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

"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."

"Do physical therapy aides need a license in Illinois?"

"Yes. Illinois requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Illinois 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 Illinois

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $36,650. Employment concentration in Illinois is roughly 0.36 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"Illinois currently employs approximately 680 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

Illinois physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $36,650 ($17.62/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 680 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.0% above the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $36,650 ($17.62/hr)
25th percentile: $35,040 per year
75th percentile: $38,090 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $48,360 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,200 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 680
Versus national median: 4.0% above the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.36 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

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

Illinois employs approximately 680 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,650 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 Illinois, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Illinois

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Illinois? Illinois requires credentials such as PHYSICAL THERAPIST, PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT. The licensing authority is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 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 Illinois? Yes. Illinois has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Illinois is $36,650 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $48,360 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: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Median wage (Illinois): $36,650 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Illinois ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
PHYSICAL THERAPIST	An individual who is involved in the evaluation or treatment of a person by the use of effective properties of physical measures and heat, cold, light, water, radiant energy, electricity, sound, and a…
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT	An individual licensed to assist and work under the supervision of a physical therapist in implementing patients’ physical therapy treatment programs as established by the licensed physical therapist.

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 Illinois

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	550	$36,730	$38,100	$33,570	$48,360
St. Louis	480	$29,250	$32,160	$28,600	$39,140

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 Illinois

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	550	$36,730

Explore More Trades in Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 680 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 Illinois with an out-of-state license? Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Illinois is $36,650, which is $2,130 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Licensing Information: https://www.idfpr.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)