PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in New Mexico
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in New Mexico. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. New Mexico has 460+ job openings with $31K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
460+
NM Job Openings
$31K
Avg NM 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 Mexico paying 11% below average at $31,480. 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 Mexico
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a New Mexico rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — San Juan Regional Medical Center, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — UNM Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Presbyterian Healthcare, Lovelace Health System
- ✓ 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 Mexico
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
UNM Health
Top Employer📍 Albuquerque
📞 505-272-2111
State's only academic medical center
View Opportunities →Presbyterian Healthcare
Major System📍 Albuquerque
📞 505-841-1234
Major Albuquerque system
View Opportunities →Lovelace Health System
Regional Leader📍 Albuquerque
📞 505-727-8000
Multi-hospital system
View Opportunities →San Juan Regional Medical Center
Tuition Aid📍 Farmington
📞 505-609-2000
Four Corners region
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 Mexico PT Tech Market
New Mexico offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Cultural Crossroads Healthcare
New Mexico's unique demographics—49% Hispanic/Latino, 11% Native American—shape PT practice unlike anywhere else. PT Techs often work with bilingual patients, navigate cultural differences in healthcare beliefs, and serve communities with unique health challenges. Spanish language skills are valuable (though not required), and cultural competency is essential. This cross-cultural experience builds skills valuable throughout increasingly diverse America.
Tribal Health Opportunities
New Mexico's 23 Native American tribes operate extensive health services, including Indian Health Service facilities and tribally-run clinics. PT Techs in tribal health serve populations with elevated rates of diabetes, obesity, and related conditions. The work is meaningful and often comes with federal benefits, loan forgiveness programs, and housing assistance. These positions offer cultural immersion and community impact unavailable in mainstream healthcare.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque Metro | $32K-$41K | Most jobs, UNM Health |
| Santa Fe | $31K-$40K | Tourist town, higher COL |
| Las Cruces | $29K-$38K | Southern NM, border region |
| Farmington/Four Corners | $30K-$40K | Tribal health nearby |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in New Mexico
How does New Mexico's unique population affect PT practice?
What's unique about PT opportunities on tribal lands?
Is Albuquerque the only option for PT careers in NM?
How does New Mexico's cost of living compare?
What PTA programs are in New Mexico?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in New Mexico?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in New Mexico?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of New Mexico's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.