PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Texas
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Texas. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Texas has 6800+ job openings with $32K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
680+
PT Facilities
6800+
TX Job Openings
$32K
Avg TX 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 Texas paying 8% below average at $32,480. 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 Texas
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Texas rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — TIRR Memorial Hermann, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — MD Anderson Cancer Center
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Houston Methodist, UT Southwestern Medical Center
- ✓ 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 Texas
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Top Employer📍 Houston
📞 713-792-2121
#1 ranked cancer hospital
View Opportunities →UT Southwestern Medical Center
Regional Leader📍 Dallas
📞 214-648-3111
Major academic center
View Opportunities →Baylor Scott & White
Growing📍 Dallas/Central TX
📞 214-820-0111
Largest not-for-profit in TX
View Opportunities →TIRR Memorial Hermann
Tuition Aid📍 Houston
📞 713-799-5000
#2 ranked rehab nationally
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.
Texas PT Tech Market
Texas offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
America's Largest PT Job Market
Texas employs more PT Techs than any other state—over 9,200 positions—driven by 30 million residents and growth adding 500,000+ annually. The market is so large that job seekers can find positions matching almost any preference: academic medicine in Houston, corporate healthcare in Dallas, military service in San Antonio, or tech culture in Austin. No state income tax adds to the value.
Texas Medical Center: Healthcare's City Within a City
Houston's Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex on Earth—larger than downtown Chicago, treating 10 million patients annually. Within TMC: MD Anderson (#1 cancer), TIRR Memorial Hermann (#2 rehab), Houston Methodist (#14), Texas Children's, and 60+ institutions. PT Techs in TMC gain exposure to case volume and complexity impossible to replicate anywhere. This experience opens doors worldwide.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Metro | $33K-$43K | TMC, most jobs, most diversity |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $33K-$43K | UT Southwestern, Baylor |
| Austin | $32K-$42K | Fastest growth, highest COL |
| San Antonio | $30K-$39K | Military, VA, affordable |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Texas
Why does Texas have the most PT Tech jobs in the nation?
What makes the Texas Medical Center in Houston special?
How does Texas's no income tax affect PT careers?
How do Texas's major metros compare for PT careers?
What PTA programs are in Texas?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Texas?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Texas?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Texas's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.