How are continuing competency hours prorated for new licensees?

If you were first licensed in Nebraska for one year or less of the two-year renewal period, you are only required to obtain 10 hours of continuing competency for your first renewal, including the 2-hour ethics and jurisprudence requirement.

What are considered approved continuing competency activities?

Approved activities include coursework from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Nebraska Physical Therapy Association (NPTA), and other state/national health professional organizations, as well as academic coursework and clinical instructorship. Refer to 172 NAC 137-005.02 for a complete list.

Can excess hours be carried over to the next renewal period?

No, the Nebraska regulations do not provide for the carryover of continuing competency hours from one renewal period to the next. All 20 hours must be earned within the specified two-year cycle.

How do I find a board-approved jurisprudence course?

The Nebraska Board of Physical Therapy provides a list of approved providers for the mandatory ethics and jurisprudence course on the DHHS website.

Is there a limit on the number of hours I can earn from home study or online courses?

Nebraska regulations allow for a maximum of 10 contact hours to be earned through home study, including online courses, during each renewal period.

I am a physical therapist assistant (PTA). Do these same rules apply to me?

Yes, the continuing competency requirements of 20 hours per renewal cycle, including the 2 hours of ethics and jurisprudence and the 10-hour limit on home study, apply to both Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants.

Nebraska · Physical Therapist

Nebraska Physical Therapist CE Audit Guide

Q: Can an attorney review my documents before I send them to the board?

Yes. BoardWise offers optional attorney document review: once your response is drafted, we can match you with an independent attorney licensed in Nebraska who reviews and suggests revisions before you submit anything to the board. It is a focused, limited-scope review rather than a full retainer, so you get a professional set of eyes on your wording, tone, and disclosures at a fixed fee. What does the attorney review cost? Pricing depends on the complexity of your matter and the scope of review, but most BoardWise lawyer reviews are approximately $250–$500. You’ll see the specific fee before deciding whether to proceed. Optional limited-scope attorney review may be available for an additional fixed fee. Attorney availability, conflicts review, eligibility requirements, and additional terms apply. If an attorney accepts the matter, the client will contract with and pay the independent attorney directly.

Receiving a notice for a continuing education audit can feel stressful, but it doesn't have to be. These reviews are a standard part of professional licensure, designed to ensure physical therapists maintain high standards of practice. This guide provides a straightforward overview of the process to help you feel prepared and confident.

Nebraska state regulations refer to continuing education as "continuing competency," emphasizing the importance of maintaining and enhancing professional skills for the benefit of public health and safety. The Board of Physical Therapy verifies compliance through a random audit process, and licensees must attest to completing their hours under penalty of disciplinary action. It is crucial for PTs to understand the specific requirements for approved activities and mandated topics.

This information is intended as a helpful guide and not as legal advice. The official rules governing continuing education for physical therapists in Nebraska are found at Nebraska Administrative Code Title 172, Chapter 137 - Physical Therapy. Always refer to the official regulations and the Nebraska Board of Physical Therapy for the most current and complete requirements.

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Quick facts

Board Name: Nebraska Board of Physical Therapy
Renewal Cycle: Licenses expire on November 1 of each odd-numbered year.
CE Period: November 2 of the preceding odd-numbered year to November 1 of the renewal year.
Rule Citation: Nebraska Administrative Code Title 172, Chapter 137 - Physical Therapy
Hour Requirement: 20 contact hours of continuing competency are required for each 2-year renewal period.
State-Mandated Topics: A minimum of 2 of the 20 total hours must be in ethics and jurisprudence relevant to the practice of physical therapy.
Records Retention: Licensees must retain records of continuing competency for a minimum of 4 years.

Governing authority and what the rule requires

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit

How Nebraska PT CE audits typically work

After a renewal cycle the board reviews a sample of attestations. If selected, you will receive a notice through the email or address on file with a defined response window. Most audits close quietly when records match what was attested. Nebraska Physical Therapy Practice Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-2901 to 38-2937

The Nebraska Board of Physical Therapy randomly selects a percentage of licensees for a CE audit each cycle.
If selected, you will receive a notification letter from the board, typically by mail or secure email.
The notice will specify the compliance period being audited.
You are generally given 30 days from the date of the notice to submit copies of your CE documentation.
Board staff reviews your submitted certificates to ensure they match the contact-hour requirement and include all mandated topics.
You will receive a final letter from the board indicating whether you successfully met the audit requirements or if further action is needed.

Documentation commonly requested

Audit notices are usually specific about what they want. Read the notice slowly and make a checklist directly from it. The most common items requested for PTs include:

Copies of certificates of completion for each CE activity taken during the audit period.
Each certificate should clearly show the provider name and accreditation (FSBPT/ProCert approval, APTA, state board approval, or other accepted accreditor), course title, date(s) of attendance, number of contact hours or PDUs awarded, and your name as it appears on your license.
Proof of completion for any state-mandated topics required by Nebraska (such as ethics or jurisprudence).
A personal CE log or spreadsheet tracking course dates, titles, providers, hours, and topic mapping.
Documentation of any alternative professional development activities (publications, presentations, mentoring, APTA/ABPTS certification) used to meet the requirement.

Nebraska-specific mandated topics

Beyond a total hour count, Nebraska requires specific subject-matter CE within the cycle. Make sure each mandated topic is covered by a certificate that names the topic explicitly.

A minimum of 2 hours in ethics and jurisprudence from a board-approved provider.
No other specific topic mandates are listed, providing flexibility for the remaining 18 hours.

Common pitfalls PTs run into

Forgetting to complete the mandatory 2 hours in ethics and jurisprudence from an approved provider.
Failing to retain CE documentation for the required four-year period after a renewal cycle.
Assuming all CE providers are acceptable; the jurisprudence course, in particular, must be from a provider specifically approved by the Board.
Misunderstanding the definition of a contact hour (60 minutes of instruction).

How to assemble a clean response

Gather your records in one place. A folder on your desktop, a printed binder, or a shared drive all work. You don't need a complicated system. You just need to be able to find things.

Name each PDF clearly with the date, course title, hours, and topic. Group certificates by category that maps to the board's request: mandated topics first, then general contact hours. Add a one-page cover sheet that summarizes total hours and points the reviewer to the matching documents.

If your hours fall short

First-time shortfalls are usually handled administratively. Boards generally allow a defined window to complete makeup hours and submit updated documentation. Honest, prompt communication is far better than silence.

If the shortfall is significant or repeated, the board may move toward formal action. At that point, calm documentation of how you are coming into compliance, plus a written plan to prevent recurrence, makes a meaningful difference.

Possible outcomes

Successfully providing certificates of completion for all 20 hours when audited.
Demonstrating that the 2-hour ethics and jurisprudence requirement was met with a course from a board-approved provider.
Ensuring all other courses meet the criteria for approved continuing competency activities as defined in 172 NAC 137-005.
Retaining all documentation for at least four years, making it readily available for an audit.

A simple audit-response checklist

1Read the audit notice slowly. Note the deadline and exact list of documents requested.
2Make a simple folder labeled with the cycle dates being audited.
3Pull certificates of completion for every CE activity in that cycle.
4Match each certificate to the topic area or category your board requires.
5Save proof of license renewal and any required attestations.
6If a certificate is missing, contact the provider for a duplicate before the deadline.
7Scan everything as clean PDFs, named with date and course title.
8Submit through the channel the board requests. Keep a copy and a confirmation.

CEU partner

Save $106 on MedBridge CEU plans

Continuing education is part of protecting your license. BoardWise has partnered with MedBridge to help physical therapists access high-quality CEU courses at a lower cost. Use code BOARDWISE to save $106 on an individual MedBridge CEU plan.

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MedBridge is a separate service. BoardWise may receive a referral benefit. The discount code is subject to MedBridge terms.

Practice partner

Run your practice more smoothly with SimplePractice

Running an independent practice means juggling scheduling, notes, billing, and telehealth. BoardWise has partnered with SimplePractice to help physical therapists access practice management tools at partner pricing.

Explore SimplePractice partner pricing

SimplePractice is a separate service. BoardWise may receive a referral benefit. Partner pricing is subject to SimplePractice terms.

Frequently asked questions

Real Outcomes Reported by BoardWise Users

BoardWise users have reported outcomes including:

Complaint dismissals
Successful responses to board inquiries
Passing continuing education audits
Early probation termination
Improved understanding of licensing board procedures

Individual outcomes vary and depend on the facts of each case.

Optional Attorney Document Review

Before you send anything to the board, BoardWise can match physical therapist in Nebraska with an independent, state-licensed attorney for an optional limited-scope review of the document you prepared:

We match you with an independent attorney licensed in your state
They review and suggest revisions to your document before you submit it to the board
Focused, limited-scope review at a fixed fee rather than a full retainer
A second set of eyes on wording, tone, and anything that may need a closer look

What does the attorney review cost? Pricing depends on the complexity of your matter and the scope of review, but most BoardWise lawyer reviews are approximately $250–$500. You’ll see the specific fee before deciding whether to proceed.

Optional limited-scope attorney review may be available for an additional fixed fee. Attorney availability, conflicts review, eligibility requirements, and additional terms apply. If an attorney accepts the matter, the client will contract with and pay the independent attorney directly.

Print & FedEx Overnight Delivery

Finishing the document is only part of the job. BoardWise Document Delivery lets physical therapist in Nebraska send the finished packet straight to the board without a trip to the post office:

FedEx Overnight delivery for street addresses when your deadline is close
USPS Priority Express and USPS Certified Mail for P.O. Box board addresses
Printing, packaging, and postage handled for you, with tracking on every order
Confirmation and tracking details emailed to you as your package moves

What does it cost? $150 for FedEx Overnight and $99 for USPS Priority Express or Certified Mail. You see the exact price and the full address details before you authorize the order.

Printing and mailing are fulfilled by Mailform. You are responsible for meeting your own deadline, so keep an electronic copy and watch the tracking information.

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