Do physical therapy aides need a license in Pennsylvania?

No statewide license is required for physical therapy aides in Pennsylvania. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in Pennsylvania (2026)

Q: How long does physical therapy aide training take in Pennsylvania?

Most people become a Physical Therapy Aide in Pennsylvania through short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations.

Q: How much do physical therapy aides earn in Pennsylvania?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Pennsylvania earned a median annual wage of approximately $35,520. Employment concentration in Pennsylvania is roughly 0.64 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 Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 1,200 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

Pennsylvania physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $35,520 ($17.08/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,200 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.8% above the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $35,520 ($17.08/hr)
25th percentile: $24,180 per year
75th percentile: $39,230 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $43,100 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $24,180 per year
Workers employed in Pennsylvania: 1,200
Versus national median: 0.8% above the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.64 - this occupation is less concentrated in Pennsylvania than the national average

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

Pennsylvania employs about 1,200 physical therapy aides earning a median $35,520 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Physical Therapy Aide here means completing short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations.

Compare Physical Therapy Aide Schools in Pennsylvania

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Carroll Community College	72.5	$4,308 in-state / $10,158 out-of-state	$54,507	39%	Yes*	56 mi
2	Pennsylvania College of Technology	71.8	$18,240 in-state / $25,980 out-of-state	$66,316	53%	Yes*	60 mi
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3	Frederick Community College	71.1	$3,849 in-state / $10,042 out-of-state	$54,058	37%	Yes*	68 mi
4	Lehigh Carbon Community College	47.7	$5,280 in-state / $13,270 out-of-state	$50,125	30%	Yes*	73 mi
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5	Central Penn College	47.6	$19,854	$52,318	51%	Yes*	5 mi
6	Cecil College	45.1	$5,640 in-state / $10,830 out-of-state	$50,453	37%	Yes*	73 mi
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7	Baltimore City Community College	35.2	$3,314 in-state / $7,394 out-of-state	$53,768	17%	Yes*	74 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Pennsylvania employs approximately 1,200 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,520 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 Pennsylvania, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: on-the-job training under a PT or PTA (find programs)
Typical timeline: short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations
Exam: none for aides in most states
Median wage (Pennsylvania): $35,520 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in Pennsylvania

How to become a Physical Therapy Aide in Pennsylvania? Complete short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish short on-the-job or employer training; aides are generally not licensed. Physical therapist and PTA licenses are different occupations. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Pennsylvania? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect none for aides in most states. See the licensing section below.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Pennsylvania? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Pennsylvania is $35,520 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $24,180 and experienced professionals can earn $43,100 or more ¹.

How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in Pennsylvania

Meet employer entry rules. Most aides need a high school diploma or GED. This is not a PT or PTA license path.
Train on the job. Learn transfers, clinic setup, and patient support under a licensed PT or PTA. This is not a registered apprenticeship and not CAPTE PT school.
Do not apply for a PT or PTA license. Physical therapists and PTAs are separately licensed. Aides are generally unlicensed. Confirm any rare state registration with the PT board without treating PT/PTA rows as the aide credential.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Pennsylvania

Physical therapy aides in Pennsylvania are generally unlicensed. PT and PTA licenses on CareerOneStop dumps are the wrong occupation.

Typical path

Train on the job under a PT or PTA.
Do not apply for a PT or PTA license as an aide.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	990	$32,240	$33,660	$24,180	$43,100
Pittsburgh	180	$38,740	$38,430	$34,100	$39,230
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	60	$36,070	$37,440	$31,970	$48,610
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre	50	$31,840	$33,710	$30,090	$36,970
Harrisburg-Carlisle	30	$37,250	$37,560	$30,990	$44,510

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 1,200 physical therapy aides ¹. Nationally, physical therapy aide employment is projected to grow 2.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Pennsylvania? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Pennsylvania.

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Pennsylvania compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Pennsylvania is $35,520, which is $1,000 above the national median of $34,520 according to BLS data ¹.

In Pennsylvania

Best Trade Schools in Pennsylvania (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Pennsylvania

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)