Therapy aide education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a therapy aide. Therapy aides usually study kinesiology, psychology, or business. 54% of therapy aides hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,767 real therapy aide resumes to see exactly what therapy aide education sections show.

The most common colleges for therapy aides are the Temple University and the Temple University.

There are also many online therapy aide courses to help get the education required to be a therapy aide.

There are certain therapy aide certifications that you should consider. These therapy aide certifications include Medical Assistant and Advanced First Aid & CPR.

What education do you need to become a therapy aide?

What degree do you need to be a therapy aide?

The most common degree for therapy aides is bachelor's degree, with 54% of therapy aides earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 12%.

Bachelor's, 54%

Associate, 18%

High School Diploma, 12%

Master's, 7%

Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a therapy aide?

You should major in kinesiology to become a therapy aide. 20% of therapy aides major in kinesiology. Other common majors for a therapy aide include psychology and business.

Kinesiology, 20%

Psychology, 15%

Business, 7%

Occupational Therapy, 6%

Other Majors, 52%

Most common colleges for therapy aides

Therapy aides often get their degrees at Temple University, Eastern Washington University, and University of Phoenix. Here are the most common colleges for therapy aides in the US based on their resumes.

Therapy aide common college	Percentages
Temple University	10.45%
Eastern Washington University	5.97%
University of Phoenix	5.97%
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey	5.97%
University of Maryland - College Park	5.22%

Show more common therapy aide colleges

Best majors for therapy aides

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Kinesiology	20.3%
2	Psychology	14.8%
3	Business	6.9%
4	Occupational Therapy	5.7%
5	Nursing	4.9%

Show more common therapy aide majors

Best colleges for therapy aides

The best colleges for therapy aides are Columbia University in the City of New York, Northwestern University, and University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

A therapy aide with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for therapy aides. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become therapy aides.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

5. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

6. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

In-state tuition

$15,374

Enrollment

19,564

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Enrollment

31,321

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

9. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

10. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

20 best online courses for therapy aides

Advertising disclosure

1. Colombian Wood Therapy Course - Maderoterapia

4.3

(278)

Learn how to use Colombian Wood Therapy to help your clients reduce cellulite and melt fat...

2. Sound Therapy Full Certification Course

4.5

(473)

Become a holistic professional who knows both Western and Eastern approaches to Sound Therapy!...

3. Occupational Therapy Introduction - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

4.4

(568)

How to become occupational therapist, basic Psychology, Physiology & Anatomy, working with disabilities, children adults...

4. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Art Therapy

4.2

(1,022)

Therapeutic Art Therapy Course / Masterclass for Healing and Life Coaching...

5. Art Therapy: Art Therapy Exercises For Healing In Life

(384)

35 Art Therapy exercises for life happiness & stress management. Art therapy with paintings, art & affirmations...

6. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): The Complete Course

4.7

(291)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)...

7. Professional Cupping Therapy Massage Certificate Course 4 CE

4.7

(2,559)

Learn Cupping Therapy Massage Today to Treat Your Own Pains, Your Friends, Family Or Massage Clients Effortlessly!...

8. Introduction to CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

4.1

(4,774)

Online Counselling & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Training Course...

9. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Therapists & Coaches

4.6

(1,500)

Comprehensive CBT Therapy Training Cognitive Behavior Therapy Practitioner Level Treat Anxiety, Depression & More...

10. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

4.7

(504)

Learn ACT: Use cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness to increase psychological flexibility...

11. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Practitioner ACCREDITED

4.7

(1,141)

Combining Mindfulness and Cognitive Therapy to create Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy or MBCT for short - join now!...

12. (Oxford) Diploma in Art Therapy (Extended Master Course)

4.5

(1,382)

Art Therapy : detailed (116 hours) course to help: interpret, express and resolve emotions - in detail...

13. Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy

4.7

(497)

Learn Solution Focused Therapy To Empower Clients & Improve Outcomes Ideal For Social Workers, Coaches & Therapists...

14. Oxford Diploma: Art Therapy:create books; run (4) workshops!

4.5

(266)

All you need to a) create a book and b) run FOUR Art Therapy workshops (including the Art Therapy exercises)!...

15. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art

4.4

(527)

Arts Therapy heals ! Improve your Mental Health with 30 Art Therapy Exercises ...

16. Metacognitive Therapy

4.8

(315)

Learn MCT, a cognitive psychotherapy based on CBT, that helps clients tackle the root of their anxiety and depression...

17. Colour Therapy Practitioner Certification

4.8

(307)

Learn to use the power of colour to promote health and wellbeing...

18. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Associate Life Coach

4.7

(1,026)

CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Life Coaching Associate Coach Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Coaching...

19. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Certificate

4.7

(296)

Become a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) practitioner and help people improve their mental health...

20. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

4.8

(1,374)

Learn SFBT skills for creative conversations and better outcomes. With video of live sessions...

Top 10 most affordable universities for therapy aides

The most affordable schools for therapy aides are California State University - Long Beach, hunter college of the city university of new york, and university of florida.

If the best universities for therapy aides are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for therapy aides.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

4. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for therapy aides

The hardest universities for therapy aides to get into are Columbia University in the City of New York, Northwestern University, and University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

Some great schools for therapy aides are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for therapy aides based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

4. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

5. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,516

6. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

7. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

8. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

9. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

10. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for therapy aides

The easiest schools for therapy aides to get into are Bluefield College, wayland baptist university, and felician university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a therapy aide without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for therapy aides.

1. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

3. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

4. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

6. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

7. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

8. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

9. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

10. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

Average therapy aide salary by education level

According to our data, therapy aides with a Associate degree earn the highest average salary, at $31,486 annually. Therapy aides with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $30,457.

Therapy aide education level	Therapy aide salary
Bachelor's Degree	$30,457
Some College/ Associate Degree	$31,486

Therapy aide education FAQs

What is the best college for Therapy Aides?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare support questions.

Search for therapy aide jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare support jobs