PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Hawaii
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Hawaii. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Hawaii has 280+ job openings with $38K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
280+
HI Job Openings
$38K
Avg HI 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 Hawaii paying 10% above average at $38,920. 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 Hawaii
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Hawaii rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Tripler Army Medical Center, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — The Queen's Health System
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Hawaii Pacific Health, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
- ✓ 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 Hawaii
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
The Queen's Health System
Top Employer📍 Honolulu
📞 808-691-5900
Hawaii's largest health system
View Opportunities →Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
Regional Leader📍 Oahu
📞 808-432-5955
Major insurer and provider
View Opportunities →Tripler Army Medical Center
Tuition Aid📍 Honolulu
📞 808-433-6661
Military medicine, largest pink building
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.
Hawaii PT Tech Market
Hawaii offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Paradise With a Price Tag
Hawaii offers PT Techs an undeniable lifestyle: year-round warm weather, beaches, outdoor activities, and unique cultural richness. The cost is literal—Hawaii's housing is 2-3x the national average, groceries cost 30% more, and most consumer goods are expensive. PT Tech wages ($38,920 avg) are above national median but below what housing costs require. Most Hawaii PT Techs make the calculation that lifestyle benefits outweigh financial constraints—but it's not for everyone.
Oahu: Where 70% of Hawaii Works
Honolulu and greater Oahu contain roughly 70% of Hawaii's population and an even higher share of healthcare jobs. The Queen's Health System, Hawaii Pacific Health, and Kaiser Permanente all concentrate operations here. PT Techs on Oahu have the most diverse practice options but also face the highest housing costs and competition. Many start on Oahu, gain experience, then consider outer island moves for lifestyle or housing relief.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu/Oahu | $38K-$50K | Most jobs, highest costs |
| Maui | $36K-$48K | Tourism economy, growing |
| Big Island | $34K-$45K | More affordable, limited options |
| Kauai | $35K-$46K | Small market, lifestyle appeal |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Hawaii
How does Hawaii's cost of living affect PT Tech financial reality?
What's unique about practicing PT in Hawaii's island geography?
Is there opportunity on islands other than Oahu?
How does military presence affect Hawaii PT careers?
Are there PTA programs in Hawaii?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Hawaii?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Hawaii?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Hawaii's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.