PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Michigan
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Michigan. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Michigan has 2380+ job openings with $32K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
238+
PT Facilities
2380+
MI Job Openings
$32K
Avg MI 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 Michigan paying 8% below average at $32,480. 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 Michigan
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Michigan rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Michigan Medicine
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Beaumont Health, Henry Ford 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 Michigan
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Michigan Medicine
Top Employer📍 Ann Arbor
📞 734-936-4000
#5 ranked hospital nationally
View Opportunities →Beaumont Health
Major System📍 Metro Detroit
📞 248-898-5000
SE Michigan's largest
View Opportunities →Henry Ford Health
Regional Leader📍 Detroit
📞 313-916-1777
Major Detroit system
View Opportunities →Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation
Tuition Aid📍 Grand Rapids
📞 616-840-8000
Top 10 ranked 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.
Michigan PT Tech Market
Michigan offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Michigan Medicine: Big Ten Excellence
Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor ranks #5 nationally, making it the highest-rated hospital between the coasts. PT Techs here gain academic medicine exposure—research protocols, complex cases, teaching opportunities—comparable to Boston or New York but with Midwest affordability. Ann Arbor's college-town quality of life adds to the appeal. Michigan Medicine experience opens doors throughout healthcare.
Mary Free Bed: Midwest Rehab Leader
Grand Rapids' Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital ranks top 10 nationally, providing world-class rehab in an unexpected location. PT Techs at Mary Free Bed work with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and complex orthopedic cases using advanced technologies. Grand Rapids' affordability (housing 35% below national average) means PT Techs can build savings while gaining elite experience.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor/Washtenaw | $35K-$44K | Michigan Medicine, highest wages |
| Metro Detroit | $33K-$42K | Beaumont, Henry Ford |
| Grand Rapids | $31K-$40K | Mary Free Bed, Spectrum |
| Lansing/Central MI | $29K-$38K | State capital, MSU |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Michigan
What makes Michigan Medicine exceptional for PT careers?
What's special about Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation?
How does the auto industry affect Michigan PT practice?
Is there a salary difference between Detroit and outstate Michigan?
What PTA programs are in Michigan?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Michigan?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Michigan?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Michigan's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.