PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Utah
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Utah. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Utah has 820+ job openings with $33K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
82+
PT Facilities
820+
UT Job Openings
$33K
Avg UT 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 Utah paying 5% below average at $33,480. 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 Utah
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Utah rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Intermountain Health
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — University of Utah Health, HCA Mountain Division
- ✓ 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 Utah
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Intermountain Health
Top Employer📍 Salt Lake City/Statewide
📞 801-442-2000
Dominant regional system
View Opportunities →University of Utah Health
Major System📍 Salt Lake City
📞 801-581-2121
State's academic medical center
View Opportunities →HCA Mountain Division
Regional Leader📍 Salt Lake City
📞 801-350-4111
For-profit competitor
View Opportunities →Steward Health Care Utah
Growing📍 Salt Lake City
📞 801-268-7111
Multiple hospitals
View Opportunities →Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital
Tuition Aid📍 Salt Lake City
📞 801-587-3455
U of U affiliated rehab
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.
Utah PT Tech Market
Utah offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Intermountain: A National Model
Intermountain Health has earned national recognition for clinical quality and innovation—frequently cited as a model health system by healthcare policy experts. For PT Techs, Intermountain offers something rare: employment with an organization genuinely committed to clinical excellence. The system's 25 hospitals and 225+ clinics across Utah and surrounding states provide career mobility with consistently high standards.
The Greatest Snow on Earth (and Injuries)
Utah's famous ski industry—Park City, Snowbird, Alta, Deer Valley—generates substantial sports medicine demand. Ski injuries, mountain biking accidents, and rock climbing mishaps create orthopedic PT cases at rates exceeding national averages. PT Techs in Utah develop sports medicine skills valued throughout the industry. Many choose Utah specifically to combine career with outdoor lifestyle.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City Metro | $34K-$44K | Most jobs, Intermountain/U of U |
| Provo/Orem | $32K-$41K | BYU area, growing |
| Ogden | $31K-$40K | More affordable, ski access |
| St. George | $31K-$40K | Southern UT, warm climate |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Utah
How does Intermountain Health's dominance affect UT PT careers?
How does Utah's outdoor culture affect PT practice?
Is Salt Lake City affordable for PT Techs?
What's unique about University of Utah Health?
What PTA programs are in Utah?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Utah?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Utah?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Utah's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.