Arkansas Physical Therapist License Renewal (2026 Guide)

Arkansas renews physical therapist licenses annually, with all PT licenses expiring on March 1 of each year. The Board is unambiguous: PTs who have not renewed by March 1 are in violation of the Practice Act and may not engage in practice. There is no grace period — licenses lapse on March 1 and practice after that date without renewal is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per day per Board Rules Section VI.A. Unlike states that impose a null-and-void cutoff, Arkansas allows a lapsed license to be returned to active status through payment of the renewal fee and late fee, plus meeting any outstanding CE requirements.

Arkansas’s fee schedule is in transition as of July 1, 2026. Under Act 114 of 2023, the ADH Secretary authorized annual fee reductions — during the July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 cycle, the PT renewal fee was reduced to $4 and the PT Compact privilege fee to $3. Those reduced rates expired June 30, 2026. Verify current renewal fees directly with the Board at (501) 228-7100 or arptb@arkansas.gov before renewing.

Arkansas’s continuing education structure adds a layer worth understanding clearly: the license renews every year, but CE is tracked and reported on a biennial basis. Physical therapists must complete 2 CEUs (20 contact hours) every two years, with completion due by December 31 and reporting required prior to odd-numbered year renewals. This means CE reporting occurs every other March 1 renewal. The jurisprudence examination is an additional requirement that appears specifically in odd-numbered years, counting as one hour of online CE toward the 20-hour total.

Beginning with the March 1, 2025 renewal, Arkansas shifted to an attestation-based CE compliance system: licensees certify completion under oath at renewal, and the Board randomly audits 10% of licensees after each odd-year renewal. Proof of CE must be retained for four years and submitted within 20 days of an audit notification.

Arkansas PT Renewal Requirements

Annual License Renewal — March 1 Deadline

Under Board Rules VI.A, all Arkansas PT licenses must be renewed annually by March 1. After that date, unrenewed licenses lapse. To return a lapsed license to active status, the licensee must pay the late fee and the annual renewal fee, and must meet the previous year’s continuing education requirements. This is distinct from inactive-status reinstatement: the $75 reinstatement fee applies specifically when a licensee returns from formally declared inactive status (not a simple lapse after March 1), and is paid in addition to the annual renewal fee and any missed CE. Verify all current fee amounts with the Board as the fee schedule is in transition as of July 1, 2026.

Continuing Education — Biennial Requirement

Arkansas PTs must complete 2 CEUs (20 contact hours) per biennium. CE must be completed by December 31 of the second year of the biennium and submitted — or attested — prior to odd-numbered year renewals. Key rules from Board Rules XI:

• Content categories: Program content must be in clinical application, clinical management, behavioral science, or science.
• Online cap: No more than 50% of CE (10 of 20 hours) may be taken through online courses.
• Live webinars: Webinars that are both live and interactive are considered in-person attendance.
• College courses: Courses in applicable subject areas earn 1 CEU per satisfactorily completed credit hour (grade C or higher).
• Published articles/research: A licensee who has written an article or research that has been published may submit it for consideration of up to one-half the biennium CE requirement.
• No carryover: The Board will not accept as qualifying CEUs previously submitted credit hours.

Jurisprudence Examination — Odd-Numbered Years

Under Board Rules VI.E, PTs must pass a Board-approved jurisprudence examination as part of the CE requirement for renewals in odd-numbered years. The jurisprudence exam covers Arkansas PT law and Board rules, carries a $10 fee, and counts as one hour of online CE toward the biennial 20-hour total. This means it uses one of your online CE hours — which matters given the 50% online cap. The jurisprudence exam is administered online through the Board’s system.

CE Compliance — Attestation and Audit System (Effective March 2025)

Beginning with the renewal due by March 1, 2025, Arkansas shifted from requiring upfront CE submission to an attestation-based system. Under Board Rules XI.E:

• All licensees certify by attestation, under oath and under penalty of perjury, that they have completed required CE and that it meets the Board’s acceptable criteria.
• After each odd-numbered year renewal, the Board randomly selects 10% of licensees for a CE audit.
• Licensees selected for audit have 20 days to submit proof of CE for the previous biennium.
• CE proof must include: date, place, course title, schedule, presenter(s); number of contact hours; and certificate of completion, transcript, or grade report.
• Each licensee must retain proof of CE for a minimum of four years from the date of course completion.

CE Non-Compliance Penalties

Licensees who fail to complete CE requirements are subject to a $50 per month late CE penalty until the requirements are met and accepted by the Board. Licensees who fail to comply with CE requirements by the March 1 renewal deadline will not receive license renewal and may not engage in the provision of physical therapy services. Failure to comply with the audit process may result in disciplinary action.

How to Renew Your Arkansas PT License

1. Track your CE throughout the biennium. Complete 20 contact hours (2 CEUs) in Board-approved content areas by December 31 of the second year of your compliance period. Keep all certificates — you may be audited.
2. Complete the jurisprudence exam if this is an odd-numbered year. In 2025, 2027, 2029 and so on, complete the Board-approved jurisprudence examination before renewing. Access it through the Board’s website at healthy.arkansas.gov. Cost: $10. It counts as one of your online CE hours.
3. Renew online or by mail before March 1. Online renewal is available through the Board’s system with credit card payment. Mail renewal is also available — check or money order only, no cash.
4. Attest to CE compliance. At renewal, you will certify under oath that you have completed the required CE and that it meets the Board’s criteria.
5. Retain CE documentation for four years. If selected for audit (10% chance after each odd-year renewal), you have 20 days to produce proof. Keep certificates organized from the start.

PT Compact — Renewal Implications

For Arkansas PT licensees who hold compact privileges in other member states, the Arkansas license must remain active to sustain those privileges. Allowing the Arkansas license to lapse after March 1 without prompt reinstatement may affect compact eligibility in remote states.

For PTs practicing in Arkansas under a compact privilege from another home state, Arkansas’s March 1 annual renewal cycle and CE requirements do not apply — renewal obligations track the home-state license. Arkansas practice rules, scope of practice requirements, and disciplinary authority apply to all PTs practicing in Arkansas regardless of compact or license status.

Relevant Statutes and Regulations

• Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules — Sections VI (Renewals), VII (Fees), XI (Continuing Education) (PDF)
• Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy — Department of Health Page
• Arkansas Physical Therapy Practice Act — Ark. Code Ann. §§17-93-101 et seq.

Related Pages

• Arkansas Physical Therapist License Requirements (Initial)
• Oklahoma Physical Therapist License Renewal
• Tennessee Physical Therapist License Renewal
• Physical Therapist Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

When does an Arkansas PT license expire?

All Arkansas PT licenses expire on March 1 of each year. There is no grace period — PTs who have not renewed by March 1 are in violation of the Practice Act and may not engage in practice. Practice without a valid license after March 1 is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per day. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Section VI.A

What is the Arkansas PT renewal fee?

Arkansas’s renewal fee is in transition as of July 1, 2026. Under a state-mandated fee reduction in effect July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the PT annual renewal fee was reduced to $4 (from the statutory $100). Those reduced rates expired June 30, 2026. Verify the current renewal fee directly with the Board at (501) 228-7100 or arptb@arkansas.gov before renewing. The statutory late fee is $100 after March 1; the inactive-status reinstatement fee is $75. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy — verify current fees

How many CE hours does Arkansas require for PT renewal?

Arkansas requires 2 CEUs (20 contact hours) per biennium. CE must be completed by December 31 of the biennium and is reported prior to odd-numbered year renewals. At most 50% of CE (10 hours) may be online courses. Content must be in clinical application, clinical management, behavioral science, or science. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Section XI

Is the Arkansas jurisprudence exam required at renewal?

Yes — but only in odd-numbered years. Under Board Rules VI.E, PTs must pass the Board-approved jurisprudence examination as part of CE requirements for odd-numbered year renewals (2025, 2027, 2029, etc.). The exam costs $10 and counts as one hour of online continuing education toward the biennial 20-hour total. It is not required at even-numbered year renewals. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Sections VI.E and XI.C.1.B

How does Arkansas’s CE audit system work?

Beginning with the March 2025 renewal, Arkansas uses an attestation-based CE system. At each odd-year renewal, licensees certify under oath that they have completed required CE. After each odd-year renewal, the Board randomly selects 10% of licensees for audit. Selected licensees have 20 days to submit proof of CE including dates, course titles, contact hours, and certificates of completion. Records must be retained for four years from course completion. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Section XI.E

What happens if I miss the Arkansas PT renewal deadline?

Licenses lapse after March 1 with no grace period. To reinstate a lapsed license, you must meet the previous year’s CE requirements, pay the late fee, and pay the annual renewal fee. If you also have a late CE penalty, $50 per month accrues until CE requirements are met. Fee amounts are in transition as of July 1, 2026 — verify current amounts with the Board at (501) 228-7100 or arptb@arkansas.gov. Source: Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Rules, Sections VI.C and XI.D