PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Alaska
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Alaska. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Alaska has 120+ job openings with $41K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
120+
AK Job Openings
$41K
Avg AK 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 Alaska paying 17% above average at $41,230. 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 Alaska
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Alaska rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Select Physical Therapy, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Providence Alaska Medical Center
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, Bartlett Regional Hospital
- ✓ 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 Alaska
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Providence Alaska Medical Center
Top Employer📍 Anchorage
📞 907-562-2211
State's largest hospital, comprehensive rehab
View Opportunities →Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
Major System📍 Palmer
📞 907-861-6000
Fastest-growing region in Alaska
View Opportunities →Bartlett Regional Hospital
Regional Leader📍 Juneau
📞 907-796-8900
Southeast Alaska's major medical facility
View Opportunities →Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
Growing📍 Fairbanks
📞 907-452-8181
Interior Alaska's primary hospital
View Opportunities →Select Physical Therapy
Tuition Aid📍 Anchorage
📞 907-561-1711
Major outpatient PT provider
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.
Alaska PT Tech Market
Alaska offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
The Alaska Premium
Alaska consistently ranks among the highest-paying states for PT Techs, with average wages 20% above national levels. This 'Alaska premium' exists because healthcare systems must compete aggressively for workers willing to relocate. The tradeoff is a higher cost of living—particularly housing in Anchorage—but many PT Techs find the combination of competitive pay, outdoor lifestyle, and tight-knit professional community makes Alaska worth it.
Anchorage: Where 40% of Alaska Works
The Anchorage metro area contains roughly 40% of Alaska's population and an even higher share of healthcare jobs. Providence Alaska Medical Center is the state's largest hospital and primary employer of PT professionals. Anchorage offers the most diverse practice settings, from hospital-based rehab to outpatient sports medicine serving a highly active population. Most PT Techs new to Alaska start here before potentially moving to smaller communities.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $40K-$52K | Most jobs, highest competition |
| Fairbanks | $38K-$48K | Interior Alaska, university town |
| Juneau/Southeast | $39K-$50K | State capital, island communities |
| Rural/Bush Alaska | $42K-$55K | Premium pay, housing often included |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Alaska
Why are PT Tech salaries so much higher in Alaska?
What unique challenges do PT Techs face working in Alaska?
Are there opportunities for PT Techs in rural Alaska?
How do I become a PT Tech in Alaska with no local training programs?
What's the job outlook for PT Techs in Alaska?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Alaska?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Alaska?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Alaska's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.