PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Connecticut
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Connecticut. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Connecticut has 820+ job openings with $38K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
82+
PT Facilities
820+
CT Job Openings
$38K
Avg CT 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 Connecticut paying 8% above average at $38,240. 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 Connecticut
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Connecticut rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Yale New Haven Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Hartford HealthCare, Nuvance 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 Connecticut
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Yale New Haven Health
Top Employer📍 New Haven
📞 203-688-4242
State's largest system, academic medicine
View Opportunities →Hartford HealthCare
Major System📍 Hartford
📞 860-545-5000
Major regional system
View Opportunities →Nuvance Health
Regional Leader📍 Western CT/NY border
📞 203-739-7000
Cross-state system
View Opportunities →Trinity Health of New England
Growing📍 Hartford area
📞 860-714-4000
Catholic health system
View Opportunities →Gaylord Specialty Healthcare
Tuition Aid📍 Wallingford
📞 203-284-2800
Renowned rehabilitation hospital
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.
Connecticut PT Tech Market
Connecticut offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
The NYC/Boston Corridor
Connecticut's position between New York and Boston fundamentally shapes its PT job market. To compete for workers who could easily commute to higher-paying metro positions, Connecticut employers must offer competitive wages, better benefits, or superior work-life balance. The result: CT PT Techs earn above-average wages while enjoying shorter commutes and lower stress than their NYC counterparts. Fairfield County (Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich) is particularly influenced by NYC competition.
Yale New Haven: Academic Excellence
Yale New Haven Health is Connecticut's dominant healthcare system and one of the nation's leading academic medical centers. For PT Techs, this means exposure to cutting-edge treatment approaches, complex cases, and research-informed practice. Yale's prestige extends to all employees—PT Tech experience at Yale carries weight on applications to PTA programs and future employers. The system's scale (5 hospitals, dozens of clinics) also provides career mobility without leaving the organization.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfield County | $40K-$50K | NYC influence, highest wages |
| New Haven | $37K-$47K | Yale system hub |
| Hartford | $35K-$45K | State capital, major systems |
| Eastern CT | $33K-$43K | Rural areas, Mystic/shore communities |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Connecticut
How does Connecticut's location between NYC and Boston affect PT careers?
What makes Gaylord Hospital special for PT careers?
Is Yale New Haven Health a good employer for PT Techs?
How does Connecticut's aging population affect PT demand?
What PTA programs are available in Connecticut?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Connecticut?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Connecticut?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Connecticut's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.