PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Arkansas
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Arkansas. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Arkansas has 580+ job openings with $28K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
58+
PT Facilities
580+
AR Job Openings
$28K
Avg AR 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 Arkansas paying 18% below average at $28,950. 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 Arkansas
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Arkansas rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Mercy Health, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — UAMS Medical Center
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Baptist Health, CHI St. Vincent
- ✓ 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 Arkansas
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
UAMS Medical Center
Top Employer📍 Little Rock
📞 501-686-7000
State's only academic medical center
View Opportunities →Baptist Health
Major System📍 Little Rock
📞 501-202-2000
Arkansas' largest health system
View Opportunities →CHI St. Vincent
Regional Leader📍 Little Rock
📞 501-552-3000
Major Catholic health system
View Opportunities →Arkansas Children's Hospital
Growing📍 Little Rock
📞 501-364-1100
Pediatric specialty, unique PT exposure
View Opportunities →Mercy Health
Tuition Aid📍 Northwest AR
📞 479-338-8000
Serving Bentonville/Fayetteville region
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.
Arkansas PT Tech Market
Arkansas offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Cost of Living Advantage
Arkansas offers PT Techs something increasingly rare: affordable living on an entry-level healthcare salary. With housing costs 35% below national average and overall cost of living among the lowest in the nation, a PT Tech earning $29,000 in Little Rock has purchasing power equivalent to $38,000+ in Denver or $45,000+ in San Francisco. For those prioritizing savings, homeownership, or paying off student debt, Arkansas delivers financial stability that higher-salary states often can't match.
Northwest Arkansas: The Growth Exception
While most of Arkansas is rural and slow-growing, the Northwest corner (Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale) is booming. Home to Walmart's global headquarters, this region has attracted young professionals, corporate relocations, and world-class amenities like Crystal Bridges Museum. PT demand is driven by an active, outdoorsy population and corporate wellness programs. Salaries run 10-15% above state average, and the job market more closely resembles a growing Sun Belt metro than traditional Arkansas.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arkansas | $31K-$38K | Walmart region, fastest growing |
| Little Rock Metro | $29K-$36K | Most healthcare jobs, UAMS |
| Jonesboro/NE Arkansas | $27K-$33K | ASU medical programs |
| Rural Arkansas | $25K-$31K | Shortage areas, lower cost living |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Arkansas
How does Arkansas' low cost of living affect PT Tech career value?
What's unique about Northwest Arkansas for PT careers?
Are there opportunities at Arkansas Children's Hospital?
How many PTA programs does Arkansas have?
What's the job outlook in rural Arkansas?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Arkansas?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Arkansas?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Arkansas's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.