"How long does physical therapy aide in Washington training take?"

"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 Washington?"

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

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

"In Washington, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Washington State of Labor and Industry - 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 Washington

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in Washington earned a median annual wage of approximately $39,500. Employment concentration in Washington 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 Washington?"

"Washington 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

Washington physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $39,500 ($18.99/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 760 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 12.1% above the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $39,500 ($18.99/hr)
25th percentile: $36,720 per year
75th percentile: $46,920 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $58,100 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,930 per year
Workers employed in Washington: 760
Versus national median: 12.1% above the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.69 - this occupation is less concentrated in Washington than the national average

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

Washington employs approximately 760 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,500 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 Washington, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

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

How to become a physical therapy aide in Washington? Washington requires credentials such as Physical Therapist, Physical therapist assistant. The licensing authority is the Department of Health 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 Washington? Yes. Washington has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The Department of Health oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in Washington? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Washington is $39,500 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,930 and experienced professionals can earn $58,100 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: Department of Health
Median wage (Washington): $39,500 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in Washington

The Department of Health oversees physical therapy aide licensing in Washington ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	Individuals must have graduated from a nationally accredited, board certified school, must have a passing score on the National Physical Therapy examiniation, must provide a complete work history from…
Physical therapist assistant	Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures.

Accreditation note: physical therapist and physical therapist assistant programs carry accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Requirements are quoted from the state board and are abbreviated here, so confirm current rules directly with the board.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Open to applicants new to the trade

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in Washington

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in Washington

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	700	$34,780	$35,800	$28,980	$42,050
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	590	$36,200	$39,270	$35,980	$48,300
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	400	$46,460	$47,620	$35,930	$58,100
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	40	$37,130	$38,730	$36,150	$43,480

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 .

Top Metros for Physical therapy aides in Washington

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	400	$46,460
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	40	$37,130

Explore More Trades in Washington

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in Washington? Washington 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 Washington with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Health for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in Washington is $39,500, which is $4,980 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Health - Licensing Information: http://www.doh.wa.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)