PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Minnesota
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Minnesota. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Minnesota has 1350+ job openings with $35K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
135+
PT Facilities
1350+
MN Job Openings
$35K
Avg MN 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 Minnesota paying 0% below average at $35,280. 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 Minnesota
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Minnesota rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Essentia Health, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Mayo Clinic
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — M Health Fairview, Allina 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 Minnesota
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Mayo Clinic
Top Employer📍 Rochester
📞 507-284-2511
#1 ranked hospital nationally
View Opportunities →M Health Fairview
Major System📍 Minneapolis
📞 612-273-3000
U of MN academic system
View Opportunities →Allina Health
Regional Leader📍 Twin Cities
📞 612-262-9000
Major regional system
View Opportunities →Essentia Health
Tuition Aid📍 Duluth/Rural MN
📞 218-786-8364
Northern MN 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.
Minnesota PT Tech Market
Minnesota offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Mayo Clinic: Healthcare's Pinnacle
Rochester's Mayo Clinic is simply the #1 hospital in America—a position it has held for years. PT Techs at Mayo work in healthcare's most prestigious institution, where protocols developed here become national standards. Mayo pays above-market wages and provides exceptional training. Rochester, despite being a small city (120,000), offers quality of life shaped by Mayo's presence—excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, cultural amenities. Landing a Mayo position is competitive but achievable.
Twin Cities Healthcare Hub
Minneapolis-St. Paul operates as the regional healthcare capital for the Upper Midwest, with patients from five states seeking care here. Multiple competing systems (M Health Fairview, Allina, HealthPartners) create wage competition and job diversity. The market is sophisticated—expect higher standards and more competition than in most cities. The payoff is exceptional quality of life in a metro consistently ranked among America's best places to live.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester (Mayo) | $37K-$46K | Mayo Clinic, highest wages |
| Twin Cities Metro | $35K-$44K | Most jobs, multiple systems |
| Duluth/North Shore | $32K-$40K | Essentia, outdoor lifestyle |
| St. Cloud/Central MN | $31K-$39K | Regional hub |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Minnesota
What makes Mayo Clinic the ultimate destination for PT careers?
Can I actually get a job at Mayo Clinic as a PT Tech?
What's the Twin Cities healthcare market like?
Is there opportunity outside the Twin Cities and Rochester?
What PTA programs are in Minnesota?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Minnesota?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Minnesota?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Minnesota's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.