Do physical therapy aides need a license in Massachusetts?

No statewide license is required for physical therapy aides in Massachusetts. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

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

Q: How long does physical therapy aide training take in Massachusetts?

Most people become a Physical Therapy Aide in Massachusetts through short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations.

Q: How much do physical therapy aides earn in Massachusetts?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Massachusetts earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,440.

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

Massachusetts currently employs approximately 1,020 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

Massachusetts employs about 1,020 physical therapy aides earning a median $37,440 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 (Massachusetts): $37,440/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Massachusetts: 1,020 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.91x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 2.8% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Physical Therapy Aide Schools in Massachusetts

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.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Mount Wachusett Community College	53.3	Contact school for pricing	$53,977	27%	Yes*	26 mi
2	Quincy College	49.7	Contact school for pricing	$59,190	16%	Yes*	31 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.

Massachusetts employs approximately 1,020 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,440 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 Massachusetts, 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 (Massachusetts): $37,440 per year ¹

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

How to become a Physical Therapy Aide in Massachusetts? 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 Massachusetts? 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 Massachusetts? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Massachusetts is $37,440 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,070 and experienced professionals can earn $48,690 or more ¹.

How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in Massachusetts

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

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

Typical path

Train on the job under a PT or PTA.
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 Massachusetts

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	840	$37,440	$40,110	$35,480	$49,950
Providence-Warwick	320	$31,200	$35,480	$31,200	$44,060
Worcester	90	$38,710	$39,770	$35,010	$49,830
Springfield	30	$34,700	$37,360	$34,460	$46,860

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 Massachusetts? Massachusetts currently employs approximately 1,020 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 Massachusetts? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Massachusetts.

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Massachusetts compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Massachusetts is $37,440, which is $2,920 above the national median of $34,520 according to BLS data ¹.

In Massachusetts

Best Trade Schools in Massachusetts (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Massachusetts

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)