PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in North Dakota
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in North Dakota. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. North Dakota has 200+ job openings with $33K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
200+
ND Job Openings
$33K
Avg ND 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 Dakota paying 5% below average at $33,480. 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 North Dakota
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a North Dakota rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Trinity Health, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Sanford Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Essentia Health, CHI St. Alexius Health
- ✓ 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 Dakota
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Sanford Health
Top Employer📍 Fargo/Statewide
📞 701-234-2000
Dominant regional system
View Opportunities →CHI St. Alexius Health
Regional Leader📍 Bismarck
📞 701-530-7000
State capital 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.
North Dakota PT Tech Market
North Dakota offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Sanford Health's Rural Empire
Sanford Health has built one of America's largest rural health systems, operating across the Dakotas, Minnesota, and beyond. In North Dakota, Sanford is effectively the healthcare system—operating the major hospitals in Fargo, Bismarck, and numerous rural communities. For PT Techs, this scale offers career-long employment, consistent training, and mobility across dozens of locations without changing employers.
Frontier Healthcare
North Dakota's 760,000 residents spread across 70,000 square miles create authentic frontier healthcare. Patients travel hours for appointments. Healthcare workers are scarce. PT Techs in ND find less competition, signing bonuses, and genuine community impact unavailable in urban markets. The work requires adaptability—you may be the only PT professional for miles—but offers rewards unique to rural practice.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo Metro | $34K-$43K | Most jobs, Sanford HQ |
| Bismarck/Mandan | $32K-$41K | State capital |
| Grand Forks | $31K-$40K | UND university town |
| Minot | $31K-$40K | Air Force base nearby |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in North Dakota
How does Sanford Health's dominance affect PT careers in ND?
What's unique about practicing PT in North Dakota?
Does the oil industry in western ND affect PT demand?
How does ND's cost of living compare?
What PTA programs are in North Dakota?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in North Dakota?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in North Dakota?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of North Dakota's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.