PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in California
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in California. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. California has 6200+ job openings with $42K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
620+
PT Facilities
6200+
CA Job Openings
$42K
Avg CA 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 California paying 21% above average at $42,680. 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 California
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a California rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — ATI Physical Therapy, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Kaiser Permanente
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Dignity Health, Cedars-Sinai
- ✓ 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 California
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Kaiser Permanente
Top Employer📍 Statewide
📞 800-464-4000
Largest HMO, extensive PT services
View Opportunities →Dignity Health
Major System📍 San Francisco/Statewide
📞 415-438-5500
Major Catholic health system
View Opportunities →Cedars-Sinai
Regional Leader📍 Los Angeles
📞 310-423-3277
Premier LA medical center
View Opportunities →Stanford Health Care
Growing📍 Palo Alto
📞 650-723-4000
Academic medicine leader
View Opportunities →ATI Physical Therapy
Tuition Aid📍 Statewide
📞 855-692-8448
Major outpatient PT chain
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.
California PT Tech Market
California offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
The Kaiser Permanente Factor
Kaiser Permanente's massive California presence makes it a defining force in the state's PT job market. With integrated hospitals and clinics throughout the state, Kaiser employs thousands of PT professionals under union contracts that provide above-market wages, comprehensive benefits, and pension plans increasingly rare in healthcare. For PT Techs seeking stability and a clear path to advancement, Kaiser represents the gold standard—though positions are competitive and the work environment is more structured than private practice.
Bay Area: Highest Wages, Highest Stakes
The San Francisco Bay Area offers California's highest PT Tech wages ($45,000-$59,000) alongside world-class institutions like Stanford, UCSF, and Kaiser Oakland. The tradeoff is severe: median home prices exceed $1 million, and even renting requires multiple roommates on an entry-level salary. Many Bay Area PT Techs commute from more affordable areas like the Central Valley or East Bay suburbs, trading time for affordability.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Bay Area | $45K-$59K | Highest wages, extreme housing costs |
| Los Angeles Metro | $40K-$52K | Most jobs, diverse settings |
| San Diego | $38K-$50K | Growing market, military/VA presence |
| Inland Empire | $36K-$46K | Best CA affordability |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in California
Why does California have the highest PT Tech employment in the nation?
How does California's minimum wage affect PT Tech pay?
What's the difference between Northern and Southern California for PT careers?
Is Kaiser Permanente a good employer for PT Techs in California?
How many PTA programs are in California?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in California?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in California?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of California's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.