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

"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."

"What apprenticeships are available for physical therapy aides in Ohio?"

"In Ohio, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Ohio 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 Ohio

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Ohio earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,220. Employment concentration in Ohio is roughly 0.44 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "Do physical therapy aides need a license in Ohio?"

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

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

"Ohio currently employs approximately 760 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

Ohio employs approximately 760 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,220 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 Ohio, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Ohio

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

What do physical therapy aides earn in Ohio? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Ohio is $37,220 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $22,970 and experienced professionals can earn $46,050 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: Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board
Median wage (Ohio): $37,220 per year ¹

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Ohio

The Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Ohio ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapy Assistant	Please refer to the licensing authority or the Ohio Career Information System (OCIS) at (800) 700-6247 for more information on license requirements.
Physical Therapist	Please refer to the licensing authority or the Ohio Career Information System (OCIS) at (800) 700-6247 for more information on license requirements.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Ohio

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Ohio

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Columbus	250	$39,990	$35,870	$22,290	$42,640
Cleveland	130	$38,030	$40,240	$30,120	$51,600
Cincinnati	100	$36,230	$38,470	$23,300	$54,350
Akron	40	$36,750	$36,920	$23,880	$47,540
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek	40	$35,920	$35,200	$28,260	$44,120
Toledo	30	$40,160	$42,420	$28,610	$71,340

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 Ohio

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Columbus	250	$39,990
Cleveland	130	$38,030
Cincinnati	100	$36,230
Akron	40	$36,750
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek	40	$35,920

Explore More Trades in Ohio

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Ohio? Ohio currently employs approximately 760 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 Ohio with an out-of-state license? Contact the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Ohio compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Ohio is $37,220, which is $2,700 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board - Licensing Information: https://www.otptat.ohio.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)