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

"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 Rhode Island?"

"Yes. Rhode Island requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for physical therapy aides in Rhode Island?"

"In Rhode Island, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $31,200. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is about 1.83 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Rhode Island currently employs approximately 280 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

Rhode Island physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $31,200 ($15.00/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 280 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -11.5% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $31,200 ($15.00/hr)
25th percentile: $31,200 per year
75th percentile: $34,490 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $43,480 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,200 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 280
Versus national median: -11.5% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.83 - this occupation is more concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

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

Rhode Island employs approximately 280 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $31,200 ¹. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 1.83x 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 Rhode Island, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in Rhode Island

How do I become a physical therapy aide in Rhode Island? Rhode Island requires credentials such as Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant. The licensing authority is the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation 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 Rhode Island? Yes. Rhode Island has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Rhode Island? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Rhode Island is $31,200 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $43,480 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: RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation
Median wage (Rhode Island): $31,200 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Rhode Island

The RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Rhode Island ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	After physician referral, plans, monitors and administers physical therapy for patients to restore bodily functions, relieve pain and prevent disability due to disease, injury or other disabilities.
Physical Therapist Assistant	Administers physical therapy treatments to patients, working under direction of and as assistant to physical therapist.

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 Rhode Island

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	320	$31,200	$35,480	$31,200	$44,060

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 Rhode Island

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Providence-Warwick	320	$31,200

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 280 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 Rhode Island with an out-of-state license? Contact the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Rhode Island is $31,200, which is $3,320 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation - Licensing Information: https://health.ri.gov/licenses/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)