding both is essential to staying compliant.

Annual Renewal, Biennial CE — Understanding the Difference

Important: Minnesota PT licenses renew every year, but continuing education (CE) is required every two years. You renew and pay $60 annually, but you only submit CE verification every other year. The jurisprudence exam, however, is required every year as part of renewal.

Specifically: Minnesota statutes require license renewal annually before January 1. CE must be completed and verified at renewal every two years per Minn. Rules 5601.2100–5601.2500. The Board tracks this biennial cycle independently of annual renewals. Newly licensed physical therapists commence their two-year CE cycle on January 1 immediately following the date licensure was granted — CE credits may be accrued during the first partial year in addition to the two full years.

Annual Jurisprudence Exam — Required Every Year at Renewal

Beginning January 1, 2019, Minnesota requires all PT licensees to complete a self-study jurisprudence examination on the Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy Practice Act as part of the annual online renewal process, per Minn. Rules 5601.1700(2). Key features:

  • Open-book exam: Licensees self-study the PT Practice Act before taking the exam
  • Embedded in online renewal: The jurisprudence exam is part of the annual online renewal — it is not a separate process
  • Retakable: The exam may be retaken as many times as necessary to achieve a passing score
  • Annual requirement: Required every year, not just at biennial CE verification

To view the Minnesota Board of PT Practice Act for self-study: mn.gov/boards/physical-therapy/board-info/statutes-rules. Source: Minn. Rules 5601.1700(2)

Minnesota PT Continuing Education Requirements

20 Hours Every Two Years

Minnesota physical therapists must complete 20 contact hours of continuing education credit every two years as a condition of licensure renewal, per Minn. Stat. §148.73 and Minn. Rules 5601.2100–5601.2500. Licensees must attest to completion of continuing education at renewal time and retain CE documentation in the event they are selected for an audit. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education

Mandatory 2 Hours — Professional Ethics

At least 2 of the 20 CE hours each biennial cycle must be on professional ethics directly related to the practice of physical therapy, per Minn. Stat. §148.73. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education

Self-Assessment Tools — 9-Hour Maximum

The maximum number of CE hours that may be earned from FSBPT or APTA self-assessment tools is 9 hours per biennial cycle, per Board rules. Licensees may earn up to 9 of the 20 required hours through approved self-assessment tools. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education

Newly Licensed PTs — First CE Cycle

Newly licensed physical therapists commence their two-year CE cycle on January 1 immediately following the date licensure was granted. CE credits may be accrued during the first partial year in addition to the two full years of licensure. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education

How to Renew Your Minnesota Physical Therapist License

  1. Online renewal opens before the December 31 deadline — renew early to allow time for any technical difficulties; log in to the Board’s Online Services Account at mn.gov/boards/physical-therapy/renew
  2. Complete the annual jurisprudence self-study exam embedded in the online renewal — review the MN PT Practice Act before beginning
  3. Complete work history entry for the preceding five years as required by the Board’s renewal instructions
  4. Pay the $60 renewal fee online by Visa or MasterCard (or mail check/money order)
  5. Complete renewal before December 31 — no grace period applies

Contact the Board at (612) 627-5406 or physical.therapy@state.mn.us with renewal questions. The Board is open M–F, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

Work History and Active Practice Requirement

When completing the annual online renewal, Minnesota PTs must include their work history for the preceding five years. Per the Board’s current renewal instructions, licensees must include January 2021 – December 2025 in their work history entry at the time of 2026 renewal.

Under Minn. Rules 5601.1700, certain licensees who have not actively practiced the equivalent of 320 hours during the past five years may be subject to additional competency requirements before the license can be renewed or reactivated:

  • Achieve a passing score on retaking the NPTE, or
  • Complete no less than 320 hours of Board-approved supervised clinical practice with a broad base of interventions and patient diagnoses (site must be pre-approved by the Board)

Contact the Board at (612) 627-5406 or physical.therapy@state.mn.us if you have questions about whether the active practice requirement applies to your renewal. Source: Minn. Rules 5601.1700; Minnesota Board renewal instructions

Lapsed Minnesota PT License

Practice with a lapsed or non-renewed Minnesota PT license is a basis for discipline under MS 148.75(a)(18). Practice after December 31 without renewal is considered practicing without a license. No specific null-and-void threshold or formal reinstatement procedure was identified in the sources reviewed. A $20 late fee applies to late renewal submissions. Contact the Board at (612) 627-5406 or physical.therapy@state.mn.us if your license has lapsed for guidance on reinstatement. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Renewal

PT Compact and Minnesota License Renewal

Minnesota is a PT Compact member state under Minn. Stat. §148.699. If Minnesota is your home state and you hold compact privileges in other states, those privileges are dependent on maintaining an active, unencumbered Minnesota home state license and may be affected if the Minnesota license expires or becomes ineligible. Compact privileges are renewed separately through the PT Compact Commission — maintaining your Minnesota license does not automatically renew compact privileges. Source: PT Compact Commission

Practical Notes for Minnesota PT License Renewal

From the field: These notes reflect practical considerations for working PTs renewing a Minnesota license.
  • December 31 — everyone renews on the same day. All Minnesota PT licenses expire December 31. Renew early online — the Board recommends renewing well before the deadline to allow time for any technical difficulties.
  • Jurisprudence exam every year — study the Practice Act before you start renewal. The jurisprudence exam is embedded in the online renewal process. It is open-book and retakable, but you need to review the Minnesota PT Practice Act before starting. Having it open in another tab when you begin renewal makes this straightforward.
  • CE is biennial even though renewal is annual. You renew and pay $60 every year, but CE documentation is submitted every other year. Tracking which year you are in your biennial CE cycle is your responsibility — the Board will not remind you of which renewal year requires CE verification.
  • Complete your work history entry at renewal. The Board requires licensees to enter their work history for the preceding five years during the annual online renewal. If you have not actively practiced during that period, additional competency requirements may apply under Minn. Rules 5601.1700 — contact the Board if this applies to your situation.
  • Retain CE documentation for audits. Minnesota may audit CE compliance. Retain CE certificates and documentation in case you are selected for a Board audit.
  • Travel PTs: December 31 deadline simplifies planning. Unlike birthday-based renewal states, Minnesota’s fixed December 31 deadline is easy to track. If you are on a Minnesota assignment that runs through year-end, build renewal into your pre-assignment checklist.

Relevant Statutes and Regulations

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a Minnesota physical therapist license expire?

All Minnesota PT licenses expire on December 31 every year. This is a fixed statewide date — every Minnesota PT licensee has the same expiration date. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Renewal

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

Minnesota PT licenses renew annually — every year by December 31. The renewal fee is $60. CE requirements are biennial (every two years), but the annual jurisprudence exam is required every year at renewal. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Renewal

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

The annual renewal fee is $60. A $20 late fee applies if renewal is submitted after December 31 (total $80). A renewal is late if it is postmarked after December 31 or submitted online after midnight on December 31. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Fees

How many CE hours does Minnesota require for PT renewal?

Minnesota requires 20 contact hours of CE every two years. At least 2 of the 20 hours must be on professional ethics directly related to PT practice. A maximum of 9 hours per cycle may come from FSBPT or APTA self-assessment tools. CE is biennial even though the license itself renews annually. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education

Is a jurisprudence exam required for Minnesota PT renewal?

Yes — every year at renewal. Beginning January 1, 2019, Minnesota requires all PT licensees to complete an open-book, self-study jurisprudence examination on the Minnesota PT Practice Act as part of the annual online renewal process, per Minn. Rules 5601.1700(2). The exam is embedded in the online renewal and may be retaken as many times as needed to pass. Source: Minn. Rules 5601.1700(2)

What happens if my Minnesota PT license is not renewed by December 31?

Practice with a lapsed or non-renewed credential is a basis for discipline under MS 148.75(a)(18). Any practice after December 31 without renewal is considered practicing without a license until the license is renewed. A $20 late fee applies to late renewals. Contact the Board at (612) 627-5406 or physical.therapy@state.mn.us if your license has lapsed. Source: Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy — Renewal

What are the compact renewal implications for Minnesota-licensed PTs?

Minnesota is a PT Compact member state. Compact privileges depend on maintaining an active, unencumbered Minnesota home state license. If your Minnesota license lapses, compact privileges you hold in other states may become invalid. Compact privileges are renewed separately through the PT Compact Commission. Source: PT Compact Commission

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on Minnesota State Board of Physical Therapy and Minnesota Rules sources reviewed in May 2026. Renewal requirements, fees, and CE requirements are subject to change. Always verify current renewal requirements directly with the Minnesota State Board of Physical Therapy before submitting any renewal application or making licensing decisions. This page does not constitute legal or professional licensing advice. Verify at Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy →
Change Log: 2026-05-31 — Page created. Data based on Minnesota State Board of Physical Therapy and Minn. Rules 5601 sources reviewed May 2026. Annual renewal fee $60; late fee $20 per Board fee schedule. December 31 fixed expiration per Board renewal page. CE 20 hours biennial per Minn. Stat. §148.73; mandatory 2 hours ethics; max 9 hours self-assessment tools. Annual jurisprudence exam per Minn. Rules 5601.1700(2) effective January 1, 2019. Active practice 320 hours/5 years per Minn. Rules 5601.1700. PT Compact per Minn. Stat. §148.699.

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