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Pta Internship Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Pta Internship information

What is the difference between Pta Internship vs Physical Therapist Assistant?

AspectPta InternshipPhysical Therapist Assistant
CredentialsTypically requires enrollment in a PTA program; no certification needed yetRequires graduation from an accredited PTA program and passing the licensure exam
Work EnvironmentSupervised clinical experience, often in clinics or hospitalsLicensed professional working under a physical therapist's supervision in similar settings
Employer & Industry UsageEducational phase, used for training and experienceFull-time employed role in healthcare facilities

The Pta Internship is a training period for students aspiring to become licensed Physical Therapist Assistants. It provides hands-on experience but does not involve full employment or licensure. In contrast, a Physical Therapist Assistant is a licensed professional actively working in healthcare settings, providing patient care under supervision. The internship is a stepping stone toward becoming a licensed PTA, who has completed all educational and licensing requirements.

What is a PTA internship?

A PTA internship is a supervised, hands-on training experience required for students enrolled in a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program. During the internship, students work in clinical settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or outpatient clinics, applying classroom knowledge to real patient care under the guidance of licensed physical therapists or PTAs. This experience helps students develop essential skills, understand workplace expectations, and meet graduation and licensing requirements. Internships are typically structured by the educational institution and are a crucial step toward becoming a certified PTA.

What are PTA internship opportunities?

PTA internship opportunities are a chance to interact with patients under the supervision of full physical therapist assistants. In this role, you may follow a predetermined lesson plan, assist your supervisor with basic tasks, and otherwise learn the skills you should gain as a student. Interns rarely provide direct treatment to patients, but you may sit in on exams or physical therapy sessions and help record information about patient progress. Physical therapy assistant internships are most common in the summer, but you can usually find them throughout the year. This job should not be confused with parent-teacher association internships that help organize and manage matters for schools, despite sharing the same acronym.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a PTA intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a PTA Intern, you need foundational knowledge in physical therapy principles, anatomy, and patient care, typically gained through completion of or enrollment in an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program. Familiarity with electronic medical records (EMRs), therapeutic exercise equipment, and documentation standards is important. Strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability stand out as essential soft skills for interacting effectively with patients and supervising therapists. These skills and qualifications are crucial for delivering safe, effective care and supporting the rehabilitation process within clinical environments.

What types of hands-on experiences can I expect during a PTA internship, and how do they prepare me for my future career?

During a PTA Internship, you can expect to work closely under the supervision of licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, assisting with patient care activities such as therapeutic exercises, modalities, and documentation. Interns are often rotated through different clinical settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation centers, to gain exposure to a variety of patient populations and treatment approaches. This hands-on experience not only helps you build confidence in your clinical skills but also allows you to develop essential communication and teamwork abilities by collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare teams. These experiences are critical for meeting graduation requirements and preparing for the transition into a full-time PTA role after licensure.

What are the most commonly searched types of Pta jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Pta jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Pta Internship jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Pta Internship job openings:

Infographic showing various Pta Internship job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Recreational Therapist - PTA - $5000 Sign-on Bonus

UHS

Petersburg, VA • On-site

$24.50 - $36.74/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago


Universal Health Services rating

6.8

Company rating: 6.8 out of 10

Based on 253 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

495th of 887 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Responsibilities
Recreational Therapist - PTA - $5000.00 - SIGN-ON BONUS
Poplar Springs Hospital i s a 183 bed acute care and residential facility. For more than 30 years Poplar Springs Hospital has been guided by its mission of helping those who need the full continuum of behavioral health services. Our facility offers behavioral and psychological treatment for adults and adolescents through our acute programs, adolescent residential programs, as well as programs for active duty military. Poplar Springs Hospital is located in Petersburg, Virginia, 20 minutes south of Richmond and 50 minutes north of North Carolina. Situated on 25 acres, our serene, nature-like setting offers our patients a sense of calm and peace. We offer families hope through a nurturing environment for adults and adolescents to flourish in their environment.
Much more online at: https://poplarsprings.com/
We have a new opening for a Recreational Therapist. This individual will provide ancillary therapy assessments/consults, group activity therapy sessions. Will carry a case load, develop and implement therapeutic activity sessions, and complete all related documentation. Will assist with development of a related program strategy and monitoring and evaluating patient outcomes. Interacts with medical, nursing and other program staff members. Provides timely and accurate documentation. Participates in referral development activities as directed.
Cosigns therapy notes as needed to assure timely charting of AT documentation. Assists in providing training and orientation to new activity therapists. Directly supports staff development training and clinical education. Participates in performance improvement committees and other hospital committees as assigned. Assists in recruitment and supervision of student interns. Performs continuous quality improvement activities. Orders supplies and utilizes resources in a fiscally responsible manner to provide quality activity programming. Maintains the environment of care. Actively communicates with AT Director and AT team members as necessary all issues related to AT services. Performs other duties as assigned.
Hours will vary and applicants need to have flexibility with his/her availability.
Benefit Highlights:
  • Challenging and rewarding work environment
  • Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off
  • Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plan
  • 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
  • SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program
  • Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries!
  • Retention Bonus Program (if applicable)
  • Loan Forgiveness Program (if applicable)

As one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, annual revenues totaled over $11.6 billion in 2020. In 2021, UHS was again recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune; in 2020, UHS ranked #281 on the Fortune 500 and listed #330 in Forbes ranking of U.S. Largest Public Companies. With its headquarters in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has 89,000 employees and through its subsidiaries operates 26 acute care hospitals, 334 behavioral health facilities, 39 outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 38 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.
Qualifications
Position Requirements:
Licensure/Certification/Registration:
  • Certified or eligibility for certification as Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist OR
  • Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)
  • HWC certification preferred
  • CPR certification preferred
Education/Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and certification.
  • One to two years previous experience preferred.
General Requirements:
        • Must be at least 21 years of age per Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services.
  • Must have patience, tact, and a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm.
  • Good communication skills; must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
  • Basic clerical skills, basic experience with office equipment (telephone, copy machine, fax, etc.)
  • Experience with Microsoft Office Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
  • Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
  • Ability to problem solve and accept feedback when circumstances warrant such actions.
  • Willingness to interact with patients with varying levels of cognitive functioning.
  • Ability to troubleshoot and work cooperatively on a multidisciplinary activity therapy team
  • Ability to multitask and independently manage time in an efficient manner.

EEO Statement
All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.
Notice
At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill-set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. We take pride in creating a highly efficient and best in class candidate experience. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. The recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc. If you are suspicious of a job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, let us know by contacting us at: https://uhs.alertline.com or 1-800-852-3449 .
UHS is a registered trademark of UHS of Delaware, Inc., the management company for Universal Health Services, Inc. and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. Universal Health Services, Inc. is a holding company and operates through its subsidiaries including its management company, UHS of Delaware, Inc. All healthcare and management operations are conducted by subsidiaries of Universal Health Services, Inc. To the extent any reference to "UHS or UHS facilities" on this website including any statements, articles or other publications contained herein relates to our healthcare or management operations it is referring to Universal Health Services' subsidiaries including UHS of Delaware. Further, the terms "we," "us," "our" or "the company" in such context similarly refer to the operations of Universal Health Services' subsidiaries including UHS of Delaware. Any employment referenced in this website is not with Universal Health Services, Inc. but solely with one of its subsidiaries including but not limited to UHS of Delaware, Inc.
UHS is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at UHS via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of UHS. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by UHS as a result of the referral or through other means.

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About Universal Health Services

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Universal Health Services (UHS) is a major player in the healthcare industry, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Founded in 1978, UHS offers hospital and healthcare services. Their diverse services range from acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers nationwide. The company's mission of enhancing the health and well-being of their patients is reflected in their commitment to 'Helping Individuals Live Longer, Healthier and Happier Lives'. Universal Health Services' consistent growth and success in their industry have been recognized on numerous occasions, including being ranked amongst the Fortune 500 list of largest companies.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

King of Prussia, PA, US