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

"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 New Mexico?"

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

"What apprenticeships are available for physical therapy aides in New Mexico?"

"In New Mexico, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Mexico Office of 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 New Mexico

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in New Mexico earned a median annual wage of approximately $31,990. Employment concentration in New Mexico is roughly 0.89 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 New Mexico?"

"New Mexico currently employs approximately 240 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

New Mexico employs approximately 240 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $31,990 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 New Mexico, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in New Mexico

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

What do physical therapy aides earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in New Mexico is $31,990 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $29,090 and experienced professionals can earn $47,860 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: New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Physical Therapy Board
Median wage (New Mexico): $31,990 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in New Mexico

The New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Physical Therapy Board oversees physical therapy aide licensing in New Mexico ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	License to practice Physical Therapy in New Mexico
Physical Therapist Assistant	License to provide physical therapy services under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist in New Mexico

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Las Cruces	60	$29,800	$34,110	$29,710	$46,290

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 New Mexico

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Las Cruces	60	$29,800

Explore More Trades in New Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 240 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 New Mexico with an out-of-state license? Contact the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Physical Therapy Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in New Mexico is $31,990, which is $2,530 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - New Mexico Physical Therapy Board - Licensing Information: https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/physical-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)