PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Rhode Island
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Rhode Island. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Rhode Island has 280+ job openings with $35K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
280+
RI Job Openings
$35K
Avg RI 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 Rhode Island paying 0% above average at $35,480. 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 Rhode Island
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Rhode Island rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Landmark Medical Center, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Lifespan Health System
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Care New England, CharterCARE Health Partners
- ✓ 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 Rhode Island
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Lifespan Health System
Top Employer📍 Providence
📞 401-444-4000
State's largest, Brown affiliated
View Opportunities →Care New England
Major System📍 Providence
📞 401-453-7900
Major regional system
View Opportunities →CharterCARE Health Partners
Regional Leader📍 Providence
📞 401-456-2000
Community hospitals
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.
Rhode Island PT Tech Market
Rhode Island offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Small State, Concentrated Market
Rhode Island's compact size (smaller than many counties) creates unusual PT market dynamics. Every job is commutable—no location requires more than 30 minutes from anywhere in the state. But the market is limited: roughly 380 PT Tech positions total, with Lifespan Health System employing about half. Success in RI requires building relationships within this tight-knit healthcare community.
Brown University Medicine
Providence punches above its weight academically thanks to Brown University's medical school affiliation with Lifespan hospitals. PT Techs at Rhode Island Hospital or Miriam Hospital gain exposure to academic medicine—research, teaching, complex cases—uncommon for a state RI's size. This creates career development opportunities typically found only in larger markets.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Providence Metro | $35K-$46K | Most jobs, Lifespan dominant |
| Warwick/Kent County | $33K-$43K | Central RI |
| Newport/Aquidneck | $34K-$44K | Coastal, seasonal |
| South County | $32K-$42K | Beach communities |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Rhode Island
How does Rhode Island's small size affect PT career options?
What's unique about Brown University's medical affiliation?
Can I access Boston's job market from Rhode Island?
Is Rhode Island affordable for PT Techs?
What PTA programs are in Rhode Island?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Rhode Island?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Rhode Island?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Rhode Island's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.