Tennessee Physical Therapist License Renewal 2026

Tennessee PT licenses renew biennially and expire on the last day of the licensee’s birth month every two years, per the Division of Health Related Boards’ birthdate renewal system. The total renewal cost is $65 ($55 renewal fee + $10 state regulatory fee), per Tennessee Rules 1150-01-.06(4). Practicing on an expired license is a violation of Tennessee law — however, the Board’s Lapsed License Policy Statement recognizes inadvertent lapses and provides procedures for reinstatement, including fines of $250 per month for any period of practice on an expired license.

Tennessee requires 30 CE hours every two years, with mandatory topics, CE Broker reporting, and category limits. All CE must be reported through CE Broker — mandatory since July 1, 2020. The Board conducts periodic audits of CE Broker submissions. Online renewal is available 90 days before expiration, and renewal notices are mailed 45 days before expiration.

Tennessee PT Continuing Education Requirements

30 Hours Per Renewal Cycle

Tennessee physical therapists must complete 30 continuing education hours every two years. CE must meet Board standards and be reported through CE Broker. The Board periodically audits CE Broker submissions to verify compliance. Source: Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education

Mandatory Topics — 4 Hours Total

Within the 30-hour requirement, Tennessee mandates:

• 2 hours of ethics — must be Category 1; course must be a minimum of 2 hours in duration
• 2 hours of jurisprudence (Tennessee PT laws and regulations) — must be Category 1; course must be a minimum of 2 hours in duration

These 4 mandatory hours count toward the 30-hour total and are required every renewal cycle. Both ethics and jurisprudence courses must be Category 1 activities — they cannot be satisfied through Category 2 or online-only courses beyond the online cap. Source: Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education

Category 1 and Category 2 Requirements

Tennessee divides CE into Category 1 and Category 2 activities, with the following limits:

• Minimum 20 hours: Category 1 activities
• Maximum 10 hours: Online CE
• Maximum 10 hours: Category 2 activities

Source: Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy

CE Broker — Mandatory Reporting

All Tennessee PT continuing education must be reported through CE Broker. This reporting requirement has been mandatory since July 1, 2020. CE certificates of completion must be submitted to CE Broker, and CE Broker is the official record at the time of license renewal. The Board periodically audits CE Broker submissions. Per the Board’s continuing education guidance, licensees must retain CE documentation for up to 5 years after completion — documentation only needs to be submitted to the Board upon request. Source: Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy

How to Renew Your Tennessee Physical Therapist License

1. Complete 30 CE hours for the renewal cycle — including 2 hours ethics, 2 hours jurisprudence, minimum 20 Category 1, maximum 10 online, maximum 10 Category 2
2. Report all CE through CE Broker before renewing
3. Log in to the Tennessee HLRS portal at apps.tn.gov/hlrs (available 90 days before expiration); paper renewal by mail is also available
4. Complete the online renewal application
5. Pay $65 total ($55 renewal + $10 state regulatory fee) by credit card, debit card, or e-check
6. Renew before your assigned renewal month deadline — no grace period applies

Renewal notices are mailed to the address on record 45 days before expiration. Licensees are responsible for renewing on time regardless of whether a notice is received. Contact the Board at (615) 741-3807 or Unit2HRB.Health@tn.gov with renewal questions.

Lapsed Tennessee PT License — Reinstatement

Tennessee’s Board of Physical Therapy has published a Lapsed License Policy Statement governing expired licenses. Key provisions:

• Upon recognizing an expired license: The individual must immediately cease practicing and contact the Board’s administrative office to request a reinstatement application.
• 30-calendar-day inadvertent lapse period: The Board recognizes inadvertent lapses can occur. For licensees who practiced on an expired license for up to 30 calendar days, the Board may offer an Agreed Citation requiring payment of a fine of $250 per month for each month (or partial month) of practice beyond the expiration date.
• Practice beyond 30 days but less than 6 months: A fine of $250 per month applies for each month with at least one day of practice on an expired license. The license will not be reinstated until the Agreed Citation is signed and fines are paid.
• Reinstatement fee: $100, per Tennessee Rules 1150-01-.06(4)(d).

Contact the Board at (615) 741-3807 or Unit2HRB.Health@tn.gov for the current reinstatement application and requirements. Source: Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy — Lapsed License Policy Statement

PT Compact and Tennessee License Renewal

Tennessee is a PT Compact member state. If Tennessee is your home state and you hold compact privileges in other states, those privileges are tied to your Tennessee license. Compact privileges expire when the underlying home-state license expires — renewing your Tennessee license does not automatically renew compact privileges, which must remain valid under PT Compact Commission rules. Tennessee home-state PTs must meet all Tennessee renewal requirements, including 30 CE hours and CE Broker reporting, to maintain compact privilege eligibility. Source: PT Compact Commission

Practical Notes for Tennessee PT License Renewal

• Know your birth month — that’s your renewal deadline. Tennessee PT licenses expire on the last day of your birth month every two years. Check your license to confirm your exact expiration date.
• Online renewal opens 90 days early. You can renew online up to 90 days before your expiration date through the HLRS portal. Paper renewal by mail is also available — a renewal application form will be mailed to your address on record.
• CE Broker is mandatory — don’t wait until renewal. All 30 CE hours must be reported through CE Broker. If you wait until the week before renewal to upload certificates, you may encounter submission delays. Report CE as you complete courses throughout the two-year cycle.
• Four mandatory CE hours are non-negotiable. Two hours in ethics and two hours in jurisprudence (Tennessee laws and regulations) are required every cycle. These count toward the 30-hour total but cannot be substituted or waived.
• Online CE is capped at 10 hours. If your usual CE approach is primarily online, Tennessee’s 10-hour online cap requires planning. At least 20 of your 30 hours must be Category 1 activities — make sure your course mix reflects this.
• Lapsed license means fines, not just a late fee. Tennessee’s Lapsed License Policy imposes fines of $250 per month for any period of practice on an expired license, plus reinstatement fees. If your license lapses, cease practice immediately and contact the Board — the Policy Statement provides a process for inadvertent lapses, but only if you stop practicing and initiate reinstatement promptly.
• Keep CE documentation for 5 years. The Board requires licensees to retain CE documentation for up to 5 years after completion. You only need to submit it to the Board upon request during an audit — but having it organized and accessible is essential.

Relevant Statutes and Regulations

• T.C.A. §63-13 — Physical Therapy Practice Act
• Tennessee Rules 1150-01-.06 — Fee Schedule
• Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education
• Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy — Lapsed License Policy Statement

Related Pages

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a Tennessee physical therapist license expire?

Tennessee PT licenses expire on the last day of the licensee’s birth month every two years, per the Division of Health Related Boards’ birthdate renewal system. Renewal notices are mailed 45 days before expiration, and online renewal is available 90 days before expiration. Source: Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy

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

The renewal fee is $55 plus a $10 state regulatory fee, totaling $65 per biennial cycle, per Tennessee Rules 1150-01-.06(4)(h) and (j). A $50 late renewal fee applies if renewal is not submitted by the deadline. Reinstatement after administrative revocation requires a $100 fee. Source: Tennessee Rules 1150-01-.06

How many CE hours does Tennessee require for PT renewal?

Tennessee requires 30 continuing education hours every two years. Of those, at least 20 must be Category 1 activities, no more than 10 may be online, and no more than 10 may be Category 2 activities. Mandatory topics include 2 hours of ethics and 2 hours of jurisprudence, which count toward the 30-hour total. All CE must be reported through CE Broker. Source: Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education

Is CE Broker required for Tennessee PT renewal?

Yes. Reporting CE through CE Broker has been mandatory for Tennessee PTs since July 1, 2020. All CE certificates of completion must be submitted to CE Broker, and CE Broker is the official record at renewal. The Board conducts periodic audits of CE Broker submissions. Source: Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy — Continuing Education

What happens if my Tennessee PT license lapses?

Practicing on an expired license is a violation of Tennessee law. The Board’s Lapsed License Policy Statement requires immediate cessation of practice upon recognizing an expired license and contact with the Board to request a reinstatement application. For inadvertent lapses, the Board may offer an Agreed Citation with fines of $250 per month for each month of practice on an expired license. A $100 reinstatement fee applies. Contact the Board immediately at (615) 741-3807 or Unit2HRB.Health@tn.gov if your license has expired. Source: Tennessee Board — Lapsed License Policy Statement

What happens to my PT Compact privileges if my Tennessee license lapses?

Compact privileges expire when the underlying home state license expires. If your Tennessee license lapses or is administratively revoked, compact privileges you hold in other PT Compact states also become invalid. Renewing your Tennessee license does not automatically reinstate compact privileges — contact the PT Compact Commission for current privilege status. Source: PT Compact Commission