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

"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 Delaware?"

"In Delaware, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training, 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 Delaware

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Delaware earned a median annual wage of approximately $34,060. Employment concentration in Delaware is about 2.00 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Yes. Delaware requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the Delaware Department of State - Examining Board of Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainers. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"Delaware currently employs approximately 300 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

Delaware physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $34,060 ($16.38/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 300 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.3% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $34,060 ($16.38/hr)
25th percentile: $31,200 per year
75th percentile: $35,680 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $42,750 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,200 per year
Workers employed in Delaware: 300
Versus national median: -3.3% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.00 - this occupation is more concentrated in Delaware than the national average

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

Delaware employs approximately 300 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $34,060 ¹. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 2.00x 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 Delaware, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Delaware

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Delaware? Delaware requires credentials such as Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant, School Physical Therapist. The licensing authority is the Delaware Department of State - Examining Board of Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainers ³. 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 Delaware? Yes. Delaware has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Delaware Department of State - Examining Board of Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainers oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Delaware? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Delaware is $34,060 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $42,750 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: Delaware Department of State - Examining Board of Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainers
Median wage (Delaware): $34,060 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Delaware

The Delaware Department of State - Examining Board of Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainers oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Delaware ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	Physical Therapist - Please see the website below for complete details. http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/physicaltherapy/index.shtml
Physical Therapist Assistant	Physical Therapist Assistant - Please see the website below for complete details. http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/physicaltherapy/index.shtml
School Physical Therapist	School Physical Therapist - Please see this website for complete details: www.doe.k12.de.us
Special Project/Assignment Temporary Physical Therapist	Special Project/Assignment Temporary Physical Therapist - Please see the website below for complete details. http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/physicaltherapy/index.shtml

Additional Requirements

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

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Delaware

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Delaware

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	990	$32,240	$33,660	$24,180	$43,100
Dover	60	$33,920	$34,110	$31,200	$39,900

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 Delaware

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Dover	60	$33,920

Explore More Trades in Delaware

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Delaware? Delaware currently employs approximately 300 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 Delaware with an out-of-state license? Contact the Delaware Department of State - Examining Board of Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainers for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Delaware compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Delaware is $34,060, which is $460 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Delaware Department of State - Examining Board of Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainers - Licensing Information: https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/physicaltherapy/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)