PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Mississippi
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Mississippi. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Mississippi has 580+ job openings with $27K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
58+
PT Facilities
580+
MS Job Openings
$27K
Avg MS 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 Mississippi paying 21% below average at $27,840. 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 Mississippi
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Mississippi rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Singing River Health System, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — UMMC - University of Mississippi Medical Center
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Baptist Memorial Health Care, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
- ✓ 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 Mississippi
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
UMMC - University of Mississippi Medical Center
Top Employer📍 Jackson
📞 601-984-1000
State's only academic medical center
View Opportunities →Baptist Memorial Health Care
Major System📍 Jackson/North MS
📞 601-968-1000
Major regional system
View Opportunities →Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
Regional Leader📍 Gulf Coast
📞 228-867-4000
Coastal regional center
View Opportunities →North Mississippi Health Services
Growing📍 Tupelo
📞 662-377-3000
Rural health leader
View Opportunities →Singing River Health System
Tuition Aid📍 Pascagoula
📞 228-809-5000
SE Mississippi
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.
Mississippi PT Tech Market
Mississippi offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Cost of Living Advantage
Mississippi's rock-bottom cost of living creates unexpected PT career value. While $27,840 average salary appears low, Mississippi housing costs 40% below national average—homeownership is achievable on entry-level healthcare wages. A PT Tech in Jackson has purchasing power equivalent to $38,000+ in a median-cost state. For those prioritizing financial stability over high nominal wages, Mississippi delivers.
Health Challenges Create Demand
Mississippi leads the nation in obesity, diabetes, and related chronic conditions. While this represents a public health crisis, it also creates sustained PT demand. PT Techs in Mississippi see high volumes of post-surgical rehabilitation, diabetes-related complications, and mobility disorders. This patient population differs significantly from healthier states and builds skills in managing complex, chronic conditions.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Metro | $29K-$37K | UMMC, most jobs |
| Gulf Coast | $28K-$36K | Tourism, military |
| Tupelo/North MS | $26K-$34K | North MS Health Services |
| Hattiesburg | $26K-$34K | University town |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Mississippi
Why does Mississippi have the lowest PT Tech salaries?
How does Mississippi's health challenges affect PT demand?
What's unique about UMMC for PT careers?
Is there opportunity on the Gulf Coast?
What PTA programs are in Mississippi?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Mississippi?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Mississippi?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Mississippi's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.