CPA (Certified Public Accountant) vs Physical Therapist

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Physical Therapist

Easier to Obtain

Physical Therapist

Lower Fee

Physical Therapist

Detailed Comparison

Metric	CPA (Certified Public Accountant)	Physical Therapist
Category	Finance	Healthcare
Median Salary	$86,080	$99,710
Avg Initial Fee	$398	$313
Difficulty	Very High	High
Education	150 credit hours + 1-2 years experience	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)
Exam	CPA Exam (4 parts)	NPTE
Time to License	5-6 years	7 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	40 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

Median Salary$86,080

Avg Salary$86,080

Avg License Fee$398

Physical Therapist

Median Salary$99,710

Avg Salary$99,710

Avg License Fee$313

Physical Therapist earns $13,630 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $136,300 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

CPA (Certified Public Accountant)View all 53 state requirements Physical TherapistView all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or Physical Therapist?

Physical Therapist has a higher median salary at $99,710 per year, compared to $86,080 for CPA (Certified Public Accountant) — a difference of $13,630 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or a Physical Therapist?

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) licensing is rated Very High difficulty, while Physical Therapist is rated High. CPA (Certified Public Accountant) requires 150 credit hours + 1-2 years experience and typically takes 5-6 years, compared to DPT (3 years post-bachelor) and 7 years for Physical Therapist.

Which license costs more: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or Physical Therapist?

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) has a higher average initial fee of $398, while Physical Therapist averages $313 — a difference of $85.

Do all states require a license for CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and Physical Therapist?

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Physical Therapist requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or Physical Therapist?

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) typically takes 5-6 years from start to licensure, while Physical Therapist takes 7 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	CPA (Certified Public Accountant)	Physical Therapist
Category	Finance	Healthcare
Median Salary	$86,080	$99,710
Avg Initial Fee	$398	$313
Difficulty	Very High	High
Education	150 credit hours + 1-2 years experience	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)
Exam	CPA Exam (4 parts)	NPTE
Time to License	5-6 years	7 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	40 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53