Vermont PT License Renewal: Fees, CCUs & Late Penalties (2026)

Who This Guide Is For

• Vermont-licensed physical therapists approaching their biennial renewal deadline
• PTs whose license has lapsed and need to understand Vermont’s late penalty structure and reinstatement pathways
• Travel physical therapists maintaining a Vermont license to support active PT Compact privileges

Vermont Renewal Overview

Vermont physical therapist licenses renew every two years for $180.00, on a fixed biennial schedule expiring September 30 of even-numbered years. OPR emails renewal notices 6 weeks before your license expires — online renewal isn’t available until you receive that notice, so make sure your email address on file with OPR is current.

There’s no grace period for practicing on an expired license — doing so is treated as unauthorized practice. Instead, Vermont uses a late penalty schedule confirmed directly under 3 V.S.A. § 127(d)(1): a flat $100.00 penalty if you renew within 30 days of expiration, or the $180.00 renewal fee plus $40.00 for every additional month (or part of a month) beyond that, capped at $1,500.00 total. A hardship petition is available — the board may waive the penalty for exceptional circumstances or extreme hardship, and the penalty isn’t assessed for periods when the licensee was on active U.S. military duty.

CE Requirements

• 24 continuing competence units (CCUs) required per two-year renewal period for physical therapists (16 CCUs for physical therapist assistants)
• No specific topic is mandatory the way some states require a fixed number of ethics hours — but CCUs generally must relate to either the professional practice of physical therapy or patient/client management
• Clinical instructor supervision can earn CE credit — 1 CCU per 40 hours of full-time supervision (minimum 2-week period), capped at 8 CCUs per renewal cycle
• Synchronous, live interactive virtual courses are treated the same as live in-person education under Vermont law (House Bill H.305)
• OPR reviews the CE documentation submitted at renewal as an audit step — if you pass, you’re notified by email; if you fail, you have 90 days to meet the requirement
• Retain your CCU documentation for at least 5 years after the renewal period in case you’re selected for an audit

If Your License Has Lapsed

If your license has been expired for more than 5 consecutive years, standard renewal isn’t available — you’ll need to demonstrate competence to practice through one of a few pathways, in addition to paying all applicable fees: either 1,200 hours of supervised practice over at least one year (at least 80% under direct supervision), or completing 24 CCUs plus an additional 10 CCUs for each year beyond the 5-year mark (physical therapist assistants use a lower CCU figure — 16 CCUs plus 5 additional CCUs per year beyond 5). One thing worth knowing either way: you’re not required to pay renewal fees for the specific years your license was lapsed — only current fees and any applicable penalties.

How to Renew

1. Watch for the renewal notice email from OPR, typically sent about six weeks before expiration — keep your email on file with OPR current
2. Complete your required CCUs and retain or upload documentation as required through OPR’s renewal process
3. Log in to OPR’s Online Services Platform and complete your renewal
4. Pay the $180.00 renewal fee
5. If you’re already past your deadline, renew as soon as possible to minimize any late penalties, which increase each month the renewal remains outstanding

Relevant Statutes

• 3 V.S.A. § 125 — Fee Schedule (renewal fee and compact privilege fee at subsection (b)(4)(C))
• 3 V.S.A. § 127 — Unauthorized Practice (late renewal penalty schedule at subsection (d))
• 26 V.S.A. Chapter 38 — Physical Therapists (renewal and reinstatement provisions)
• Code of Vermont Rules 04-030-240 — Administrative Rules for Physical Therapists (CCU requirements, reinstatement tiers, CE category rules)
• Physical Therapist Forms & Instructions (H.305 virtual education provision, background check policy)
• OPR General FAQs (renewal notice timing, CE audit process)

Related Pages

• Vermont PT Initial Licensing Guide
• Physical Therapist Licensing — All States

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to renew a Vermont PT license? $180.00 for the biennial renewal. 3 V.S.A. § 125(b)(4)(C)

What’s the penalty for renewing late in Vermont? $100.00 flat if you renew within 30 days of expiration. After that, it’s the $180.00 renewal fee plus $40.00 for every additional month or part of a month, capped at $1,500.00 total. A hardship petition may reduce or waive the penalty, and it isn’t assessed during active-duty military service. 3 V.S.A. § 127(d)

How many CE hours does Vermont require for PT renewal? 24 continuing competence units per two-year period. Vermont Secretary of State — Physical Therapists

When does Vermont send renewal reminders? Renewal notices are emailed 6 weeks before your license expiration date, and online renewal isn’t available until you receive that notice. OPR General FAQs

What happens if my Vermont PT license has been expired a long time? If it’s been more than 5 consecutive years, you’ll need to demonstrate competence — either 1,200 supervised practice hours over a year, or 24 CCUs plus 10 additional CCUs for each year beyond 5 (16 plus 5 per year for physical therapist assistants) — in addition to paying applicable fees. You don’t owe renewal fees for the specific years the license was lapsed. 26 V.S.A. Chapter 38

Does renewing my Vermont license also cover a PT Compact privilege? No. Maintaining a Vermont compact privilege requires a separate $50.00 biennial state fee plus the Compact Commission’s own fee, on top of your standard Vermont license renewal. 3 V.S.A. § 125(b)(4)(C)