Do physical therapy aides need a license in California?

No statewide license is required for physical therapy aides in California. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in California (2026)

Q: How long does physical therapy aide training take in California?

Most people become a Physical Therapy Aide in California through short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations.

Q: How much do physical therapy aides earn in California?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $38,330. Employment concentration in California is about 1.30 times the national average for this occupation.

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

California currently employs approximately 7,330 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

California physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $38,330 ($18.43/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 7,330 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 8.8% above the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $38,330 ($18.43/hr)
25th percentile: $35,760 per year
75th percentile: $46,190 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $60,200 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $34,690 per year
Workers employed in California: 7,330
Versus national median: 8.8% above the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.30 - this occupation is more concentrated in California than the national average

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

California employs about 7,330 physical therapy aides earning a median $38,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Physical Therapy Aide here means completing short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations.

Compare Physical Therapy Aide Schools in California

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Casa Loma College-Los Angeles	69.4	Contact school for pricing	$72,581	69%	Yes*	107 mi
2	Concorde Career College-North Hollywood	57.6	Contact school for pricing	$52,837	77%	—	107 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Southern California Health Institute	51.0	Contact school for pricing	$35,921	84%	—	109 mi
4	College of the Sequoias	47.3	Contact school for pricing	$44,147	36%	—	63 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Institute of Technology	44.2	Contact school for pricing	$43,172	74%	—	98 mi
6	Los Angeles City College	36.5	Contact school for pricing	$52,028	27%	Yes*	116 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Bakersfield College	24.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,238	22%	—	31 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

California employs approximately 7,330 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,330 ¹. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 1.30x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 California, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: on-the-job training under a PT or PTA (find programs)
Typical timeline: short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations
Exam: none for aides in most states
Median wage (California): $38,330 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in California

How to become a Physical Therapy Aide in California? Complete short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in California? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect none for aides in most states. See the licensing section below.

What do physical therapy aides earn in California? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in California is $38,330 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,690 and experienced professionals can earn $60,200 or more ¹.

How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in California

Meet employer entry rules. Most aides need a high school diploma or GED. This is not a PT or PTA license path.
Train on the job. Learn transfers, clinic setup, and patient support under a licensed PT or PTA. This is not a registered apprenticeship and not CAPTE PT school.
Do not apply for a PT or PTA license. Physical therapists and PTAs are separately licensed. Aides are generally unlicensed. Confirm any rare state registration with the PT board without treating PT/PTA rows as the aide credential.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in California

Physical therapy aides in California are generally unlicensed. PT and PTA licenses on CareerOneStop dumps are the wrong occupation.

Typical path

Train on the job under a PT or PTA.
Do not apply for a PT or PTA license as an aide.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in California

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in California

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	2,720	$37,280	$42,660	$34,690	$60,450
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	760	$37,850	$45,640	$35,690	$74,740
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	740	$38,440	$41,800	$34,320	$64,440
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	680	$44,440	$49,270	$37,610	$69,400
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	330	$38,980	$41,040	$35,830	$48,370
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	330	$43,300	$51,380	$38,530	$74,190
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	290	$36,240	$40,280	$35,060	$50,980
Fresno	240	$40,350	$40,440	$34,320	$48,130
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara	120	$36,790	$40,700	$35,430	$49,870
Santa Cruz-Watsonville	100	$39,210	$50,620	$35,340	$97,230
Stockton-Lodi	100	$36,380	$41,090	$34,680	$57,880
Bakersfield-Delano	90	$35,220	$38,220	$34,320	$45,490
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles	90	$35,880	$37,850	$35,500	$44,390
Modesto	80	$36,640	$40,170	$35,320	$48,410
Redding	80	$35,010	$37,570	$34,320	$43,990
Visalia	80	$37,700	$44,590	$34,320	$69,990
Salinas	60	$38,810	$41,300	$36,530	$48,360
Santa Rosa-Petaluma	60	$37,620	$40,480	$36,590	$47,560
Merced	50	$35,870	$39,940	$34,500	$53,500
Chico	30	$38,230	$39,840	$34,320	$45,360
Vallejo	30	$37,270	$39,780	$36,560	$44,700

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in California? California currently employs approximately 7,330 physical therapy aides ¹. Nationally, physical therapy aide employment is projected to grow 2.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California.

How much do physical therapy aides earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in California is $38,330, which is $3,810 above the national median of $34,520 according to BLS data ¹.

In California

Best Trade Schools in California (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in California

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)