Physical Therapist Assistant in North Dakota: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Allied healthcare

North Dakota employs 120 physical therapist assistants, with a statewide median of $63,520 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact North Dakota licensing picture, and where to train.

What Physical therapist assistants Earn in North Dakota (May 2025)

What That Pay Is Worth in North Dakota

Prices in North Dakota run about 11% below the national average (cost-of-living index 89.0 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $63,520 median stretches to roughly $71,371 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in North Dakota (2024–2034)

North Dakota is projected to grow physical therapist assistants employment +22.3%, about in line with the +22.0% projected nationally. The state expects about 20 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

North Dakota License and Certification Requirements

Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) — regulated by the North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy.

1. Earn a CAPTE-accredited PTA associate degree.
2. Pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs.
3. Apply to the North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy.

Official requirements: North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy →

Training in North Dakota

A 2-year associate leads to a well-paid, hands-on clinical role. Verify CAPTE accreditation and NPTE pass rates.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in North Dakota include:

• Dakota College at Bottineau — Associate
• North Dakota State College of Science — Associate
• Rasmussen University-North Dakota — Associate
• Turtle Mountain College — Associate

Where Physical therapist assistants Work in North Dakota

Real North Dakota outpatient rehab clinics that employ physical therapist assistants include:

• Rehabvisions — Dickinson
• Valley Senior Living on Columbia — Grand Forks
• Missouri Slope — Bismarck
• Bethany on University — Fargo
• Smp Health - St Raphael — Valley City
• Trinity Homes — Minot

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People who like active work and helping patients make visible progress.

Think twice if: You need low-contact work or dislike repetitive coaching and physical assistance.

Why it's resilient: Rehab work is physical, relationship-based, adaptive, and centered on coaching real movement.

First Steps

Look for CAPTE-accredited PTA programs in your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), North Dakota statewide and metro estimates for SOC 31-2021. Licensing summary compiled from the North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET North Dakota wages · North Dakota licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities; Employer lists from CMS Provider of Services, the FAA Part 145 directory, EIA Form 860, and USGS/state EMS registries (2026).

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.