How to Become A Physical Therapy Aide in Nevada

Nevada employs approximately 900 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $31,970 1. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 1.88x 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 Nevada, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Nevada

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

What do physical therapy aides earn in Nevada? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Nevada is $31,970 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $27,550 and experienced professionals can earn $40,090 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: Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
  • Median wage (Nevada): $31,970 per year 1
  • Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Nevada

The Board of Physical Therapy Examiners oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Nevada 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
Physical TherapistApplicants must: 1) Have completed a curriculum of physical therapy approved by the Board (official transcripts required). 2) Pass the national examination.
Physical Therapist AssistantApplicants must: 1) Be at least 18 years old. 2) Completed a curriculum for physical therapist assistant approved by the State Board. 3) Pass a national 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 Nevada

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Nevada

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas650$31,980$34,820$27,550$41,030
Reno170$30,560$34,290$27,800$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 Nevada

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual Wage
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas650$31,980
Reno170$30,560

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Nevada? Nevada currently employs approximately 900 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 Nevada with an out-of-state license? Contact the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Nevada compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Nevada is $31,970, which is $2,550 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. Board of Physical Therapy Examiners - Licensing Information: http://ptboard.nv.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  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)