PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Pennsylvania
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Pennsylvania. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Pennsylvania has 3850+ job openings with $33K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
385+
PT Facilities
3850+
PA Job Openings
$33K
Avg PA 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 Pennsylvania paying 4% below average at $33,840. 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 Pennsylvania
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Pennsylvania rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Moss Rehabilitation, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Penn Medicine
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — UPMC, Jefferson 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 Pennsylvania
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Penn Medicine
Top Employer📍 Philadelphia
📞 215-662-4000
#9 ranked hospital nationally
View Opportunities →Jefferson Health
Regional Leader📍 Philadelphia
📞 215-955-6000
Major academic center
View Opportunities →Geisinger
Growing📍 Central PA
📞 570-271-6211
Rural health leader, innovative model
View Opportunities →Moss Rehabilitation
Tuition Aid📍 Philadelphia
📞 215-663-6000
Top-ranked rehab hospital
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.
Pennsylvania PT Tech Market
Pennsylvania offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Two World-Class Markets
Pennsylvania offers two major healthcare markets with distinct advantages. Philadelphia has Penn Medicine (#9 nationally), Jefferson, and Temple academic centers—Ivy League prestige and East Coast networking. Pittsburgh has UPMC's integrated empire—40+ hospitals providing career mobility and affordability. PT Techs can choose prestigious academic training in Philadelphia or practical stability in Pittsburgh, or gain experience in both over a career.
Penn Medicine: Ivy League Healthcare
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania ranks #9 nationally, bringing Ivy League academic medicine to the Mid-Atlantic. PT Techs at Penn work with world-class specialists, gain exposure to clinical research, and build credentials that command respect anywhere. Philadelphia's cost of living, while not cheap, is far more accessible than Boston or New York. Penn experience provides exceptional career foundation.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Metro | $35K-$45K | Penn, Jefferson, Moss |
| Pittsburgh Metro | $32K-$42K | UPMC dominant, affordable |
| Lehigh Valley | $32K-$41K | Allentown/Bethlehem |
| Harrisburg/Central PA | $30K-$39K | Geisinger, state capital |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Pennsylvania
How do Philadelphia and Pittsburgh compare for PT careers?
What makes Penn Medicine exceptional for PT Techs?
What's unique about UPMC's scale in Pittsburgh?
What makes Moss Rehabilitation special?
What PTA programs are in Pennsylvania?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Pennsylvania?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Pennsylvania?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Pennsylvania's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.