PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Vermont
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Vermont. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Vermont has 160+ job openings with $34K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
160+
VT Job Openings
$34K
Avg VT 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 Vermont paying 2% below average at $34,680. 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 Vermont
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Vermont rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Springfield Hospital, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — University of Vermont Medical Center
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Rutland Regional Medical Center, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
- ✓ 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 Vermont
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
University of Vermont Medical Center
Top Employer📍 Burlington
📞 802-847-0000
State's only academic center
View Opportunities →Rutland Regional Medical Center
Major System📍 Rutland
📞 802-775-7111
Central VT
View Opportunities →Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
Regional Leader📍 Brattleboro
📞 802-257-0341
Southeast VT
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.
Vermont PT Tech Market
Vermont offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Small State, Big Lifestyle
Vermont offers PT Techs something rare: healthcare career in one of America's most beautiful, livable states. The trade-off is a limited job market—roughly 220 PT Tech positions statewide in a state where many want to live. Those who land positions enjoy four-season outdoor recreation, tight-knit communities, and genuine quality of life. Competition for jobs requires patience and networking.
UVMMC: Vermont's Healthcare Hub
University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington is Vermont's only academic medical center, drawing patients from three states. PT Techs at UVMMC gain academic medicine exposure—research, complex cases, teaching—in a setting most associate with rural community hospitals. This combination of academic rigor and Vermont quality of life is genuinely unusual.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington/Chittenden County | $35K-$45K | UVMMC, most jobs |
| Rutland/Central VT | $32K-$41K | Ski areas nearby |
| Brattleboro/SE VT | $31K-$40K | Connecticut River valley |
| Rural/Northeast Kingdom | $30K-$39K | Shortage incentives possible |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Vermont
How does Vermont's small population affect PT careers?
What makes UVMMC unique for PT careers?
Can PT Techs afford Vermont's cost of living?
How does Vermont's aging population affect PT demand?
What PTA programs are in Vermont?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Vermont?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Vermont?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Vermont's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.