PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Nevada
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Nevada. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Nevada has 820+ job openings with $35K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
82+
PT Facilities
820+
NV Job Openings
$35K
Avg NV 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 Nevada paying 1% above average at $35,680. 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 Nevada
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Nevada rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — HealthCare Partners Nevada, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Renown Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Sunrise Hospital, Dignity Health Nevada
- ✓ 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 Nevada
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Sunrise Hospital
Major System📍 Las Vegas
📞 702-961-5000
HCA facility, trauma center
View Opportunities →Dignity Health Nevada
Regional Leader📍 Las Vegas
📞 702-616-4900
St. Rose hospitals
View Opportunities →University Medical Center
Growing📍 Las Vegas
📞 702-383-2000
Nevada's only public hospital
View Opportunities →HealthCare Partners Nevada
Tuition Aid📍 Las Vegas
📞 702-856-6700
Large multi-specialty group
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.
Nevada PT Tech Market
Nevada offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Growth Outpacing Healthcare
Nevada's population has exploded—Las Vegas metro alone has grown from 1.5 million to 2.3 million in two decades. Healthcare infrastructure hasn't kept pace. The state had no medical school until 2017 and limited allied health programs. This mismatch creates persistent workforce shortages and strong demand for PT Techs. Employers actively recruit, sometimes with signing bonuses and relocation assistance.
The Hospitality Health Connection
Las Vegas's casino and hospitality industry employs over 300,000 workers in physically demanding jobs—dealers standing for hours, servers carrying heavy trays, housekeepers repetitively making beds, entertainers performing nightly. This workforce generates concentrated occupational health demand. PT clinics in Las Vegas see repetitive stress injuries, back problems, and occupational strain at rates exceeding typical markets. This specialization builds valuable skills.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Metro | $35K-$46K | Most jobs, high COL |
| Henderson/Boulder City | $34K-$44K | Vegas suburbs |
| Reno/Sparks | $33K-$43K | Lower COL, outdoor access |
| Rural Nevada | $32K-$42K | Very limited options |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Nevada
Why does Nevada have a healthcare worker shortage despite Las Vegas growth?
How does Las Vegas's casino/hospitality industry affect PT careers?
Is there a difference between Las Vegas and Reno for PT careers?
Does Nevada's lack of state income tax help PT Techs?
What PTA programs are in Nevada?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Nevada?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Nevada?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Nevada's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.