Licensure, Renewal, Continuing Education, and Lapsed or Expired Licenses
Licensure pathways
Alabama licenses PTs and PTAs by examination and by licensure by endorsement (reciprocity) for licensees in good standing from other jurisdictions. Candidates should know that licensure requires graduation from an accredited program, passing the national examination, and meeting jurisprudence and fee requirements. The Board may deny licensure for prior disqualifying conduct.
Renewal and continuing education
Licenses renew on a fixed cycle (commonly biennial), and renewal requires completing the required continuing education units, including any jurisprudence and ethics hours the Board specifies, and paying the renewal fee. CE must generally be from Board-approved providers and be documented; candidates should verify current hour requirements rather than rely on memorized numbers, since the Board updates them.
Lapsed and expired licenses
Practicing on a lapsed license is unlicensed practice. A licensee who fails to renew may face a late fee and may be required to demonstrate continued competence or complete additional CE before reinstatement; a long-expired license may require reapplication. Trap: assuming a grace period exists - do not assume one unless the rule provides it.
Question traps
- Assuming CE hours can be carried over freely or that any course counts.
- Confusing renewal with reinstatement after expiration.
- Believing endorsement bypasses examination or jurisprudence requirements entirely.
Rule of thumb
Treat renewal as a three-part checklist: fee + CE (including jurisprudence/ethics) + on-time filing. Missing any one item can convert a renewal into a reinstatement problem.