PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Florida
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Florida. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Florida has 5800+ job openings with $33K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
580+
PT Facilities
5800+
FL Job Openings
$33K
Avg FL 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 Florida paying 5% below average at $33,480. 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 Florida
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Florida rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Brooks Rehabilitation, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — HCA Florida
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — AdventHealth, Baptist Health South Florida
- ✓ 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 Florida
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
HCA Florida
Top Employer📍 Statewide
📞 615-344-9551
Largest for-profit hospital chain
View Opportunities →AdventHealth
Major System📍 Orlando/Central FL
📞 407-303-5600
Major faith-based system
View Opportunities →Baptist Health South Florida
Regional Leader📍 Miami
📞 786-596-1960
South Florida's premier system
View Opportunities →Tampa General Hospital
Growing📍 Tampa
📞 813-844-7000
West coast academic center
View Opportunities →Brooks Rehabilitation
Tuition Aid📍 Jacksonville
📞 904-345-7300
Top-ranked rehab 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.
Florida PT Tech Market
Florida offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
The Retirement Capital of America
Florida's position as America's top retirement destination fundamentally shapes its PT industry. With over 4.5 million residents 65+, the state has built healthcare infrastructure specifically for older adults at a scale unmatched elsewhere. PT Techs in Florida routinely see high volumes of joint replacements, post-stroke rehab, balance disorders, and age-related conditions. This experience creates deep geriatric expertise that transfers anywhere—but is especially valued in the aging Sun Belt.
The No-Tax Advantage
Florida's lack of state income tax is a genuine financial advantage for PT Techs. While Florida's $33,480 average salary appears below the national median, the tax savings (4-6% compared to most states) effectively closes that gap. Combined with Florida's moderate cost of living outside Miami, PT Techs often find their purchasing power competitive with higher-salary states. This calculation attracts healthcare workers from across the country.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Miami/South Florida | $35K-$45K | Highest wages, highest costs |
| Tampa Bay | $33K-$42K | Growing market, moderate cost |
| Orlando/Central FL | $32K-$40K | AdventHealth dominant |
| Jacksonville | $31K-$40K | Brooks Rehab, lower cost |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Florida
Why does Florida have so many PT Tech jobs despite lower wages?
How does Florida's retiree population affect PT specialization?
What makes Brooks Rehabilitation special for PT careers?
How does no state income tax affect PT Tech take-home pay?
How many PTA programs are in Florida?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Florida?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Florida?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Florida's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.