As a physical therapist, your resume is vital in making a positive first impression on health care employers, demonstrating your qualifications, experiences, and dedication to patient care. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or a recent graduate, a well-crafted resume can build a bridge to exciting career opportunities.
A good physical therapist resume will help you present your qualifications in the best possible light. Learn strategies to highlight your clinical knowledge, patient-centered approach, and proficiency in various treatment techniques. Also, we will show you real physical therapist resume examples with guidance for creating a document that reflects your passion for improving lives.
Most Popular Physical Therapist Resumes
Entry-Level Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume clearly outlines early-career experience while emphasizing the candidate’s clinical training and commitment to quality care. The education section also supports a strong academic foundation. For more tips on showcasing entry-level credentials, visit How To Make a Resume.
Sports Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume highlights specialization in athletic therapy with real impact metrics and a clear focus on sports-related care. It’s a great example of tailoring your resume to a niche field. Learn how to effectively position your skills by reviewing Resume Skills.
New Grad Physical Therapist Assistant Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume clearly highlights relevant clinical experience for a new graduate and shows a strong foundation for future growth. It’s structured to focus on potential and readiness. For more guidance on entry-level structure, visit Resume Objective Examples.
Home Health Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume clearly shows in-home care experience, patient outcomes, and independence-focused care. It’s tailored to a specialized care environment. Learn how to target a specific setting in your resume with Resume Outline Examples.
Pediatric Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume is tailored specifically for pediatric care and emphasizes collaboration with families and other therapists. It also includes measurable impact. For tips on customizing your resume to specialized fields, check out Resume Language Skills.
Inpatient Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume focuses on inpatient therapy skills with a strong track record in reducing hospital stays. It emphasizes interdisciplinary coordination and patient education. For more on formatting strong content, visit What To Put on a Resume.
Acute Care Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume focuses on acute care environments and shows the therapist’s ability to work under pressure. It highlights key settings like ICU and emergency units. Learn how to tailor your resume to high-pressure settings by reading Resume Summary Examples.
Assistant Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume highlights core support skills, which are critical in assistant roles. It focuses on organization and care consistency. For more information on entry-level support resumes, read How To List Certifications on a Resume.
Experienced Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume showcases long-term career development and leadership within physical therapy. It demonstrates advanced skills and mentorship. For more tips on highlighting senior-level experience, visit How Far Back Should a Resume Go?
Experienced Physical Therapist Assistant Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume effectively highlights assistant-level responsibilities while showing growth and consistency in care. It also shows leadership in training peers. For help with formatting strong assistant resumes, visit Should a Resume Be One Page?
Rehabilitation Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume demonstrates a focused career path in rehabilitation and clearly shows the results of treatment efforts. To learn how to present your education and clinical background effectively, visit How To List Your Education on a Resume.
Outpatient Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume highlights outpatient care specialization and practical results like improved show rates and patient mobility. For more advice on formatting and visual appeal, check out Best Font for Resume.
Pelvic Health Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume stands out for its niche specialization and patient outcomes. It's an excellent model for therapists working in women’s health or focused subfields. For help listing advanced credentials, check out How To List Certifications on a Resume.
Neurological Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume showcases specialization in neurological therapy and ties each role to specific patient outcomes. For help organizing your clinical specialties, check out Resume Interests Section.
Geriatric Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume is tailored to geriatric care, using specific skills and outcomes relevant to older patients. It also demonstrates a clear career focus. For more advice on structuring resumes around specialties, visit CV vs. Resume.
Manual Therapy Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume shows how to highlight a focused clinical specialty and includes strong metrics. The hands-on nature of manual therapy is clearly reflected in both experience and skills. For more guidance on listing niche skills, visit Soft Skills for a Resume.
Pre/Post-Surgical Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume does a great job showing the full surgical care continuum — from prehab to long-term rehab. It’s ideal for hospital or ortho clinic settings. For tips on organizing timeline-based roles, visit How To List Relevant Coursework on a Resume.
Orthopedic Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume offers a focused orthopedic path with clear clinical achievements and advanced certification. It’s ideal for candidates with long-term niche experience. For help deciding how much history to include, see How Far Back Should a Resume Go?
Telehealth Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume shows how to highlight virtual care experience, which is a growing area in physical therapy. The focus on patient adherence and digital skills makes it timely. For help sending out your telehealth resume, visit How To Email a Resume.
Chronic Pain Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume clearly communicates experience with complex patient populations. It blends physical and behavioral care approaches. To learn more about showcasing versatility, visit Resume Skills.
Amputee Rehabilitation Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume highlights a focused specialization in amputee care, demonstrating collaborative expertise with prosthetists and strong patient impact. For tips on adding niche training, see Resume Language Skills.
Pediatric Home Health Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume focuses on both clinical care and the importance of family involvement in pediatric home settings. For more advice on creating family-focused care resumes, check out How To Put Volunteer Work on a Resume.
Occupational Injury Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume is ideal for PTs working with injured workers. It emphasizes practical outcomes and communication with employers. For more guidance on structuring results, visit Resume Outline Examples.
Balance and Fall Prevention Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume presents a preventative care specialty with real outcome improvements. It also shows strong collaboration with care staff. To understand the value of organizing by strengths, visit Best Resume Formats.
Functional Movement Physical Therapist Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume demonstrates how functional movement principles can be applied to therapy. It’s a strong example of integrating data and exercise science. For more guidance on strength-based resumes, visit Resume Skills.
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Physical Therapist Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Physical Therapist Resume
1. Summarize your physical therapist qualifications in a dynamic profile
When crafting your resume profile, focus on your specialized skills, patient-centered approach, and proven track record in providing effective rehabilitation services. Keep your profile concise, using two to three sentences to deliver a powerful introduction that captures the attention of hiring managers.
Establish credibility by mentioning the number of years you’ve practiced in the field and any special certifications you may hold. To engage readers, include an impressive stat or achievement showcasing your work’s impact. This is your opportunity to stand out as a top candidate, so make a strong first impression and entice readers to explore your resume further.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A licensed physical therapist with over 10 years of clinical experience, specializing in providing innovative physical treatment to patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). Adept at performing comprehensive patient evaluations to determine an accurate diagnosis and develop optimal treatment plans to achieve patient goals.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A licensed physical therapist with entry-level experience specializing in orthopedic outpatient care, rehabilitation, and patient-centered care. Adept at coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver empathetic care and improve the quality of life for patients.
2. Add your physical therapist experience with compelling examples
Display your unique skills and expertise, but instead of listing all your duties and responsibilities, start by quantifying your experience wherever possible. Showcase the number of patients treated, a percentage increase in patient satisfaction scores, or improvements achieved during therapy. Include relevant clinical data if your efforts increased positive patient outcomes or recovery timelines. Incorporating numbers and metrics will help you tell your unique story within the health care space and make a lasting impression on prospective employers.
Additionally, start each bullet point with an action verb to infuse a dynamic element into your writing, highlighting your proactive approach and engaging employers with compelling language. With this strategy, you can distinguish yourself as a results-oriented professional who makes a positive difference in the lives of their patients.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Physical Therapist
West Light Physical Therapy, San Francisco, CA | May 2016 – present
- Deliver physical therapy outpatient treatment to clients suffering from CPPS, evaluate symptoms related to bladder control, pain, and sexual function, and conduct treatment planning to relieve pain and improve quality of life
- Administer treatment to patients according to pain levels, revise treatment plans and clinical approaches based on progress, and improve positive patient outcomes by 15%
- Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams and chiropractors to guide treatment plans and employ a wide range of physical therapy modalities to drive patient recovery
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Physical Therapist
Penn Medicine Physical Therapy, Radnor, PA | May 2021 – present
- Deliver outpatient physical therapy treatment to 25 active patients, identify rehabilitation needs and treatment plans based on long-term goals, and adjust treatment regimen based on pain levels and patient progress
- Educate patients on strength-building exercises, physical therapy equipment, and at-home care and improve recovery timelines by 10% on average
- Interface with interdisciplinary teams to develop appropriate treatment plans and enhance the quality of care across the facility
3. Add physical therapist education and certifications
Establish your qualifications and expertise in the field with an education section. Employers want to see you have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide high-quality patient care. You must show you’ve completed the required coursework and passed relevant exams to become a licensed physical therapist. Starting with your highest level of education, list the degree name, institution, location, and graduation date.
Specific certifications in areas like orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, or geriatrics can highlight your knowledge in specialized fields, making you a valuable asset to the organization. Physical therapists must meet specific educational and licensing requirements to practice legally, so including this information ensures compliance with regulations and provides confidence to employers. Create a separate certifications section and list each certificate name, issuing organization, and date received.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY – May 2016
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] – [Completion Year]
Example
- Licensed Physical Therapist, State of Pennsylvania – 2020, License #12345
4. List key skills and proficiencies for physical therapists
Including a key skills section demonstrates your capacity to deliver high-quality health care services and excel as a physical therapist. When listing skills, it’s essential to focus on those in direct alignment with the specific requirements of the job and the health care organization. Use a combination of hard skills (e.g., therapeutic techniques) and soft skills (e.g., communication and empathy) to present a well-rounded and versatile profile. Check out our list of examples below:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Aerobics | Dry needling |
| Empathetic care | Health care |
| Hydrotherapy | Injury prevention |
| Interdisciplinary rehabilitation | Kinesiology |
| Manual muscle testing (MMT) | Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) |
| Orthopedic rehabilitation | Outpatient treatment |
| Pain management | Patient assessment |
| Patient-centered care | Patient education |
| Patient management | Physical therapy |
| Rehabilitation plans | Sports injury |
| Sports medicine | Strength training |
| Treatment planning | |
How To Pick the Best Physical Therapist Resume Template
A template sets the stage for presenting your professional resume effectively. The best resume template for a physical therapist is clean and orderly, allowing hiring managers to quickly navigate your skills, experiences, and qualifications. Consider a professional design that complements the health care industry, but avoid overly elaborate or distracting layouts.
Simplicity and clarity are essential, so opt for a template that facilitates easy reading and highlights the most important aspects of your experience. The goal is to present your qualifications in the most compelling way possible, making it easy for employers to recognize your value as a physical therapist.
Frequently Asked Questions: Physical Therapist Resume Examples and Advice
How can I customize my Physical Therapist CV for a specific job role?-
Customizing your Physical Therapist CV involves closely analyzing the job description and ensuring that you include the relevant skills and accomplishments that align with the employer’s needs. Use specific keywords from the job posting, and focus on tailoring your profile summary and professional experience sections to match the responsibilities of the position you're applying for.
What are common action verbs for physical therapist resumes?-
Describing your accomplishments and finding the right words is often tricky, so we've curated a list of action verbs to help you accurately communicate your professional experience in physical therapy. Action verbs add a dynamic element to your writing, making it more engaging for readers. Create a vivid picture of your contributions as a physical therapist with these powerful words:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Administered | Assessed |
| Communicated | Coordinated |
| Created | Delivered |
| Designed | Developed |
| Educated | Evaluated |
| Implemented | Improved |
| Managed | Optimized |
| Planned | Prescribed |
| Rehabilitated | Strengthened |
| Supported | Treated |
How do you align your resume with a physical therapist job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for physical therapists is projected to increase by 17% between 2021 and 2031, much faster than average. Although the physical therapy field has high growth potential, you'll still face competition in the open market due to the lucrative nature of these positions. Tailoring your resume to the job you're applying for is essential in creating a standout resume.
Especially when applying for a specific physical therapist job opening, aligning your resume with the job description is a solid way to present yourself as the ideal candidate. To do this effectively, thoroughly review the job description and identify the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities listed there. Feature your relevant experiences, certifications, and specialized training that align with the position. Use the organization's language and keywords to demonstrate your familiarity with their terminology and needs.
What is the best physical therapist resume format?-
The reverse chronological resume format is generally the most effective for physical therapists. This format focuses on your work history, emphasizing your career trajectory and professional dedication. It's a standard choice for physical therapists with a solid employment background.
However, the combination format might be more suitable if you're a new practitioner transitioning into physical therapy from a different field or if you have employment gaps. It lets you present your relevant skills and accomplishments before your work history. Ultimately, select a format based on your current professional circumstances and career goals.
How long should my physical therapist resume be?-
A physical therapist resume should typically be one page long, especially if you have less than 10 years of experience. A two-page resume may be appropriate for seasoned professionals with extensive achievements, but only if every detail adds value to your candidacy. Focus on conciseness and relevance by tailoring your resume to the job you're applying for. Highlight your most impactful accomplishments, certifications, and key skills rather than listing every career detail.
Including work experience from the last 10 to 15 years is generally recommended. Older positions can be summarized briefly or omitted unless highly relevant. Remember, your resume is a snapshot of your qualifications, not an exhaustive career history. Prioritize clarity and impact to make a strong impression.
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