by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1 U.S. colleges awarded 28 degrees and certificates in Physical Therapy Technician/Aide. Graduates earn a median $21,334 one year after completing, rising to $28,689 after four years.
Studying Physical Therapy Technician/Aide explores A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist In Rehabilitation Services Under The Supervision Of Physical Therapists, And To Perform Routine Functions In Support Of Physical Therapy And Rehabilitation. Includes Instruction In Applied Kinesiology, Basic Function Of The Human Body, Communication Skills, Principles And Procedures Of Physical Therapy, Physical Therapy Modalities, And Professional Ethics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, physical therapy technician/aide is a popular field of study, with 28 degrees awarded annually. 1 colleges award physical therapy technician/aide degrees, an average of 28 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 28.
All 28 of the awards are certificates, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 50% of physical therapy technician/aide degrees and certificates in the latest year (14 of 28). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (9) and Black or African American (9).
O*NET rates Active Listening the most important skill for jobs related to physical therapy technician/aide, at 3.6 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Computers and Electronics. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity and Speech Recognition.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a physical therapy technician/aide degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 28 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to physical therapy technician/aide, at 34.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 34.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 25.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 10.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.1% |
| Some college courses | 9.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Physical Therapy Technician/Aide, with an average median salary of $32,519; the strongest outlook belongs to Physical Therapist Aides, at 7.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Therapy Aide, PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant), Physical Therapist Aide (PTA) and Restorative Aide (RA).
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to physical therapy technician/aide, at 209,671.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Aides | 209,671 | 7.2% |
Physical Therapy Technician/Aide graduates earn a median $21,334 one year after completing their program, $28,689 after four years and $30,278 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,334 |
| 4 years | $28,689 |
| 5 years | $30,278 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to physical therapy technician/aide, with a median salary of $32,519.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Aides | $32,519 |
Physical Therapy Technician/Aide has 5 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 5,661 degrees a year; the largest are Home Health Aide/Home Attendant (4,307), Medication Aide (780) and Health Aide (368). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Home Health Aide/Home Attendant | 4,307 |
| Medication Aide | 780 |
| Health Aide | 368 |
| Rehabilitation Aide | 167 |
| Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies, Other | 39 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.