PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Maine
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Maine. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Maine has 350+ job openings with $33K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
350+
ME Job Openings
$33K
Avg ME 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 Maine paying 5% below average at $33,680. 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 Maine
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Maine rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Central Maine Medical Center, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — MaineHealth
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Northern Light Health, MaineGeneral 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 Maine
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Northern Light Health
Major System📍 Bangor/Statewide
📞 207-973-7000
Northern/Eastern Maine
View Opportunities →New England Rehabilitation Hospital
Growing📍 Portland
📞 207-775-4000
Inpatient rehab specialty
View Opportunities →Central Maine Medical Center
Tuition Aid📍 Lewiston
📞 207-795-0111
Androscoggin Valley
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.
Maine PT Tech Market
Maine offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
America's Oldest State
Maine's median age of 45.1 years—the highest in the nation—shapes its PT industry. The state has built healthcare infrastructure specifically for aging populations, with extensive joint replacement programs, fall prevention clinics, and post-acute care services. PT Techs in Maine develop deep geriatric expertise unavailable in younger-population states. This specialization transfers anywhere as America ages, but is especially valued throughout New England.
Portland vs. Rural Maine
Maine's healthcare market splits between Portland (MaineHealth) and everywhere else. Portland offers urban amenities, higher wages ($35K-$43K), and diverse practice settings—but housing costs now rival Boston suburbs. Northern Light Health serves the vast rural regions from Bangor, where wages are lower ($30K-$38K) but housing costs 40% less. Rural practice requires self-reliance but offers profound community connection.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Portland Metro | $35K-$43K | MaineHealth hub, highest wages |
| Bangor/Penobscot | $31K-$39K | Northern Light Health |
| Lewiston/Auburn | $30K-$38K | Central Maine MC |
| Augusta | $30K-$38K | State capital |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Maine
How does Maine's aging population affect PT Tech opportunities?
What's the job market like outside Portland?
How does tourism affect PT practice in Maine?
Is Maine's cost of living manageable on PT Tech wages?
What PTA programs are in Maine?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Maine?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Maine?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Maine's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.