"How long does it take to become a physical therapy aide in Arkansas?"

"The primary Arkansas license requires approximately 21 years of qualifying experience."

"What apprenticeships are available for physical therapy aides in Arkansas?"

"In Arkansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Physical Therapy Aide in Arkansas

Q: "How much do physical therapy aides earn in Arkansas?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $29,450. Employment concentration in Arkansas is roughly 0.40 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "Do physical therapy aides need a license in Arkansas?"

"Yes. Arkansas requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

Q: "What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Arkansas?"

"Arkansas currently employs approximately 160 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $29,450 ($14.16/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 160 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -16.4% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $29,450 ($14.16/hr)
25th percentile: $27,800 per year
75th percentile: $37,470 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $47,650 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $24,810 per year
Workers employed in Arkansas: 160
Versus national median: -16.4% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.40 - this occupation is less concentrated in Arkansas than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Arkansas employs approximately 160 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $29,450 ¹. Nationally, physical therapy aide employment is projected to grow 2.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 6,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a physical therapy aide in Arkansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Arkansas

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Arkansas? Arkansas requires credentials such as Physical Therapist (PT), Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). The licensing authority is the Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Typical requirements include approximately 21 years of experience ³.

Do I need a license in Arkansas? Yes. Arkansas has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Arkansas is $29,450 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $24,810 and experienced professionals can earn $47,650 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy
Median wage (Arkansas): $29,450 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Arkansas

The Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Arkansas ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist (PT)	Physical Therapists are persons who practice physical therapy. Physical Therapists examine and evaluate patients with mechanical, physiological and developmental impairments, functional limitations, a…
Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)	Physical Therapist Assistants assist in the practice of physical therapy under the frequent, onsite supervision of a physical therapist.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), physical therapist aides wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	140	$32,780	$34,060	$28,210	$43,920
Texarkana	60	$32,770	$35,700	$23,280	$52,550

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 160 physical therapy aides ¹. Nationally, physical therapy aide employment is projected to grow 2.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a physical therapy aide in Arkansas with an out-of-state license? Contact the Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Arkansas.

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Arkansas is $29,450, which is $5,070 below the national median of $34,520 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Arkansas Department of Health - Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy - Licensing Information: https://www.arptb.org ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)