How to Become A Physical Therapy Aide in Idaho

Idaho employs approximately 540 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $28,660 1. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 2.04x 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 Idaho, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Idaho

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Idaho? Idaho requires credentials such as Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistant. The licensing authority is the Physical Therapist Licensure Board - Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses 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 Idaho? Yes. Idaho has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Physical Therapist Licensure Board - Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Idaho? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Idaho is $28,660 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $23,600 and experienced professionals can earn $40,680 or more 1.

At a Glance

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Idaho

The Physical Therapist Licensure Board - Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Idaho 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Physical TherapistsPhysical Therapists must be licensed by the state. Applicants for licensure must: 1.) Graduate from an accredited physical therapist program; 2.
Physical Therapist AssistantPhysical Therapist Assistant must be licensed by the state. Applicants for licensure must: 1.) Graduate from an accredited physical therapist assistant program; 2.) Pass a qualifying examination.

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 Idaho

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Idaho

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Boise City160$28,430$30,610$24,100$42,680
Logan80$28,730$30,210$27,130$39,560
Idaho Falls70$33,280$30,590$25,020$33,280
Coeur d'Alene60$29,430$33,000$24,450$43,780
Pocatello40$28,520$28,940$22,490$34,940
Twin Falls40$26,740$29,930$26,280$43,330

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 Idaho

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual Wage
Boise City160$28,430
Idaho Falls70$33,280
Coeur d’Alene60$29,430
Pocatello40$28,520
Twin Falls40$26,740

Explore More Trades in Idaho

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Idaho? Idaho currently employs approximately 540 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 Idaho with an out-of-state license? Contact the Physical Therapist Licensure Board - Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Idaho compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Idaho is $28,660, which is $5,860 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


  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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Physical Therapist Licensure Board - Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses - Licensing Information: http://ibol.idaho.gov/IBOL/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. 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.

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)