PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Nebraska
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Nebraska. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Nebraska has 500+ job openings with $31K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
500+
NE Job Openings
$31K
Avg NE 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 Nebraska paying 12% below average at $31,180. 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 Nebraska
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Nebraska rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Nebraska Medicine
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — CHI Health, Bryan 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 Nebraska
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Nebraska Medicine
Top Employer📍 Omaha
📞 402-559-4000
UNMC academic medical center
View Opportunities →Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals
Tuition Aid📍 Lincoln/Omaha
📞 402-489-7102
National 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.
Nebraska PT Tech Market
Nebraska offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Madonna Rehabilitation: Hidden Gem
Lincoln's Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals provide nationally recognized care for spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and complex medical rehabilitation. PT Techs at Madonna gain specialized neuro rehab experience with technologies and case complexity rivaling top coastal facilities—but in a city where housing costs 60% less than national average. Madonna's focus on returning patients to maximum independence creates meaningful work and career-defining experience.
Nebraska Medicine: Academic Excellence
UNMC's Nebraska Medicine in Omaha brings academic medicine to the Midwest. The system gained national attention for biocontainment capabilities during Ebola outbreaks but offers comprehensive healthcare with research focus. PT Techs gain exposure to academic protocols and complex cases while enjoying Omaha's affordability and quality of life. Nebraska Medicine experience opens doors throughout healthcare.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha Metro | $32K-$41K | Most jobs, NE Medicine |
| Lincoln | $30K-$39K | Bryan Health, Madonna |
| Kearney/Grand Island | $28K-$37K | Central Nebraska |
| Scottsbluff/North Platte | $28K-$38K | Western Nebraska |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Nebraska
What makes Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals special?
How does UNMC/Nebraska Medicine compare to coastal academic centers?
Is Omaha or Lincoln better for PT careers?
Is there opportunity in rural Nebraska?
What PTA programs are in Nebraska?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Nebraska?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Nebraska?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Nebraska's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.