Insurance Agent 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

Insurance Agent

Lower Fee

Insurance Agent

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Insurance Agent	Physical Therapist
Category	Insurance	Healthcare
Median Salary	$59,400	$99,710
Avg Initial Fee	$149	$313
Difficulty	Low-Medium	High
Education	Pre-licensing course (20-40 hours)	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)
Exam	State Insurance Exam	NPTE
Time to License	1-3 months	7 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Insurance Agent

Median Salary$59,400

Avg Salary$59,400

Avg License Fee$149

Physical Therapist

Median Salary$99,710

Avg Salary$99,710

Avg License Fee$313

Physical Therapist earns $40,310 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $403,100 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Insurance AgentView 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: Insurance Agent or Physical Therapist?

Physical Therapist has a higher median salary at $99,710 per year, compared to $59,400 for Insurance Agent — a difference of $40,310 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Insurance Agent or a Physical Therapist?

Insurance Agent licensing is rated Low-Medium difficulty, while Physical Therapist is rated High. Insurance Agent requires Pre-licensing course (20-40 hours) and typically takes 1-3 months, compared to DPT (3 years post-bachelor) and 7 years for Physical Therapist.

Which license costs more: Insurance Agent or Physical Therapist?

Physical Therapist has a higher average initial fee of $313, while Insurance Agent averages $149 — a difference of $164.

Do all states require a license for Insurance Agent and Physical Therapist?

Insurance Agent 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: Insurance Agent or Physical Therapist?

Insurance Agent typically takes 1-3 months from start to licensure, while Physical Therapist takes 7 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

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Detailed Comparison

Metric	Insurance Agent	Physical Therapist
Category	Insurance	Healthcare
Median Salary	$59,400	$99,710
Avg Initial Fee	$149	$313
Difficulty	Low-Medium	High
Education	Pre-licensing course (20-40 hours)	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)
Exam	State Insurance Exam	NPTE
Time to License	1-3 months	7 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53