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

"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 Iowa?"

"Yes. Iowa requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, \u0026 Licensing - Board of Physical \u0026 Occupational Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Iowa, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Iowa Office of 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 Iowa

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $29,120. Employment concentration in Iowa is roughly 0.81 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 Iowa?"

"Iowa currently employs approximately 390 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

Iowa employs approximately 390 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $29,120 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 Iowa, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Iowa

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Iowa? Iowa requires credentials such as Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant. The licensing authority is the Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing - Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy 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 Iowa? Yes. Iowa has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing - Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Iowa? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Iowa is $29,120 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $21,840 and experienced professionals can earn $43,760 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 Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing - Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy
Median wage (Iowa): $29,120 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Iowa

The Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing - Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Iowa ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	Physical therapists plan, implement, and evaluate physical therapy programs using the effective properties of physical agents including (but not limited to) mechanical devices, heat, cold, air, light,…
Physical Therapist Assistant	Physical therapy assistants work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist to implement treatment programs according to the plan of care.

Additional Requirements

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

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	300	$31,000	$33,140	$28,080	$40,610
Des Moines-West Des Moines	100	$29,120	$30,090	$22,790	$43,760
Iowa City	30	$27,700	$29,390	$21,840	$44,370

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 Iowa

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Des Moines-West Des Moines	100	$29,120
Iowa City	30	$27,700

Explore More Trades in Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 390 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 Iowa with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing - Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Iowa is $29,120, which is $5,400 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing - Board of Physical & Occupational Therapy - Licensing Information: https://dial.iowa.gov/about/boards/physical-occupational-therapy ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)