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

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Connecticut employs about 520 physical therapy aides earning a median $35,770 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.

Key Facts

  • Median wage (Connecticut): $35,770/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Employed in Connecticut: 520 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Location quotient: 0.99x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Projected growth: 2.8% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

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Compare Physical Therapy Aide Schools in Connecticut

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
168.2Contact school for pricing$50,418Not reportedYes*55 mi
258.4Contact school for pricing$51,917Not reportedYes*36 mi
347.6Contact school for pricing$50,13021%Yes*12 mi
434.8Contact school for pricing$47,666Not reported—64 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.

Connecticut employs approximately 520 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,770 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 Connecticut, 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 (Connecticut): $35,770 per year 1

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

How to become a Physical Therapy Aide in Connecticut? 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 Connecticut? 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 Connecticut? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Connecticut is $35,770 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,010 and experienced professionals can earn $43,830 or more 1.

How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in Connecticut

  1. Meet employer entry rules. Most aides need a high school diploma or GED. This is not a PT or PTA license path.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 Connecticut

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

Typical path

  1. Train on the job under a PT or PTA.

  2. 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 Connecticut

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Connecticut

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford170$35,770$37,430$34,010$39,650
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury160$36,080$37,730$35,160$47,970
New Haven90$35,830$38,230$35,270$43,830
Waterbury-Shelton60$34,790$35,530$34,010$38,570

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 Connecticut? Connecticut currently employs approximately 520 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 Connecticut? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Connecticut.

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Connecticut compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Connecticut is $35,770, which is $1,250 above the national median of $34,520 according to BLS data 1.

In Connecticut

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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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)