All states › Rhode Island

Rhode Island PT & PTA continuing education requirements

Board-verified details

Rules change. This summary is for orientation only and may be out of date or incomplete. Confirm with your state board. Fields marked “Check with your board” could not be verified.

PT hours required

24 contact hours (R5-40-PT/PTA Section 6.6)
Source: [2]

PTA hours required

24 contact hours (R5-40-PT/PTA Section 13.6)
Source: [2]

Renewal cycle

2 years
Source: [3]

Deadline pattern (PT)

Licenses expire May 1 of the next even-numbered year after issuance (biennial). Renewing after March 31 of that even year incurs a late fee.
Source: [1]

Deadline pattern (PTA)

Same as PTs (24 hours biennially).
Source: [1]

Live / in-person / online limits

Formal presentations, conferences, accredited college coursework and self-study such as online courses all count, 1 hour per hour. Teaching or clinical supervision of students max 3 hours per cycle.
Source: [1]

Required topics

None. 216-RICR-40-05-13 lists no mandatory topics (CE must be scope-of-practice specific).

Source: [1]

Course approval rules

Must be approved or sponsored by a Board-approved organization. The list includes APTA, any state PT association, FSBPT, ACCME, AOTA, ASHA, NATA, NSCA, and courses approved by other state PT licensing boards (216-RICR-40-05-13.4.5(D)(3)).
Source: [1]

First renewal

Licensed by exam after the May 1 renewal date: exempt until the next renewal cycle.
Source: [1]

Official state board

Rhode Island Dept. of Health
(401) 222-1392 · Laura.Mello@health.ri.gov

Where to get CEUs cheap or free

See free & live webinars and compare unlimited CEU subscriptions. Before buying, check that a course is approved for Rhode Island (look for the state on the course’s approval statement).

Sources

Numbers next to each field point to the source(s) used for that field.

Last checked: 2026-10-17. Primary source: https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-13