PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Kansas
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Kansas. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Kansas has 680+ job openings with $30K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
68+
PT Facilities
680+
KS Job Openings
$30K
Avg KS 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 Kansas paying 14% below average at $30,420. 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 Kansas
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Kansas rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Wesley Medical Center, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — University of Kansas Health System
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Ascension Via Christi, Stormont Vail 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 Kansas
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
University of Kansas Health System
Top Employer📍 Kansas City
📞 913-588-5000
State's academic medical center
View Opportunities →Ascension Via Christi
Major System📍 Wichita
📞 316-268-5000
Kansas' largest hospital
View Opportunities →Stormont Vail Health
Regional Leader📍 Topeka
📞 785-354-6000
Capital region leader
View Opportunities →HCA Midwest Health
Growing📍 Kansas City Metro
📞 913-541-5300
Multi-hospital system
View Opportunities →Wesley Medical Center
Tuition Aid📍 Wichita
📞 316-962-2000
Major Wichita 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.
Kansas PT Tech Market
Kansas offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
The Kansas City Advantage
Kansas City metro's split across two states creates unique opportunity. The University of Kansas Medical Center—the state's only academic medical center—anchors the Kansas side with research, complex cases, and educational resources. PT Techs can live in affordable Kansas suburbs while accessing the broader KC job market. No state income tax on the Kansas side adds to the financial advantage.
Wichita's Industrial Healthcare Market
Wichita's identity as America's 'Air Capital' shapes its PT market. Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and Textron Aviation employ tens of thousands in manufacturing, creating steady demand for occupational health and ergonomic PT services. Ascension Via Christi, the state's largest hospital, anchors healthcare. Wichita offers urban healthcare options with housing costs 40% below national average.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Metro (KS) | $32K-$40K | KUMC, most jobs |
| Wichita | $29K-$38K | Aerospace industry |
| Topeka | $28K-$36K | State capital, Stormont Vail |
| Lawrence | $28K-$37K | KU campus town |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Kansas
How does the Kansas City metro split between Kansas and Missouri affect PT careers?
What's unique about PT practice in Wichita?
How does Kansas' rural population affect PT opportunities?
Is the cost of living advantage real in Kansas?
What PTA programs are in Kansas?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Kansas?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Kansas?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Kansas's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.