PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in West Virginia
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in West Virginia. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. West Virginia has 380+ job openings with $29K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
50+
PT Facilities
380+
WV Job Openings
$29K
Avg WV 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 West Virginia paying 17% below average at $29,180. 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 West Virginia
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a West Virginia rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Thomas Health, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — WVU Medicine
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — CAMC - Charleston Area Medical Center, WVU Heart & Vascular Institute
- ✓ 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 West Virginia
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
WVU Medicine
Top Employer📍 Morgantown
📞 304-598-4000
State's academic medical center
View Opportunities →CAMC - Charleston Area Medical Center
Major System📍 Charleston
📞 304-388-5432
State's largest hospital
View Opportunities →WVU Heart & Vascular Institute
Regional Leader📍 Morgantown
📞 855-988-4328
Specialty center
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.
West Virginia PT Tech Market
West Virginia offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
Appalachian Healthcare Challenge
West Virginia—100% Appalachian—faces some of America's most challenging health disparities. Obesity, diabetes, and opioid addiction occur at rates far exceeding national averages. PT Techs in WV work with patient populations facing complex, chronic conditions. The work is demanding but meaningful, addressing healthcare inequity in communities with few resources. For those called to serve underserved America, WV offers profound impact.
Cost of Living Reality
West Virginia's rock-bottom cost of living creates unexpected PT career value. While $29,000 average salary appears low, WV housing costs 40% below national average—among the lowest in America. A PT Tech in Charleston or Morgantown can afford homeownership on entry-level wages. This financial stability is genuine, enabling life choices impossible in higher-salary but higher-cost markets.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Morgantown | $30K-$39K | WVU Medicine, college town |
| Charleston Metro | $29K-$38K | CAMC, state capital |
| Huntington | $27K-$36K | Marshall University area |
| Wheeling/Northern Panhandle | $27K-$36K | Pittsburgh access |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in West Virginia
How does West Virginia's health challenges affect PT demand?
What's unique about practicing in WV's Appalachian communities?
Is WV affordable enough to offset lower salaries?
What makes WVU Medicine important for PT careers?
What PTA programs are in West Virginia?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in West Virginia?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in West Virginia?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of West Virginia's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.