"How long does physical therapy aide in New York training take?"

"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 York?"

"Yes. New York requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the NYS Education Department - State Board for Physical Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In New York, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New York 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 York

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $35,380. Employment concentration in New York is about 1.65 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"New York currently employs approximately 4,950 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 York physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $35,380 ($17.01/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,950 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.4% above the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $35,380 ($17.01/hr)
25th percentile: $34,200 per year
75th percentile: $43,480 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $51,460 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $32,610 per year
Workers employed in New York: 4,950
Versus national median: 0.4% above the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.65 - this occupation is more concentrated in New York than the national average

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

New York employs approximately 4,950 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,380 ¹. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 1.65x 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 New York, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in New York

How to become a physical therapy aide in New York? New York requires credentials such as Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant. The licensing authority is the NYS Education Department - State Board for Physical 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 New York? Yes. New York has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The NYS Education Department - State Board for Physical Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in New York? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in New York is $35,380 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $32,610 and experienced professionals can earn $51,460 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: NYS Education Department - State Board for Physical Therapy
Median wage (New York): $35,380 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in New York

The NYS Education Department - State Board for Physical Therapy oversees physical therapy aide licensing in New York ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	A physical therapist is a licensed health care professional who examines and evaluates a patient’s condition and then plans and administers treatments to promote optimal health.
Physical Therapist Assistant	A physical therapist assistant is a licensed health care professional who provides treatment according to a plan developed by and under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in New York

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	6,030	$35,320	$38,670	$32,220	$50,960
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	190	$35,870	$37,750	$32,240	$46,220
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	100	$33,580	$36,870	$32,240	$47,270
Rochester	60	$35,200	$37,050	$32,240	$44,290
Syracuse	60	$32,240	$35,430	$32,240	$42,400
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	N/A	$32,240	$36,150	$32,240	$42,320

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 .

Top Metros for Physical therapy aides in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
New York-Newark-Jersey City	6,030	$35,320
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	190	$35,870
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	100	$33,580
Rochester	60	$35,200
Syracuse	60	$32,240

Explore More Trades in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in New York? New York currently employs approximately 4,950 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 York with an out-of-state license? Contact the NYS Education Department - State Board for Physical Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in New York is $35,380, which is $860 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NYS Education Department - State Board for Physical Therapy - Licensing Information: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)