Idaho Physical Therapy CE Requirements (2026): 32 Hours Every 2 Years

Requirements Overview

The Idaho Physical Therapy Licensure Board, under IDAPA 24.13.01, requires 32 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years. Idaho shifted PT/PTA licenses from 1-year to 2-year terms on October 14, 2025; the CE total didn't change, but licensees mid-transition may still renew annually and report a running tally toward 32 hours.

Idaho names no mandatory topic — no required jurisprudence, ethics, or opioid course — and the Board does not pre-approve courses. Any activity germane to physical therapy practice with a qualified instructor qualifies, including online conferences, home study, and even supervising a PT/PTA student (4 hours/year) or presenting a program (2x the presentation time).

Carry-over is not permitted: hours beyond the 32-hour minimum are lost at the next cycle. Keep attendance documentation for 2 years for audits or reinstatement.

How You Can Complete Your CE

Idaho CE Rules & Limits

Details specific to Idaho that generic CE guides tend to miss:

• Biennial transition: Effective October 14, 2025, the Board moved from 1-year to 2-year license terms. Odd-birth-year licensees moved to a 2-year renewal immediately; even-birth-year licensees received one final 1-year renewal in 2025 before moving to the 2-year cycle starting 2026. Per the Board's press release (8/26/2025), 'There are no changes to your current Continuing Education requirements' -- the total remains 32 contact hours per 2-year cycle. During the phase-in, annual renewals ask licensees to report a running total: 'renewals are yearly and will ask for 16/32 hours to be reported' (board website FAQ).
• Reinstatement: IDAPA 24.13.01 Section 100.02.b requires proof of 16 hours of CE for licenses expired 3 years or less, or 32 hours of CE for licenses expired more than 3 years, to reinstate a canceled license. Separately, the board's website FAQ states lapses of less than 5 years require a renewal application with fees and CE proof, while lapses over 5 years require a brand-new application (with NPTE re-examination potentially required per the general licensure FAQ) -- the 3-year figure is the specific CE-hour rule from the codified administrative rule; the 5-year figure from the FAQ describes the outer boundary for reinstatement vs. Full reapplication.
• Idaho requires 1 contact hour of documentation per hour of actual CE activity, but the CE guidance PDF specifies enhanced credit multipliers for certain activities: presenting a professional program = 2 hours credit per presentation hour; publishing research = 5 hours credit per page; supervising a PT/PTA student in an accredited program = 4 hours credit per year; academic coursework converts at 15 hrs (semester), 12 hrs (trimester), or 10 hrs (quarter) per academic credit; earning/recertifying ABPTS Board Certification = 16 hours credit for that year.
• Dry needling is a separate practice privilege (not a recurring CE topic) requiring a minimum 27-hour course (at least 16 hours hands-on) covering indications/contraindications, technique, and bloodborne pathogens, plus a practical competency assessment -- this is a one-time credentialing prerequisite under the board's FAQ/rule, not part of the recurring 32-hour CE requirement.
• Licensees must retain CE documentation (signed proof of attendance showing date, location, course title, presenter(s), contact hours, and sponsor verification) for 2 years and provide it to the Board upon request, at reinstatement, or during an audit.

Provider Requirements

No board pre-approval of courses or providers. The Board accepts any continuing education activity that is germane to the practice of physical therapy and conducted by individuals with specialized education, training, and experience; the Board may request documentation of a presenter's qualifications. Recommended (non-exhaustive) sources include APTA and its sections/chapters, CAPTE, the National Athletic Trainers Association, and accredited colleges/universities.

Tips for Idaho PTs

• Track your hours against the full 32-hour, 2-year total rather than assuming a flat annual number — during the 2025-2026 transition to biennial licenses, yearly renewals ask you to report a running 16-of-32 or 32-of-32 tally, not a fixed yearly quota.
• Since Idaho doesn't pre-approve courses, use your own judgment on relevance and keep the course brochure or schedule as backup documentation, especially for higher-value activities like presenting (2 hours credit per hour presented) or supervising a student (4 hours per year).
• Don't bank on rolling extra hours forward — carry-over isn't allowed, so hours completed beyond the 32-hour requirement in one cycle are wasted once the next cycle starts.
• If you plan to offer dry needling, budget separately for the one-time 27-hour dry needling course (16+ hours hands-on) plus a practical competency assessment; it's a practice-privilege prerequisite, not part of your recurring 32-hour CE total.
• If your license has lapsed, check the hour tier before renewing: reinstatement generally requires 16 hours of CE if expired 3 years or less, or 32 hours if expired longer — verify current specifics with the Board since related FAQ language uses a 5-year cutoff for switching to a brand-new application.

Sources

PT Requirements in Nearby States

Other Professions in Idaho

All Physical Therapy CE Requirements by State

Open any other state's Physical Therapy CE requirements, or see the full Physical Therapy CE hub to compare every state in one table.