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

"Most paths into the physical therapy aide field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

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

"In Colorado, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services - 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 Colorado

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Colorado earned a median annual wage of approximately $41,970. Employment concentration in Colorado 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 Colorado?"

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

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

"Colorado currently employs approximately 360 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

Colorado physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $41,970 ($20.18/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 360 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 19.1% above the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $41,970 ($20.18/hr)
25th percentile: $34,790 per year
75th percentile: $48,050 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $52,290 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,500 per year
Workers employed in Colorado: 360
Versus national median: 19.1% above the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.40 - this occupation is less concentrated in Colorado than the national average

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

Colorado employs approximately 360 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $41,970 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 Colorado, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Colorado

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Colorado? Colorado requires credentials such as Physical Therapist. The licensing authority is the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Physical Therapy Licensure. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Colorado? Yes. Colorado has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Colorado is $41,970 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,500 and experienced professionals can earn $52,290 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: Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Physical Therapy Licensure
Median wage (Colorado): $41,970 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Colorado

The Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Physical Therapy Licensure oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Colorado.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	Physical Therapy is the examination, treatment, or instruction of human beings to detect , assess, prevent, correct, alleviate or limit physical disability, movement dysfunction, bodily malfunctions o…

Additional Requirements

Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ³.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial	150	$42,520	$44,420	$34,940	$57,180
Colorado Springs	60	$31,520	$38,100	$30,800	$51,330
Boulder	40	$37,440	$40,730	$31,500	$56,440

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.

Top Metros for Physical therapy aides in Colorado

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest physical therapy aide employment within Colorado according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Denver-Aurora-Centennial	150	$42,520
Colorado Springs	60	$31,520
Boulder	40	$37,440

Explore More Trades in Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 360 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 Colorado with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Board of Physical Therapy Licensure for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Colorado is $41,970, which is $7,450 above 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)