PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Tennessee
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Tennessee. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Tennessee has 1780+ job openings with $31K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
178+
PT Facilities
1780+
TN Job Openings
$31K
Avg TN 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 Tennessee paying 12% below average at $31,240. 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 Tennessee
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Tennessee rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — HCA Healthcare, Ascension Saint Thomas
- ✓ 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 Tennessee
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Top Employer📍 Nashville
📞 615-322-5000
#16 ranked nationally
View Opportunities →HCA Healthcare
Major System📍 Nashville HQ/Statewide
📞 615-344-9551
Largest for-profit system in US
View Opportunities →Ascension Saint Thomas
Regional Leader📍 Nashville/Middle TN
📞 615-222-2111
Major regional system
View Opportunities →Erlanger Health System
Growing📍 Chattanooga
📞 423-778-7000
SE Tennessee leader
View Opportunities →Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation
Tuition Aid📍 Nashville
📞 615-963-4051
Top 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.
Tennessee PT Tech Market
Tennessee offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
America's Healthcare Capital
Nashville has quietly become America's healthcare capital—home to HCA (nation's largest hospital company), Community Health Systems, and dozens of healthcare corporations employing more people than Nashville's famous music industry. This concentration creates unique career dynamics: PT Techs can build careers not just in clinical settings but in corporate healthcare, consulting, and health tech. The networking opportunities exceed any other US market.
Vanderbilt: Southern Academic Excellence
Vanderbilt University Medical Center ranks #16 nationally, bringing elite academic medicine to Tennessee. PT Techs at Vanderbilt work alongside world-renowned specialists, gain exposure to clinical research, and build credentials respected nationwide. Nashville's combination of Vanderbilt prestige and healthcare industry concentration creates career potential unmatched in the South.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville Metro | $33K-$42K | Vanderbilt, HCA HQ, highest wages |
| Memphis Metro | $30K-$39K | Methodist, Baptist, affordable |
| Knoxville | $29K-$38K | UT Medical Center |
| Chattanooga | $29K-$38K | Erlanger, outdoor lifestyle |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Tennessee
What makes Nashville the 'Healthcare Capital' of America?
What makes Vanderbilt exceptional for PT careers?
How does Tennessee's no income tax help PT Techs?
Is Nashville's cost of living still affordable?
What PTA programs are in Tennessee?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Tennessee?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Tennessee?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Tennessee's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.