PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in North Carolina
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in North Carolina. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. North Carolina has 2650+ job openings with $32K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
265+
PT Facilities
2650+
NC Job Openings
$32K
Avg NC 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 North Carolina paying 8% below average at $32,680. 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 North Carolina
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a North Carolina rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Vidant Health, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Duke University Health System
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — UNC Health, Atrium Health (Advocate)
- ✓ 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 North Carolina
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Duke University Health System
Top Employer📍 Durham
📞 919-684-8111
#10 ranked hospital nationally
View Opportunities →UNC Health
Major System📍 Chapel Hill/Statewide
📞 984-974-1000
State's largest system
View Opportunities →Atrium Health (Advocate)
Regional Leader📍 Charlotte
📞 704-355-2000
Major regional system
View Opportunities →Wake Forest Baptist Health
Growing📍 Winston-Salem
📞 336-716-2011
Academic medical center
View Opportunities →Vidant Health
Tuition Aid📍 Greenville/Eastern NC
📞 252-847-4100
Eastern NC 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.
North Carolina PT Tech Market
North Carolina offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
The Research Triangle Advantage
North Carolina's Research Triangle—Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill—concentrates academic medicine excellence rivaling Boston or New York. Duke University Hospital (#10 nationally) and UNC Hospitals anchor the region, surrounded by biotech companies and research institutions. PT Techs in the Triangle gain exposure to cutting-edge healthcare and career networking opportunities exceptional for the Southeast, all with cost of living 30% below northeastern metros.
Duke: Southern Academic Excellence
Duke University Hospital ranks #10 in the nation, bringing world-class research and clinical innovation to North Carolina. PT Techs at Duke work alongside renowned specialists, gain exposure to clinical trials, and build credentials that open doors nationwide. Durham's affordability (median home price under $400,000) means this opportunity is accessible in ways Boston or NYC cannot match.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Research Triangle | $34K-$43K | Duke, UNC, highest wages |
| Charlotte Metro | $33K-$42K | Atrium Health, growing market |
| Winston-Salem/Triad | $31K-$40K | Wake Forest Baptist |
| Wilmington/Coast | $30K-$39K | Beach lifestyle |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in North Carolina
What makes the Research Triangle special for PT careers?
How does Charlotte compare to the Triangle for PT careers?
What makes Duke University Hospital exceptional for PT Techs?
Is there opportunity in rural North Carolina?
What PTA programs are in North Carolina?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in North Carolina?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in North Carolina?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of North Carolina's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.