PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Alabama
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Alabama. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Alabama has 850+ job openings with $29K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
85+
PT Facilities
850+
AL Job Openings
$29K
Avg AL Salary
$0
Externship Cost
Why Get a PTT Externship?
A Physical Therapy Technician externship gives you real-world clinical experience that employers value. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapist aides earn a median salary of $35,330 nationally, with Alabama paying 16% below average at $29,840. Hands-on experience sets you apart from other candidates.
An externship helps you:
- ✓ Practice patient transfers, therapeutic exercises, and equipment operation in a real clinical environment
- ✓ Build professional references from licensed Physical Therapists and PTAs
- ✓ Discover which PT setting fits you best (inpatient rehab, outpatient clinic, sports medicine, SNF)
- ✓ Convert your externship into a job offer — many facilities hire their externs
- ✓ Gain confidence working with patients recovering from injuries, surgeries, and neurological conditions
New to physical therapy? EHired offers free training to prepare you for AMCA certification. An externship is optional but highly recommended for building clinical skills and professional connections.
⚠️ Important: EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. You contact rehabilitation facilities and PT clinics directly to arrange your own placement. This self-managed approach gives you flexibility to choose sites near your home and build direct relationships with potential employers.
How to Find a PTT Externship in Alabama
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Alabama rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Mobile Infirmary, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — UAB Medicine
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Huntsville Hospital, Encompass Health
- ✓ Sports medicine centers — Athletic training facilities, team clinics
- ✓ Skilled nursing facilities — Genesis, ManorCare, local SNFs
- ✓ Home health agencies — Bayada, Amedisys, LHC Group
Prepare Your Approach
Get ready before contacting sites:
- ✓ Update your resume — Include EHired training, any fitness/healthcare experience
- ✓ Prepare a pitch — "I'm completing PTT training and seeking hands-on clinical experience"
- ✓ Highlight relevant skills — Physical fitness, patient interaction, attention to detail
- ✓ Be flexible — Offer to work their schedule, early mornings or evenings
- ✓ Dress professionally — Scrubs or business casual for in-person visits
Make Contact
Reach out to PT facilities directly:
- ✓ Call first — Ask for the clinic manager or rehab director
- ✓ Visit in person — Drop off resume during non-peak hours (early AM or 2-4 PM)
- ✓ Email if provided — Brief, professional, attach resume
- ✓ Explain the arrangement — Unpaid, flexible hours, eager to learn PT skills
- ✓ Follow up — If no response in 1 week, call again politely
Complete Your Externship
Make the most of your experience:
- ✓ Arrive early — Show reliability and eagerness to learn
- ✓ Ask questions — PTs appreciate engaged learners
- ✓ Take initiative — Help with equipment setup, cleaning, patient prep
- ✓ Document your hours — Keep a log for your records
- ✓ Request feedback — Ask for a reference letter before you leave
PTT Externship Sites in Alabama
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
UAB Medicine
Top Employer📍 Birmingham
📞 205-934-4011
State's largest academic medical center, extensive PT services
View Opportunities →Huntsville Hospital
Major System📍 Huntsville
📞 256-265-1000
North Alabama's largest hospital system
View Opportunities →Encompass Health
Regional Leader📍 Birmingham HQ
📞 205-967-7116
National rehab leader headquartered in AL
View Opportunities →Baptist Health
Growing📍 Montgomery
📞 334-273-4400
Central Alabama's major health system
View Opportunities →Mobile Infirmary
Tuition Aid📍 Mobile
📞 251-435-2400
Gulf Coast regional medical center
View Opportunities →ATI Physical Therapy
National Chain📍 Multiple locations
📞 Contact local clinic
National outpatient PT network with locations across the state
View Opportunities →🏃 Sports Medicine & Orthopedic
- • ATI Physical Therapy — National chain with local presence
- • Athletico Physical Therapy — Sports rehab focus
- • CORA Physical Therapy — Growing regional network
- • Pivot Physical Therapy — Orthopedic specialization
- • Local university athletics — College sports medicine
🏠 SNF & Home Health
- • Genesis Healthcare — Skilled nursing facilities statewide
- • Kindred Healthcare — Post-acute care and rehab
- • ManorCare/ProMedica — Rehabilitation and skilled nursing
- • Bayada Home Health — Home health PT services
- • Amedisys — Home health and hospice
Skills You'll Learn During Your PTT Externship
A clinical externship provides hands-on experience with core PT Tech competencies that classroom training alone cannot replicate.
Patient Mobility
Safe patient transfers, gait training assistance, wheelchair mobility, and use of assistive devices (walkers, canes, crutches).
Therapeutic Exercise
Setting up exercise equipment, assisting with stretching protocols, monitoring exercise form, and tracking repetitions.
Modality Application
Hot/cold pack application, ultrasound preparation, electrical stimulation setup, and paraffin bath treatments.
Equipment Management
Treatment table preparation, equipment maintenance, supply inventory, and ensuring clean treatment areas.
Documentation Support
Recording patient attendance, tracking exercise completion, scheduling follow-up appointments, and basic EHR navigation.
Patient Communication
Professional interaction with patients, explaining exercises, providing encouragement, and reporting concerns to supervising PT.
Alabama PT Tech Market
Alabama offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
The Encompass Health Advantage
Alabama is home to Encompass Health's corporate headquarters in Birmingham, making it one of the few states where PT Techs can build an entire career within a Fortune 500 rehabilitation company without relocating. Encompass operates multiple inpatient rehab hospitals across Alabama and offers clear advancement pathways from PT Tech to leadership roles. The company's presence also elevates wages and benefits standards across the state's rehab industry.
Birmingham: Alabama's Healthcare Hub
The Birmingham metro area employs over 60% of Alabama's PT workforce, anchored by UAB Medicine (the state's largest employer) and a cluster of specialty rehab facilities. PT Techs in Birmingham earn 15-20% more than the state average and have access to diverse practice settings from Level 1 trauma to outpatient sports medicine. The city's reasonable cost of living means these wages stretch further than in comparable healthcare markets.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Metro | $32K-$38K | Highest wages, most opportunities |
| Huntsville/North AL | $30K-$35K | Growing tech sector driving healthcare |
| Mobile/Gulf Coast | $28K-$34K | Retirement community demand |
| Rural Alabama | $26K-$31K | Lower cost of living offset |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Alabama
Why is Encompass Health headquartered in Alabama important for PT Techs?
How does Alabama's lower cost of living affect PT Tech careers?
What makes UAB Medicine unique for PT career development?
Are there PTA programs in Alabama for career advancement?
How does the aging population in Alabama affect PT Tech job security?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Alabama?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Alabama?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Alabama's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.