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

"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 West Virginia?"

"Yes. West Virginia requires state-level licensing or registration for physical therapy aides, administered by the PHYSICAL THERAPY. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for physical therapy aides in West Virginia?"

"In West Virginia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Workforce West Virginia - Apprenticeships, 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 West Virginia

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), physical therapy aides in West Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $34,840. Employment concentration in West Virginia is roughly 0.77 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 West Virginia?"

"West Virginia currently employs approximately 170 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

West Virginia physical therapist aides earn a median annual wage of $34,840 ($16.75/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 170 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.1% below the national median of $35,240 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $34,840 ($16.75/hr)
25th percentile: $28,110 per year
75th percentile: $37,890 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $43,720 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $22,960 per year
Workers employed in West Virginia: 170
Versus national median: -1.1% below the U.S. median of $35,240
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in West Virginia than the national average

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

West Virginia employs approximately 170 physical therapy aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $34,840 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 West Virginia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Physical Therapy Aide in West Virginia

How do I become a physical therapy aide in West Virginia? West Virginia requires credentials such as Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant, Foreign Trained Physical Therapist. The licensing authority is the PHYSICAL THERAPY 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 West Virginia? Yes. West Virginia has licensing or registration requirements for physical therapy aides. The PHYSICAL THERAPY oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do physical therapy aides earn in West Virginia? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in West Virginia is $34,840 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $22,960 and experienced professionals can earn $43,720 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: PHYSICAL THERAPY
Median wage (West Virginia): $34,840 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Physical Therapy Aide License Requirements in West Virginia

The PHYSICAL THERAPY oversees physical therapy aide licensing in West Virginia ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Physical Therapist	To be eligible for a license to practice, you must have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in physical therapy from a CAPTE accredited program.
Physical Therapist Assistant	To be eligible for a license to practice, you must have a Physical Therapist Assistant Associate’s degree from a CAPTE accredited program.
Foreign Trained Physical Therapist	West Virginia does not consider licensure for anyone from a foreign country who alleges to have the equivalent of a PTA degree.

Additional Requirements

Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Physical Therapy Aide Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

Physical Therapist Aides Wages by Metro Area in West Virginia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), physical therapist aides wages in West Virginia 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

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.

Explore More Trades in West Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for physical therapy aides in West Virginia? West Virginia currently employs approximately 170 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 West Virginia with an out-of-state license? Contact the PHYSICAL THERAPY for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do physical therapy aides earn in West Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for physical therapy aides in West Virginia is $34,840, which is $320 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
PHYSICAL THERAPY - Licensing Information: http://www.wvbopt.com ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)