PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in New York
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in New York. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. New York has 4950+ job openings with $38K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
495+
PT Facilities
4950+
NY Job Openings
$38K
Avg NY 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 York paying 9% above average at $38,420. 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 York
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a New York rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Rusk Rehabilitation (NYU), ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — NYU Langone Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai 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 York
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
NYU Langone Health
Top Employer📍 New York City
📞 212-263-7300
Top-ranked academic center
View Opportunities →NewYork-Presbyterian
Major System📍 New York City
📞 212-746-5454
#1 ranked in NY, Columbia/Cornell affiliated
View Opportunities →Mount Sinai Health System
Regional Leader📍 New York City
📞 212-241-6500
Major academic system
View Opportunities →Northwell Health
Growing📍 Long Island/NYC
📞 516-321-6000
NY State's largest system
View Opportunities →Rusk Rehabilitation (NYU)
Tuition Aid📍 New York City
📞 212-263-6034
#3 ranked rehab nationally
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 York PT Tech Market
New York offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Healthcare's Largest Market
New York State employs more PT professionals than any state except California, with nearly 7,000 PT Techs/Aides. New York City alone has multiple top-20 hospitals—NYU Langone, NewYork-Presbyterian (Columbia/Cornell), Mount Sinai, Hospital for Special Surgery—creating the world's densest concentration of elite healthcare. For PT Techs willing to navigate NYC's costs and intensity, no market offers more career potential.
Rusk Rehabilitation: World-Class Neuro Rehab
NYU's Rusk Rehabilitation ranks #3 nationally, providing care for spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke, and complex neurological conditions. PT Techs at Rusk work with rehabilitation technologies and research protocols unavailable at typical facilities. The experience builds expertise that transfers anywhere. Rusk's NYC location means living costs are challenging, but career impact is exceptional.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan/NYC | $40K-$51K | Highest wages, extreme COL |
| Long Island | $38K-$49K | Northwell dominant |
| Westchester/Hudson Valley | $37K-$48K | Suburban, NYC commuter |
| Buffalo/Rochester | $30K-$40K | Very affordable |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in New York
Can PT Techs afford to live in New York City?
What makes NYU Rusk Rehabilitation special?
Is there a difference between NYC and Upstate NY?
How does working in NYC compare to other major cities?
What PTA programs are in New York?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in New York?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in New York?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of New York's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.