PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Idaho
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Idaho. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Idaho has 450+ job openings with $32K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
450+
ID Job Openings
$32K
Avg ID 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 Idaho paying 7% below average at $32,840. 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 Idaho
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Idaho rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Portneuf Medical Center, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — St. Luke's Health System
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Saint Alphonsus Health System, Kootenai 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 Idaho
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
St. Luke's Health System
Top Employer📍 Boise
📞 208-381-2222
State's largest system
View Opportunities →Saint Alphonsus Health System
Major System📍 Boise
📞 208-367-2121
Major Catholic system (Trinity Health)
View Opportunities →Kootenai Health
Regional Leader📍 Coeur d'Alene
📞 208-625-4000
North Idaho's major hospital
View Opportunities →Idaho Falls Community Hospital
Growing📍 Idaho Falls
📞 208-529-6111
Eastern Idaho hub
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.
Idaho PT Tech Market
Idaho offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
America's Fastest-Growing State
Idaho has led the nation in population growth for multiple years, with the Boise metro area nearly doubling in two decades. This explosive growth is outpacing healthcare infrastructure, creating persistent demand for PT professionals. For PT Techs, Idaho offers something increasingly rare: a job market where demand exceeds supply, giving workers leverage in salary negotiations and job selection. The growth is concentrated in the Treasure Valley (Boise, Meridian, Nampa) but spreading to resort towns like Coeur d'Alene and Sun Valley.
The Outdoor Sports Medicine Market
Idaho's identity is inseparable from outdoor recreation. Residents ski, mountain bike, hike, fish, and hunt at rates far exceeding national averages—and they get injured doing it. PT Techs in Idaho see high volumes of orthopedic and sports medicine cases: ACL repairs from skiing, rotator cuff injuries from fly fishing, back problems from mountain biking. This exposure builds specialized skills valued throughout the industry.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boise Metro | $34K-$43K | Most jobs, fastest growing |
| Coeur d'Alene | $32K-$41K | North Idaho, California transplants |
| Idaho Falls/E Idaho | $30K-$38K | National lab presence |
| Sun Valley/Resort | $35K-$45K | Premium pay, seasonal ski injuries |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Idaho
How has Idaho's rapid population growth affected PT Tech opportunities?
What makes Idaho's outdoor culture relevant to PT careers?
Is there a salary difference between Boise and rural Idaho?
How do California transplants affect Idaho's healthcare market?
What PTA programs are available in Idaho?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Idaho?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Idaho?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Idaho's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.