by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying 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. Continue reading for the key facts every physical therapy technician/aide student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering physical therapy technician/aide programs.
Nationwide, physical therapy technician/aide is a popular field of study, with 20 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Physical Therapy Technician/Aide Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for physical therapy technician/aide students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of physical therapy technician/aide programs later in this article.
Coursework for Physical Therapy Technician/Aide build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations physical therapy technician/aide graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a physical therapy technician/aide program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a physical therapy technician/aide major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several physical therapy technician/aide degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 20 |
People currently working in careers related to physical therapy technician/aide tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in physical therapy technician/aide careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in physical therapy technician/aide prepares you for a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to physical therapy technician/aide.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physical therapy technician/aide.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Aides | 209,671 | 7.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of physical therapy technician/aide graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,334 |
| 4 years | $27,226 |
| 5 years | $29,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for physical therapy technician/aide graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers physical therapy technician/aide grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Aides | $32,519 |
With 1 different physical therapy technician/aide programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased physical therapy technician/aide school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in physical therapy technician/aide, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Home Health Aide/Home Attendant | 1,704 |
| Medication Aide | 724 |
| Health Aide | 488 |
| Rehabilitation Aide | 158 |
| Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies, Other | 49 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
