PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Oklahoma
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Oklahoma. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Oklahoma has 820+ job openings with $29K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
82+
PT Facilities
820+
OK Job Openings
$29K
Avg OK 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 Oklahoma paying 16% below average at $29,840. 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 Oklahoma
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Oklahoma rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — OU Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — INTEGRIS Health, SSM Health St. Anthony
- ✓ 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 Oklahoma
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
OU Health
Top Employer📍 Oklahoma City
📞 405-271-4700
State's academic medical center
View Opportunities →INTEGRIS Health
Major System📍 Oklahoma City
📞 405-949-3011
Oklahoma's largest system
View Opportunities →SSM Health St. Anthony
Regional Leader📍 Oklahoma City
📞 405-272-7000
Major OKC hospital
View Opportunities →Saint Francis Health System
Growing📍 Tulsa
📞 918-494-2200
Tulsa's largest hospital
View Opportunities →Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital
Tuition Aid📍 Oklahoma City
📞 405-271-6304
Specialized rehab
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.
Oklahoma PT Tech Market
Oklahoma offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Affordability Champion
Oklahoma consistently ranks among America's most affordable states—housing costs 35% below national average, and overall cost of living is lower than nearly any state. While PT Tech wages ($29,840 avg) appear modest, purchasing power is substantial. A PT Tech in Oklahoma City can afford homeownership, savings, and financial stability that coastal counterparts earning $45,000 cannot match. This is genuine middle-class opportunity.
Tribal Health Opportunities
Oklahoma's 38 federally recognized tribes operate extensive healthcare systems, creating unique PT career opportunities. Cherokee Nation Health Services, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, and Choctaw Nation Healthcare serve thousands of native patients. These positions offer federal benefits, loan forgiveness programs, and cross-cultural experience unavailable in mainstream healthcare. For PT Techs interested in community health and underserved populations, Oklahoma's tribal systems provide meaningful work.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Metro | $31K-$39K | Most jobs, OU Health |
| Tulsa Metro | $30K-$38K | Saint Francis, Hillcrest |
| Norman/Edmond | $29K-$38K | OKC suburbs |
| Lawton/Stillwater | $27K-$35K | Smaller cities |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Oklahoma
How does Oklahoma's cost of living affect PT Tech financial reality?
What's the difference between Oklahoma City and Tulsa?
How does Oklahoma's tribal health system affect PT careers?
Is there opportunity in rural Oklahoma?
What PTA programs are in Oklahoma?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Oklahoma?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Oklahoma?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Oklahoma's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.