How are continuing education and employment hours reported?

Licensees attest to completing the required hours during the annual license renewal process through the Department of Health's online system. You are not required to upload documentation unless you are specifically selected for an audit.

Is the 3-hour suicide prevention training required for every renewal?

No. This is a one-time requirement. You must complete the training before your first renewal cycle after becoming licensed in Washington. You must keep the completion certificate for four years, but you do not need to repeat the training for subsequent renewals.

What counts toward the 200 hours of employment?

The rule, WAC 246-915-085, specifies "physical therapy practice." This typically includes clinical practice, research, education, and administration related to physical therapy. It is best to verify specific or unusual employment situations directly with the Board.

What happens if I am selected for an audit?

If you are audited, you will receive a formal notification from the Board of Physical Therapy and will be required to submit documentation verifying your completion of the 32 CE hours and 200 employment hours for the specified two-year period. Failure to provide adequate records can result in disciplinary action.

Do I have to earn my CE hours in Washington state?

No, the Washington Administrative Code does not stipulate that continuing education activities must be completed within the state. The critical factor is that the courses are relevant to the practice of physical therapy and meet the standards outlined by the board.

What specific rule governs the suicide prevention training?

The requirement is detailed in WAC 246-915-087, "Suicide assessment, treatment, and management training." It requires a training of at least three hours from an approved provider list maintained by the Department of Health.

Washington Physical Therapist CE Audit Guide | Washington State Board of Physical Therapy

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 Washington 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.

Quick facts

Board Name: Washington State Board of Physical Therapy
Renewal Cycle: Annual, due on the licensee's birthday.
CE Period: Biennial (32 hours every 2 years), reported at annual renewal
Rule Citation: WAC 246-915-085
Hour Requirement: 32 hours of continuing education + 200 hours of employment in physical therapy.
State-Mandated Topics: Suicide Prevention Training (3 hours, one-time requirement)
Records Retention: Four years

Governing authority and what the rule requires

Washington State Board of Physical Therapy

How Washington 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. Washington Administrative Code (WAC)

The Washington State 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 Washington (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.

Washington-specific mandated topics

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

Suicide Prevention Training: A one-time requirement for a three-hour course on suicide assessment, treatment, and management. This course must be completed before the first renewal after initial licensure.
Employment: 200 hours of active practice in physical therapy are required each two-year cycle.

Common pitfalls PTs run into

Overlooking the 200 hours of physical therapy employment requirement, which is in addition to the 32 CE hours.
Forgetting to complete the mandatory, one-time 3-hour suicide prevention training.
Failing to maintain records of both CE completion and employment for the required four-year period.
Misunderstanding the two-year CE cycle, which is tied to the practitioner's birthdate.

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

Maintain and enhance professional competence to ensure the delivery of safe and effective patient care.
Stay current with advancements, research, and contemporary standards in the field of physical therapy.
Fulfill the legal and ethical obligations for maintaining a physical therapy license in the state of Washington.
Successfully pass any random continuing competency audit conducted by the Board.

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.

Explore MedBridge CEU courses

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 Washington 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 Washington 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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