PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Missouri
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Missouri. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Missouri has 1520+ job openings with $31K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
152+
PT Facilities
1520+
MO Job Openings
$31K
Avg MO 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 Missouri paying 10% below average at $31,680. 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 Missouri
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Missouri rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — BJC HealthCare
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — SSM Health, Mercy 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 Missouri
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
BJC HealthCare
Top Employer📍 St. Louis
📞 314-286-2000
Barnes-Jewish, Washington U affiliated
View Opportunities →SSM Health
Major System📍 St. Louis/Statewide
📞 314-994-7800
Major Catholic system
View Opportunities →Mercy Health
Regional Leader📍 St. Louis/Springfield
📞 314-251-6000
Regional system
View Opportunities →Saint Luke's Health System
Growing📍 Kansas City
📞 816-932-2000
KC's academic center
View Opportunities →The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis
Tuition Aid📍 St. Louis
📞 314-658-3800
Top-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.
Missouri PT Tech Market
Missouri offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Barnes-Jewish: Midwest's Academic Powerhouse
St. Louis's Barnes-Jewish Hospital ranks #11 nationally and is affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine—one of the nation's top medical schools. PT Techs at Barnes-Jewish gain academic medicine exposure comparable to Boston or New York institutions but in a city where housing costs 60% less. This combination of elite healthcare and Midwest affordability creates exceptional career opportunity.
The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis
St. Louis is home to a nationally ranked Rehabilitation Institute providing comprehensive inpatient rehab for spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke, and complex orthopedic cases. PT Techs here develop specialized neuro rehab skills with technologies and case complexity rarely seen in typical settings. This experience is career-defining and translates to opportunities nationwide.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Metro | $33K-$42K | Barnes-Jewish, most jobs |
| Kansas City Metro (MO) | $31K-$40K | Saint Luke's, HCA |
| Springfield | $29K-$37K | Mercy, CoxHealth |
| Columbia | $29K-$38K | MU Health Care |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Missouri
What makes Barnes-Jewish Hospital special for PT careers?
How does St. Louis compare to Kansas City for PT careers?
What's unique about The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis?
Is there opportunity outside St. Louis and Kansas City?
What PTA programs are in Missouri?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Missouri?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Missouri?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Missouri's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.