PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Georgia
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Georgia. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Georgia has 2450+ job openings with $32K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
245+
PT Facilities
2450+
GA Job Openings
$32K
Avg GA 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 Georgia paying 9% below average at $32,150. 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 Georgia
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Georgia rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Shepherd Center, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Emory Healthcare
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Piedmont Healthcare, WellStar Health System
- ✓ 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 Georgia
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Emory Healthcare
Top Employer📍 Atlanta
📞 404-778-7777
State's academic medical center
View Opportunities →Piedmont Healthcare
Major System📍 Atlanta Metro
📞 404-605-5000
Largest Georgia-based system
View Opportunities →WellStar Health System
Regional Leader📍 Marietta/NW Metro
📞 770-956-9827
Major suburban system
View Opportunities →Shepherd Center
Tuition Aid📍 Atlanta
📞 404-352-2020
Top-ranked spinal cord/brain injury rehab
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.
Georgia PT Tech Market
Georgia offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Shepherd Center: World-Class Neuro Rehab
Atlanta's Shepherd Center ranks among the nation's top hospitals for spinal cord injury, brain injury, and multiple sclerosis rehabilitation. For PT Techs, Shepherd offers exposure to complex neurological cases and rehabilitation technologies—exoskeletons, functional electrical stimulation, robotic therapy—unavailable at typical facilities. The experience gained here is highly valued by employers and PTA programs nationwide. Shepherd Center is a destination employer that attracts PT professionals from across the country.
Atlanta's Healthcare Boom
Metro Atlanta's explosive population growth (10th largest US metro, still growing 1.5% annually) has triggered a healthcare construction boom. New hospitals in suburbs like Gwinnett, Cherokee, and Forsyth counties are creating PT positions faster than they can be filled. For PT Techs, this growth means opportunity—less competition, faster advancement, and employers willing to invest in training. The market favors candidates willing to work in suburban and exurban locations.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Metro | $33K-$43K | Most jobs, Shepherd/Emory |
| Savannah | $30K-$39K | Coastal, military presence |
| Augusta | $29K-$38K | Medical College of Georgia |
| Columbus/Fort Moore | $28K-$36K | Military community |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Georgia
What makes Shepherd Center unique for PT Tech careers?
How does Atlanta's growth affect PT Tech opportunities?
Is there a salary difference between Atlanta and rural Georgia?
How does Georgia's military presence affect PT careers?
What PTA programs are available in Georgia?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Georgia?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Georgia?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Georgia's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.