Job Description

Exercise Specialist / Rehab Tech - Annapolis, Maryland
Come work in this beautiful, waterfront community.

$17-20 | Full-time or part-time | Great Place to Work Certified 2025 and 2026

Fitness Forum Physical Therapy is hiring an Exercise Specialist, also called a rehab tech or physical therapy aide. You will coach patients through the exercise programs our physical therapists design, including sessions in our therapy pool.

In addition, you will assist the therapist in cleaning treatment areas before and after patient sessions, as well as housekeeping duties for cleanliness of the clinic. If you are headed for PT school, PTA school, or a career in exercise science, this is one of the best seats in the business.

The job, specifically

• $17-20 per hour, 15-26 hours per week
• Schedule: Mostly days, with 1-2 evening shifts until 7pm per week
• You work alongside a team of 6-8 physical therapists and techs depending on location
• One-on-one patient care, because our PTs never double-book
• Benefits eligible at 30 hours: medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with 4% match, PTO, 6 paid holidays
• Paid CPR certification if you do not have it yet
• Paid lifeguard certification for aquatic therapy support

What you will actually do

• Guide patients through their prescribed exercise programs under a PT's direction
• Set up and reset treatment areas, equipment, and the pool deck between patients
• Watch for safety in the gym and the water, and speak up when something looks off
• Answer phones, confirm appointments, schedule patients, and cover the front desk when needed
• Housekeeping duties for cleanliness of clinic and common areas.

What we need from you

Required: reliability, real communication skills with people who are in pain or frustrated, basic computer skills, and the ability to hold several things at once on a busy morning.

Helpful but not required: CPR certification, coursework or a degree in exercise science or kinesiology, prior experience in a medical office or fitness setting, lifeguard certification or aquatic experience.

No physical therapy experience? We train. Several of our current PTs and PTAs started in this exact role.

Why this job goes somewhere

Most exercise specialist jobs are dead ends. This one is a pipeline.

• Observation hours toward your DPT or PTA school application, documented and signed
• Direct mentorship from licensed physical therapists, not just a supervisor
• Exposure to real specialty work: aquatic therapy, orthopedics, pelvic health, lymphedema, balance and vestibular
• Letters of recommendation from clinicians who have actually watched you work
• 25+ certified clinical instructors on staff across our 12 clinics in Maryland and Delaware
• We hire from within, and we would rather you build your career here than somewhere else

Why people stay

We have been physical-therapist-owned since 1998, and we are Great Place to Work Certified in both 2025 and 2026. Those certifications come from anonymous surveys of our own team, not from our marketing department. In the most recent one:

• 96% say new people are made to feel welcome
• 95% say people here care about each other
• 93% say they can be themselves at work
• 85% call it a great place to work, against 57% at a typical U.S. company

Apply

Send a resume. Questions before you apply are welcome: Cara Konlian, MSPT, CEO: ckonlian@aquacarerehab.com

Aquacare and Fitness Forum Physical Therapy operates 12 outpatient clinics across Maryland and Delaware, including Annapolis, Kent Island, Easton, Salisbury and Berlin in Maryland, and Lewes, Millsboro, Millville, Milford and Seaford in Delaware

Join a Team Where You Can Grow, Specialize, and Make a Difference!

For over 26 years, Aquacare & Fitness Forum Physical Therapy has proudly delivered premier outpatient physical therapy services across Maryland and Delaware as a locally owned and operated practice.

We’re committed to helping our clinicians specialize in their fields of interest—supporting professional growth through mentorship and continuing education.

Our specialty services are designed to meet the diverse needs of our community and include:

Specialty Areas:

✅ Orthopedic Rehabilitation ✅ OP Home Visits (PT PLUS)

✅ Aquatic Therapy ✅ Sports Rehabilitation (Aquacare Athletics)

✅ Balance & Vestibular Therapy ✅ Dance Rehabilitation

✅ Lymphedema Treatment ✅ Neurological Rehabilitation

✅ Pelvic Floor Therapy ✅ Women’s Health

At Aquacare & Fitness Forum PT, you’ll be part of a collaborative, patient-centered team that values quality care and clinical excellence.