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

"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 Oklahoma?"

"Yes. Oklahoma requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Oklahoma, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information."

How to Become A Physical Therapy Aide in Oklahoma

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Oklahoma earned a median annual wage of approximately $27,630. Employment concentration in Oklahoma is roughly 0.69 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 Oklahoma?"

"Oklahoma currently employs approximately 370 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

Oklahoma physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $27,630 ($13.28/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 370 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -21.6% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $27,630 ($13.28/hr)
25th percentile: $23,250 per year
75th percentile: $33,820 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $35,990 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $21,550 per year
Workers employed in Oklahoma: 370
Versus national median: -21.6% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.69 - this occupation is less concentrated in Oklahoma than the national average

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

Oklahoma employs approximately 370 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $27,630 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 Oklahoma, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Oklahoma

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

What do physical therapy aides earn in Oklahoma? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Oklahoma is $27,630 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $21,550 and experienced professionals can earn $35,990 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: State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision
Median wage (Oklahoma): $27,630 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Oklahoma

The State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Oklahoma ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	JOB DESCRIPTION: A physical therapist is a professional health-care practitioner who plans, monitors, and administers physical therapy for patients to restore bodily functions, relieve pain, and preve…
Physical Therapist Assistant	JOB DESCRIPTION: A physical therapy assistant is a skilled practitioner who administers physical therapy under the direction of a qualified physical therapist to patients in treatment programs.

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 Oklahoma

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Oklahoma

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Oklahoma City	160	$26,430	$27,230	$21,550	$35,740
Tulsa	60	$27,870	$29,250	$21,700	$38,670

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 Oklahoma

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Oklahoma City	160	$26,430
Tulsa	60	$27,870

Explore More Trades in Oklahoma

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Oklahoma? Oklahoma currently employs approximately 370 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 Oklahoma with an out-of-state license? Contact the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Oklahoma compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Oklahoma is $27,630, which is $6,890 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision - Licensing Information: http://www.okmedicalboard.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)