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

"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 North Dakota?"

"Yes. North Dakota requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the ND Physical Therapy Board. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for physical therapy aides in North Dakota?"

"In North Dakota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the North Dakota Workforce Development - 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 North Dakota

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in North Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,680. Employment concentration in North Dakota 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 North Dakota?"

"North Dakota currently employs approximately 120 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

North Dakota employs approximately 120 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,680 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 North Dakota, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in North Dakota

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

What do physical therapy aides earn in North Dakota? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in North Dakota is $37,680 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $29,900 and experienced professionals can earn $56,430 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: ND Physical Therapy Board
Median wage (North Dakota): $37,680 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Both state and third-party exams required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in North Dakota

The ND Physical Therapy Board oversees physical therapy aide licensing in North Dakota ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapists	For more information about the licensing process, including application and renewal fees, please check with the licensing authority.
Physical Therapist Assistants	For more information about the licensing process, including application and renewal fees, please check with the licensing authority.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Both state and third-party exams required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Fargo	50	$37,680	$36,850	$21,420	$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 2025.

Top Metros for Physical therapy aides in North Dakota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Fargo	50	$37,680

Explore More Trades in North Dakota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in North Dakota? North Dakota currently employs approximately 120 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 North Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the ND Physical Therapy Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in North Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in North Dakota is $37,680, which is $3,160 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
ND Physical Therapy Board - Licensing Information: http://www.ndbpt.org/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)