Physical Therapy Regulations

The Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (MDBPTE) was established in 1947 under Title 13, Health Occupations Article and its Rules and Regulations.

The mission of the Board is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all Marylanders through the enforcement of applicable statutes and regulations. The mission is accomplished by establishing appropriate eligibility requirements, setting practice parameters and standards of conduct and the enforcement of these requirements, parameters, and standards.

Duties of the Board include: writing regulations, interpreting the scope of practice, educating licensees, and disciplining those who violate the law. The most important function is protecting the citizens of Maryland.

Open Session Board Meetings

Open Session Board meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month at 1:00 PM and are open to the public.

News from the Board

NEW Implicit Bias Training Requirement for Licensure and Renewal

In 2021, a bill passed that mandates healthcare workers participate in implicit bias training starting April 2022. This new legislation was established  to confront racial inequality in the healthcare system.

Now, evidence-based implicit bias training is required of any health care professional looking to renew their license with a health occupations board. APTAMD developed a course that meets this requirement. It is open to all health professionals. 

Members – log in to get the member rate of $25 ($50 for non) 

For a complete listing of the approved implicit bias training courses, please click on this link.

At the time of your license renewal, you will attest to the completion of the training by checking the appropriate box in your renewal application. You are only required to attest to the completion of the training once. You will not need to repeat this attestation during subsequent renewals.

More information is available on our implicit bias training web page.
Temporary Licensure for PTs and PTAs

The Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners is now issuing temporary licenses. 

To apply for a temporary license, you can go to the Board of Examiner’s web site home page as well as the “Apply for a License” link has information to guide applicants. Read the statute.

How it works:

  • An applicant who, except for passing an examination otherwise required under this subtitle, has met the appropriate education and experience requirements for a physical therapist license or a physical therapy assistant license under Maryland law.
  • The individual has completed a PT/PTA curriculum that authorizes the holder to practice physical therapy under direct supervision while the temporary license is effective.
  • A temporary license is valid until: 90 days after issuance; The Board issues a full license to practice physical therapy or limited physical therapy to the holder of the temporary license; or The Board revokes the temporary license.
CEUs for Renewal

CEUs FOR 2022 Renewal Period Must Be Earned Between 4/1/ 2020-3/31/ 2022.

The Board is encouraging licensees to start earning the required CEUs for 2022 renewal (three (3) CEUs or thirty (30) CE hours for PTs, and two (2) CEUs or twenty (20) CE hours for PTAs) to do so not later than March 31, 2022.

REMINDER: Any CE hours earned between April 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 used for 2020 renewal can not be used for 2022 renewal.

REMINDER: Compact privileges are always associated with the expiration date of an individual’s home state license. There are no prorations therefore the full fee will always be charged and the date shown on your dashboard at the time of application will be the date the compact privilege will expire. Therefore, in some cases, it may make sense to first renew the home state license before purchasing compact privileges and waiting approximately a week to make sure the PT Compact database has received the updated expiration date.

Questions? If there are any questions regarding the license renewal process may contact Isaac Okehie, Deputy
Director, either by cell phone (410-913-1726), office phone (410-764-4716), or email.

Initial Licensure Information

Once you receive your physical therapist license, it is subject to renewal based on your license number. Look at the last number of your license:  Even-numbered licenses renew in even-numbered years and odd-numbered licenses renew in odd-numbered years. To renew a license, you must complete the renewal application online, and pay the renewal fee. As a new licensee, you are not required to take CEUs for initial renewal.

Nominations for the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

Each year the APTA Maryland is asked by the Governor’s Appointment Office (GAO) to nominate APTA Members who are diverse, energetic, enthusiastic, and who can meet the time commitment required.

The Maryland Department of Health is requesting that the APTA of Maryland submit a list of nominees by March 1 of each year. The 2022 nomination process is closed. The 2023 nomination process opens June 1, 2022.

Status: CLOSED

The Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

  • Chair - Karen Gordes, PT, PhD, DScPT
  • Vice Chair - Rebecca Holsinger, PT, DPT, NCS, CVTP
  • Member Samuel Esterson, PT, DPT, , OCS, MBA
  • Member Michelle Finnegan, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC, CCTT, CMTPT, FAAOMPT
  • Member Sumesh Thomas, PT, DPT, OCS, CHT, FAAOMPT
  • Member Enjeen L. Woolford, PTA
  • Public Member - James Connors
  • Public Member - Meredith Levert

Quick Links

Online Services