PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Arizona
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Arizona. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Arizona has 1850+ job openings with $35K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
185+
PT Facilities
1850+
AZ Job Openings
$35K
Avg AZ 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 Arizona paying 1% below average at $35,120. 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 Arizona
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Arizona rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Foothills Sports Medicine, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Banner Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — HonorHealth, Dignity Health Arizona
- ✓ 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 Arizona
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Banner Health
Top Employer📍 Phoenix
📞 602-747-4000
Arizona's largest health system, 30+ hospitals
View Opportunities →HonorHealth
Major System📍 Scottsdale
📞 623-580-5800
Major Phoenix metro system
View Opportunities →Dignity Health Arizona
Regional Leader📍 Phoenix
📞 602-406-3000
St. Joseph's and Chandler Regional
View Opportunities →Mayo Clinic Arizona
Growing📍 Phoenix/Scottsdale
📞 480-515-6296
World-renowned academic center
View Opportunities →Foothills Sports Medicine
Tuition Aid📍 Phoenix Metro
📞 480-460-4646
Largest private PT practice in AZ
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.
Arizona PT Tech Market
Arizona offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Banner Health: Arizona's PT Powerhouse
Banner Health dominates Arizona healthcare with 30+ hospitals and hundreds of clinics, making it the state's largest PT employer by far. For PT Techs, this scale creates unique advantages: you can transfer between urban, suburban, and rural locations without changing employers; training is standardized and comprehensive; and tuition reimbursement ($5,250/year) supports advancement to PTA. Many Arizona PT Techs build entire careers within Banner's system.
Phoenix Metro: Where the Jobs Are
Greater Phoenix employs over 70% of Arizona's PT workforce across a sprawling metro of 5 million people. The combination of rapid population growth, active outdoor lifestyle (leading to sports injuries), and massive retirement communities creates diverse practice opportunities. From Mayo Clinic's academic excellence to high-volume outpatient chains, Phoenix offers every type of PT setting. Traffic and summer heat are real considerations, but job availability is exceptional.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Metro | $34K-$44K | 70% of state jobs, diverse settings |
| Scottsdale/Paradise Valley | $36K-$46K | Affluent area, Mayo Clinic presence |
| Tucson Metro | $32K-$40K | University of Arizona, lower cost |
| Retirement Communities | $33K-$42K | Sun City, Green Valley, consistent demand |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Arizona
How does Arizona's rapid population growth affect PT Tech opportunities?
What makes Banner Health dominant in Arizona's PT job market?
Are there opportunities at Mayo Clinic Arizona for PT Techs?
How does Arizona's retirement population affect PT specialization?
What PTA programs are available in Arizona?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Arizona?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Arizona?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Arizona's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.