Do physical therapy aides need a license in Texas?

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

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

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

Most people become a Physical Therapy Aide in Texas 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 Texas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Texas earned a median annual wage of approximately $31,590. Employment concentration in Texas is about 1.31 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Texas currently employs approximately 5,710 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

Texas physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $31,590 ($15.19/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,710 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -10.4% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $31,590 ($15.19/hr)
25th percentile: $26,420 per year
75th percentile: $38,240 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $46,710 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $22,520 per year
Workers employed in Texas: 5,710
Versus national median: -10.4% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.31 - this occupation is more concentrated in Texas than the national average

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

Texas employs about 5,710 physical therapy aides earning a median $31,590 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.

Texas employs approximately 5,710 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $31,590 ¹. The state’s concentration of physical therapy aide jobs is 1.31x 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 Texas, 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 (Texas): $31,590 per year ¹

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

How to become a Physical Therapy Aide in Texas? 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 Texas? 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 Texas? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Texas is $31,590 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $22,520 and experienced professionals can earn $46,710 or more ¹.

How to Become a Physical Therapy Aide in Texas

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 Texas

Physical therapy aides in Texas 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 Texas

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Texas

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands	1,280	$33,060	$33,680	$23,460	$44,210
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington	990	$35,570	$36,610	$24,370	$47,380
San Antonio-New Braunfels	550	$28,410	$32,300	$22,440	$49,790
El Paso	200	$25,300	$28,070	$21,740	$42,560
Corpus Christi	190	$29,080	$31,920	$22,450	$44,760
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission	180	$23,040	$26,560	$21,380	$39,230
Lubbock	170	$27,620	$29,130	$20,470	$42,560
Killeen-Temple	120	$29,970	$31,860	$22,750	$43,320
Abilene	70	$49,790	$44,090	$25,890	$49,790
Beaumont-Port Arthur	70	$28,200	$32,130	$22,950	$36,960
Amarillo	60	$26,930	$28,000	$18,520	$35,420
Brownsville-Harlingen	60	$23,750	$27,450	$20,870	$38,990
College Station-Bryan	60	$26,420	$28,460	$18,720	$35,370
Texarkana	60	$32,770	$35,700	$23,280	$52,550
Midland	50	$37,020	$33,860	$23,290	$43,410
Odessa	40	$26,870	$26,710	$21,730	$34,320
Waco	40	$29,660	$32,950	$22,730	$49,790
Wichita Falls	40	$28,690	$29,700	$21,960	$35,600
Laredo	30	$22,790	$23,740	$18,200	$31,280

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 Texas? Texas currently employs approximately 5,710 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 Texas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Texas.

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Texas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Texas is $31,590, which is $2,930 below the national median of $34,520 according to BLS data ¹.

In Texas

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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)