PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in South Carolina
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in South Carolina. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. South Carolina has 1250+ job openings with $31K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
125+
PT Facilities
1250+
SC Job Openings
$31K
Avg SC 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 South Carolina paying 10% below average at $31,680. 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 South Carolina
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a South Carolina rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — McLeod Health, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — MUSC Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Prisma Health, Roper St. Francis
- ✓ 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 South Carolina
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
MUSC Health
Top Employer📍 Charleston
📞 843-792-2300
State's academic medical center
View Opportunities →Roper St. Francis
Regional Leader📍 Charleston
📞 843-724-2000
Major Charleston system
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.
South Carolina PT Tech Market
South Carolina offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Charleston: Where Everyone Wants to Live
Charleston consistently ranks among America's most desirable cities—historic architecture, world-class restaurants, beaches, and Southern charm. This appeal attracts healthcare workers from across the country, making Charleston more competitive than its size suggests. PT Techs who land Charleston positions enjoy exceptional quality of life, but should expect competition and higher housing costs than SC average.
MUSC: Academic Excellence in Paradise
Medical University of South Carolina brings academic medicine to Charleston's charming setting. PT Techs at MUSC gain research exposure, complex case experience, and educational resources while enjoying one of America's most livable cities. MUSC experience provides career credential that opens doors throughout the Southeast, combining professional development with remarkable quality of life.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston Metro | $33K-$42K | MUSC, competitive market |
| Greenville/Spartanburg | $31K-$40K | Prisma Health, more affordable |
| Columbia | $30K-$39K | State capital, Prisma |
| Myrtle Beach/Coast | $30K-$39K | Tourism, retirees |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in South Carolina
How does Charleston's appeal affect PT career competition?
What's unique about MUSC for PT careers?
Is Greenville better than Charleston for PT career entry?
How does South Carolina's retirement population affect PT demand?
What PTA programs are in South Carolina?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in South Carolina?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in South Carolina?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of South Carolina's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.