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It's also a healthcare role that typically doesn't require a degree. Most physical therapy aides only need a high school diploma or equivalent plus on-the-job training. It’s easy to confuse this role with a physical therapist assistant, or PTA. Though the titles are nearly identical, PTAs treat patients and need an associate degree and state licensure or certification.

What does a physical therapy aide do?

Physical therapy aides work under the supervision of a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant. Their job is to handle the work around patient care so the clinical staff can focus on treatment. On a typical shift, that might include:

• Cleaning treatment areas and setting up equipment before each patient
• Washing linens and ordering supplies
• Helping patients move to or from a treatment area, sometimes by wheelchair
• Answering phones, scheduling sessions and filling out insurance forms

What physical therapy aides don't do

One important caveat: physical therapy aides don't treat patients. The American Physical Therapy Association says physical therapy aides can help with supportive tasks, but they can't perform, adjust, or progress a patient's care. The physical therapist stays responsible for that care. What a physical therapy aide is allowed to do varies by state, so when you start your new job, your employer should explain your specific duties.

Physical therapy aide vs. physical therapist assistant

Physical therapist assistants treat patients through exercise, massage, gait and balance training and other therapy. That clinical work is why the training, licensing, and pay are so different. Here’s how the two roles compare, according to BLS:

* Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook — Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides. Pay figures are median annual wages from May 2025; employment projections cover 2025–2035. Education and credential requirements are summarized from the same source.

Formal training isn't typically required to become a physical therapy aide, but U.S. Career Institute offers an online Physical Therapy Aide Certificate Program that most students complete in about four to five months. The program helps students build foundational knowledge in anatomy, medical terminology, and patient care to prepare for entry-level work.

If you want to become a PTA someday, that’s a separate path. An accredited PTA program typically lasts about two years, and licensure usually requires passing an exam.

Where physical therapy aides work

Physical therapist aides held about 49,000 jobs in 2025. Here’s where they worked:

• Therapy offices (physical, occupational and speech therapists and audiologists): 65%
• Hospitals: 18%
• Physicians' offices: 9%
• Nursing care facilities: 2%
• Government: 2%

What is the work like?

This isn't a desk job; you’ll be on your feet and moving much of the day. You'll also be around people throughout most of your workday. In O*NET's survey of physical therapy aides, 88% reported constant contact with others, and 62% said they're exposed to disease or infection every day.

Most physical therapy aides work full time, though part-time jobs are common. Some clinics stay open nights and weekends to fit patients' schedules, so those shifts can be part of the job.

Key skills that help physical therapy aides succeed

You don't need a clinical background, but some traits make the job a lot easier.

For example, patience and compassion go a long way. You'll be working with people who are in pain and who may be frustrated with how their recovery is going. Unsurprisingly, BLS lists compassion among the important qualities for aides. Being friendly and easy to talk to doesn’t hurt either.

You'll also need to be detail-oriented. Physical therapy aides maintain patient records and follow instructions, and a mix-up on the schedule or a missed step in setting up equipment slows everyone down.

Finally, start familiarizing yourself with basic computer work. O*NET lists scheduling software and electronic health record systems such as Epic among the tools physical therapy aides use.

How to become a physical therapy aide

You can start your new career as a physical therapy aide in just a few months. On-the-job training usually lasts about one week to one month, a physical therapy aide certificate program can be completed in a few months, and states don't require physical therapy aides to be licensed. Here's how it usually comes together:

1. Finish high school or earn your equivalency. If you still need your diploma, you can finish high school online at your own pace.
2. Decide whether you want training first. This step is optional. States don't require a formal training program, and it isn't the typical entry requirement for physical therapy aide jobs. However, U.S. Career Institute's online Physical Therapy Aide Certificate Program can help you build relevant skills and knowledge before applying for jobs.
3. Apply for entry-level roles. Look at therapy offices, hospitals and search postings for other titles such as rehabilitation aide, PT tech or therapy aide.

How much do physical therapy aides make a year?

Physical therapy aides earned a median salary of $35,240 in May 2025, according to BLS. That works out to about $16.94 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $25,360, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $47,780.

Where you work makes a noticeable difference. According to BLS, here are the median wages for aides in their top industries:

Therapy offices employ the largest share of aides, but they had the lowest median wage among the industries BLS lists. Your own pay will depend on factors such as location, employer, and experience.

How U.S. Career Institute helps you prepare

Since training is optional, it boils down to whether you'd rather learn the basics before you apply or learn them on the job. If you want a head start, the online Physical Therapy Aide program at U.S. Career Institute prepares you for entry-level work in physical therapy.

It's 100% online and self-paced! Most students finish in about four to five months.

The 21 lessons start with medical terminology and anatomy, then move into kinesiology, biomechanics, and the different areas of physical therapy you may encounter, including orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, and geriatric. You'll also study safe patient transfer and positioning, and the ethical and legal guidelines physical therapy aides follow.

The lead instructor, Brandy Palacios, DPT, started her career as a physical therapist assistant before becoming a physical therapist. Her experience in both roles can help students better understand how physical therapy teams work together and where aides fit into patient care. You'll also have access to instructor support by phone and email, plus one-on-one career coaching for help with your resume and job interviews.

Think this career could be a good fit? Request information about the Physical Therapy Aide program to learn more.