To renew a Physical Therapist Assistant license in Michigan, you complete a two-year cycle that requires 24 approved Professional Development Requirement (PDR) credits, mandatory human trafficking and implicit bias training, and a $198.50 fee paid through the state’s MiPLUS portal.1Legal Information Institute. Michigan Administrative Code R 338.7161 – License Renewals; Requirements; Applicability2Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. License Renewal Fees Miss the expiration date and you have a 60-day late window; miss that and the license goes void. These are the Michigan PTA license renewal requirements in full.
The 24 PDR Credits
All 24 credits must be earned within the two years immediately before your expiration date. Credits from a prior cycle do not carry forward.1Legal Information Institute. Michigan Administrative Code R 338.7161 – License Renewals; Requirements; Applicability
At least one of those 24 credits must come from a continuing education program focused on pain and symptom management.3Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Michigan Administrative Code R 338.7101 to R 338.7163 – Board of Physical Therapy It’s a small carve-out that’s easy to miss when your total looks fine.
What Counts Toward Your Credits
Michigan Administrative Code R 338.7163 lists the qualifying activities, and each category has a cap. If you rely too heavily on one type, you can hit the ceiling before you hit 24.4Legal Information Institute. Michigan Administrative Code R 338.7163 – Acceptable PDR Activities
- Approved CE programs: up to 20 credits, calculated at the sponsor’s assigned rate.
- Postgraduate academic courses: up to 20 credits, at 15 per semester hour or 10 per quarter hour.
- Reading professional or scientific journal articles: up to 6 credits, at 1 per article.
- Viewing or listening to educational media: up to 6 credits, at half a credit per 30 minutes.
- Presenting a CE program of at least 50 minutes: up to 12 credits, at 2 per 50 minutes.
- Presenting a peer-reviewed scientific paper or exhibit: up to 12 credits.
- Authoring a published article: up to 12 credits, at 6 per article.
- Writing a published book chapter: up to 12 credits, at 6 per chapter.
- Passing an ABPTS certification or recertification exam, or completing APTA’s PTA Advanced Proficiency Pathways Program: up to 23 credits per completion.
- Postgraduate clinical training of 1,000 or more student hours: up to 12 credits.
- Healthcare committee or task force participation: up to 6 credits.
- Serving as a guest instructor or clinical supervisor: up to 12 credits.
- Identifying and addressing a professional practice issue: up to 6 credits.
Most PTAs build the bulk of their credits from approved CE programs and fill in with a few other activities. Trying to reach 24 through journal articles alone stops at 6. Plan early in the cycle rather than in the final month.
Human Trafficking and Implicit Bias Training
Two training requirements sit outside your 24 PDR credits. They don’t count toward the credit total, and both must be completed before you can renew.
Human Trafficking Identification
Under the Michigan Public Health Code, licensees must complete training on identifying victims of human trafficking.5Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 333.16148 – Rules; Establishing Standards for Education and Training The standards live in Michigan Administrative Code R 338.1821, and the requirement took effect starting with the 2023 renewal cycle.6Legal Information Institute. Michigan Administrative Code R 338.1821 – Training Standards for Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking; Requirements You attest to completion when you submit your renewal.
Implicit Bias
Michigan Administrative Code R 338.7004 requires one hour of implicit bias training for each year of your license cycle. For a standard two-year PTA renewal, that’s two hours.7Justia Law. Michigan Administrative Code R 338.7004 – Implicit Bias Training Standards Hours don’t carry forward.
Format is part of the rule. A prerecorded video on its own does not qualify. The training must include opportunities for interaction among participants and with the instructor, so look for programs with live discussion or structured interactive components alongside any recorded material.
Submitting the Renewal
Renewals go through the Michigan Professional Licensing User System (MiPLUS) online. Confirm your login works and your name and contact information are current before you start. In the application, you enter your total PDR credits and attest to completing the trafficking and implicit bias training. You do not upload certificates during renewal, but you need them on file.
The portal asks about criminal history and out-of-state disciplinary actions since your last renewal. Answer honestly. A “yes” triggers additional review and is not an automatic denial; misrepresenting your record is grounds for discipline on its own.
The fee is $198.50, paid by credit or debit card at submission.2Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. License Renewal Fees You’ll get an on-screen receipt and a confirmation email. Once the Bureau of Professional Licensing processes the renewal and your status returns to active, you can download and print your updated license from the portal.
Records to Keep
Hold documentation of every PDR credit and training completion for at least four years after you submit the renewal. Records should show the date of each activity, the provider or sponsor, and the credits or hours earned. The Bureau audits after renewal periods close. If you’re selected and can’t produce records, it’s treated the same as not having done the activity.
If You Miss the Deadline
Michigan law allows a 60-day late renewal window after your expiration date. You can keep practicing and using your title during those 60 days while you finish renewing. You owe the standard fee plus a late fee, and you still have to meet the full continuing education and training requirements.8Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 333.16201 – License or Registration Renewal
After 60 days, the license is null and void. You can no longer practice or use the professional title, and getting the license back requires a relicensure application rather than a routine renewal.8Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 333.16201 – License or Registration Renewal Lapses longer than three years bring further requirements on top of that.
Practicing in Other States
The Physical Therapy Licensure Compact lets PTs and PTAs practice across state lines without a separate license in each state. As of 2025, Michigan has introduced compact legislation but has not enacted it, so the compact privilege is not available to Michigan-licensed PTAs.9PT Compact. PT Compact Map If you want to work in another state right now, you apply for licensure in that state directly.