PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Kentucky
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Kentucky. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Kentucky has 980+ job openings with $30K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
98+
PT Facilities
980+
KY Job Openings
$30K
Avg KY 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 Kentucky paying 15% below average at $30,180. 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 Kentucky
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Kentucky rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Frazier Rehab Institute, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — UK HealthCare
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Norton Healthcare, Baptist 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 Kentucky
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
UK HealthCare
Top Employer📍 Lexington
📞 859-257-1000
State's academic medical center
View Opportunities →Norton Healthcare
Major System📍 Louisville
📞 502-629-8000
Louisville's largest system
View Opportunities →Baptist Health
Regional Leader📍 Louisville/Statewide
📞 502-896-5000
Multi-hospital system
View Opportunities →CHI Saint Joseph Health
Growing📍 Lexington
📞 859-313-1000
Catholic Health Initiatives
View Opportunities →Frazier Rehab Institute
Tuition Aid📍 Louisville
📞 502-582-7400
Top-ranked spinal cord 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.
Kentucky PT Tech Market
Kentucky offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Frazier Rehab: Kentucky's Specialty Center
Louisville's Frazier Rehab Institute is Kentucky's only hospital dedicated exclusively to physical rehabilitation and ranks nationally for spinal cord injury treatment. PT Techs at Frazier work with complex neurological cases—spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke—using advanced technologies like exoskeletons and robotics. This specialized exposure is rare for entry-level positions and provides exceptional career development.
The Bluegrass Healthcare Market
Lexington anchors Kentucky's Bluegrass region with UK HealthCare, the state's only academic medical center. The region's unique character—horse farms, bourbon distilleries, and outdoor recreation—attracts healthcare workers seeking quality of life. UK's research programs and clinical excellence set standards for Kentucky PT practice. The equestrian industry adds unique sports medicine opportunities.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville Metro | $31K-$40K | Most jobs, Frazier Rehab |
| Lexington | $30K-$39K | UK HealthCare, Bluegrass region |
| Northern KY/Cincinnati | $31K-$40K | Cincinnati metro spillover |
| Bowling Green | $28K-$36K | Growing southern city |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Kentucky
What makes Frazier Rehab Institute significant for PT careers?
How does Kentucky's horse industry affect PT practice?
Is there a difference between Louisville and the rest of Kentucky?
How does Appalachian Kentucky's health challenges affect PT demand?
What PTA programs are in Kentucky?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Kentucky?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Kentucky?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Kentucky's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.