PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in New Hampshire
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in New Hampshire. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. New Hampshire has 380+ job openings with $36K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
380+
NH Job Openings
$36K
Avg NH 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 New Hampshire paying 3% above average at $36,450. 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 New Hampshire
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a New Hampshire rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Southern NH Health, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Elliot Health System, Catholic Medical Center
- ✓ 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 New Hampshire
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health
Top Employer📍 Lebanon
📞 603-650-5000
State's only academic medical center
View Opportunities →Elliot Health System
Major System📍 Manchester
📞 603-669-5300
Southern NH's largest
View Opportunities →Catholic Medical Center
Regional Leader📍 Manchester
📞 603-668-3545
Major Manchester hospital
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.
New Hampshire PT Tech Market
New Hampshire offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Dartmouth-Hitchcock: Northern New England's Academic Hub
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon is NH's only academic medical center, affiliated with Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine. D-H draws complex cases from Vermont, Maine, and upstate New York, creating case diversity unusual for a state NH's size. PT Techs gain academic medicine exposure—research involvement, educational resources, specialized care—providing foundation for career advancement.
The Tax Advantage
New Hampshire's lack of income tax creates genuine financial advantage for PT Techs. Combined with proximity to Boston's job market, many healthcare workers live in NH and commute to Massachusetts—capturing Boston wages with NH's tax benefits. Even those working within NH gain 5-6% effective raise compared to neighboring states. This advantage attracts healthcare workers from across New England.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Southern NH (Nashua/Salem) | $37K-$48K | Boston commuter zone |
| Manchester | $35K-$45K | State's largest city |
| Seacoast (Portsmouth/Dover) | $35K-$45K | Coastal premium |
| Concord/Central NH | $33K-$42K | State capital |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in New Hampshire
How does Dartmouth-Hitchcock's presence affect NH healthcare?
How does Boston proximity affect southern NH PT careers?
Does New Hampshire's no income tax really help PT Techs?
What's the job market like in NH's rural areas?
What PTA programs are in New Hampshire?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in New Hampshire?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in New Hampshire?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of New Hampshire's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.