PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Maryland
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Maryland. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Maryland has 1450+ job openings with $36K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
145+
PT Facilities
1450+
MD Job Openings
$36K
Avg MD 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 Maryland paying 4% above average at $36,840. 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 Maryland
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Maryland rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Kennedy Krieger Institute, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Johns Hopkins Medicine
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — University of Maryland Medical System, MedStar 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 Maryland
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Top Employer📍 Baltimore
📞 410-955-5000
#3 ranked hospital nationally
View Opportunities →University of Maryland Medical System
Major System📍 Baltimore/Statewide
📞 410-328-8667
14-hospital system
View Opportunities →MedStar Health
Regional Leader📍 Baltimore/DC Metro
📞 410-772-6500
Regional system, NRH rehab
View Opportunities →Adventist HealthCare
Growing📍 Montgomery County
📞 301-315-3000
DC suburb system
View Opportunities →Kennedy Krieger Institute
Tuition Aid📍 Baltimore
📞 443-923-9200
Pediatric rehab leader
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.
Maryland PT Tech Market
Maryland offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Johns Hopkins: The Gold Standard
Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital ranks #3 in the nation and has shaped modern medicine for 130 years. For PT Techs, Hopkins represents the pinnacle—exposure to research protocols, complex cases, and treatments developed on-site. Working at Hopkins means learning from world experts and adding a credential that opens doors nationwide. Competition for positions is intense, but PT Tech roles offer an entry point into this elite institution.
Kennedy Krieger's Pediatric Focus
Kennedy Krieger Institute is internationally recognized for pediatric rehabilitation, treating children with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and developmental disabilities. PT Techs at Kennedy Krieger gain specialized experience with pediatric neurological conditions—expertise rare at the entry level and highly valued by employers and graduate programs. The work is emotionally demanding but profoundly rewarding.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Metro | $37K-$48K | Hopkins, UMMS, most jobs |
| DC Suburbs (MoCo/PG) | $38K-$48K | Federal influence |
| Frederick/Western MD | $33K-$42K | Lower COL, growing |
| Eastern Shore | $32K-$40K | Rural, seasonal tourism |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Maryland
What makes Johns Hopkins significant for PT Tech careers?
What's unique about Kennedy Krieger Institute?
How does DC proximity affect Maryland PT careers?
Is there opportunity outside the Baltimore-DC corridor?
What PTA programs are in Maryland?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Maryland?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Maryland?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Maryland's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.