Physical Therapy Resume Example + Skills & Writing Tips

You’re a doctor, not a spa employee. Plus, you were smart enough to pick a field that’s growing 22% every 10 years. But to get high-salary PT jobs, you need a high-level physical therapist resume.

You’ll get there fast with our professional help.

In this guide:

• A physical therapy resume example better than most.
• How to write a resume for physical therapy jobs that gets things moving.
• How to make the perfect physical therapy job description for resumes.
• The best way to list your physical therapist skills on a resume.

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Want to check out other medical careers? See our guides:

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• Nurse Resume Examples
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Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples for Over 200 Jobs.

Physical Therapy Resume Example You Can Copy and Use

Here’s how to write your version of that resume example for a physical therapist:

1. Choose the Best Physical Therapy Resume Format

They won’t hire a sloppy-looking physical therapist. Or read sloppy physical therapy resumes. Get the format of your resume in line, and warm up with the reverse-chronological format.

Physical Therapy Resume Format

• Set standard one-inch resume margins and aim for a one-page resume.
• Leave white space so your words can breathe.
• Include a resume font like 10–12pt Cambria or Avenir Next.
• Write common resume sections like Heading, Summary, Work Experience, Education, and Skills.
• Save a PDF resume. They move well from machine to machine.

Expert Hint: Physical therapy jobs will grow 22% in the next 10 years. But we both know there are lots of bad PT jobs. That’s why your physical therapist resume has to shine.

2. Make a Physical Therapy Resume Objective or Summary

Dozens of physical therapist resumes stand between you and your dream job. To clear that hurdle, get noticed fast. Write an agile career summary or career objective. That’s a fast rundown of why you matter to them.

Add:

1. An adjective or two (licensed, effective)
2. Your job title
3. Years of experience (2+, 7+)
4. How & who you’ll help (improve quality of life at Walker Recovery)
5. Best physical therapy moments (maintained 50 regular clients...)
6. Some key job skills (patient education, dry-needling...)

Write it last to make it easy on yourself. These physical therapy resume examples show how:

Physical Therapy Resume Summary—Example

Effective, licensed physical therapist with 6+ years of experience. Seeking to improve quality of life at Walker Recovery. At Parker Lane Pediatrics, maintained 50 regular clients with 95% positive scores and 53 5-star reviews on HealthGrades. Used patient education and dry needling to attain 35%+ mobility increase for 90%+ of patients.

Experienced physical therapist, skilled in patient assessment, therapy interventions, and dry needling. Physically fit and recognized for high level of skill in patient and family education. Specializes in pediatric physical therapy. Well-liked by patients.

Both of those reference dry needling and pediatrics. But one adds “50 clients, 95% positive scores,” and other energizing factors.

Even an entry-level physical therapist resume needs proof. Let’s say all you’ve done is volunteer and work as a personal trainer. Check out how this physical therapist assistant resume sample does it:

Entry-Level Physical Therapy Resume Objective

Compassionate physical therapist with skills in patient assessment and stroke rehabilitation. Seeking to improve patients’ lives at Stout Lane Medical. Recognized for compassion as volunteer PT at Alajuela Nursing Home. Assessed 15 patients at Seton Clinic. As personal trainer at Mobile Fitness & Recovery, served 150+ clients.

Hard-working physical therapist seeking full-time work. Skilled in patient assessment, stroke rehab, and assessments. Highly compassionate and good with clients. Ready to start ASAP.

The second of those entry-level physical therapy assistant resume examples lists compassion and assessment. But the first one proves them.

Expert Hint: Most physical therapists work in private clinics. To get hired, your PT or PTA resume must show your contribution to the clinic and its patients.

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3. Write a Meaty Physical Therapy Job Description and Skills Section

A physical therapist resume can’t be generic. Target your resume. You need to fit the job like a wraparound brace.

To write a physical therapy job description for resumes:

1. Find the right skills to put on a resume (known as resume keywords) in the online ad.
2. List times you used them to make things happen.

Write yours like the first of these physical therapy resume samples. Pretend the job ad wants a pediatric DPT with these physical therapy skills: developing plan of care, patient education, dry needling.

Physical Therapy Job Description for Resume [Sample]

Experience

Physical Therapist

Parker Lane Pediatrics

2014–2019

• Pediatric DPT in urban clinic. Maintained client list of 50 regulars. Received 95% positive scores in parent evaluations.
• Developed plan of care for 250+ patients.
• Achieved 80% patient-goal success rate through patient education.
• Lowered pain scores an average of 30% through dry needling.

• PT in urban clinic. Performed assessments and physical therapy interventions.
• Increased mobility of injury patients.
• Worked with patients long term to lower pain through exercise.
• Created reports after all patient visits.

The second of those physical therapist resume examples is like a shoulder impingement. It doesn’t target the job. Plus—how did that applicant help? There are no numbers.

Now, for an entry-level resume: Say the job ad wants these physical therapy skills: compassion, assessment, stroke rehab.

Entry-Level Physical Therapy Resume Job Description [Sample]

Physical Therapy Experience

Various

2013–2014

• Volunteer PT Alajuela Nursing Home. Recognized for compassion.
• Personal Trainer, Mobile Fitness & Recovery. Served 150+ clients.
• Volunteer PT, Seton Clinic. Assessed 15 patients.
• Rehabbed father to 95% mobility after total paralysis from stroke.

Waitress

New River Burrito Bar

2014–2015 

• Provided customer service.
• Used active listening skills with customers.
• Developed reputation for efficiency.

The second sample isn’t awful—if they want skills in customer service, listening, and efficiency. They don’t. (See the job skills in yellow above.) What physical therapist skills work best? Here’s a list:

Physical Therapy Skills for Resumes 

Hard Skills:

• Patient Assessment
• Plan of Care Design
• PT Interventions
• Patient Education
• Heat Treatment
• Collecting Patient History
• Documentation
• Pediatric
• Sports
• Orthopedic
• CPR & First Aid

Soft Skills:

• Interpersonal Skills
• Customer Service
• Active Listening
• Collaboration
• Effective Communication
• Problem Solving
• Empathy
• Persuasion
• Time Management
• Physical Stamina

Expert Hint: In a physical therapy resume for new grads, focus on soft skills. Then, give evidence of the hard skills you learned while earning your doctorate.

4. Make the Most of Your Education

Your doctorate is no joke. But your education section can’t be like all the rest. If it is—You’ll get rejected like them, too. So put a few key details in your schooling to catch the eye. This physical therapist resume sample shows the routine:

Physical Therapy Resume Example—Education

Education

DPT, Chapman University

2010–2013

• Excelled in movement science.
• Performed doctoral project in dry needling.

BS Health Science, UC Riverside

2006–2010

• Pursued a passion for pediatrics.

If they listed movement science, dry needling, and pediatrics in their ad, you’re in. In a new grad physical therapy resume, your education can fill most of the page.

5. Add Other Sections to Your Physical Therapy Resume

Quick quiz: What if the other physical therapist resumes show similar experience and education? Whatever makes you different in a good way can get you hired. So add a couple “other” sections like:

• Associations (APTA)
• Conferences you spoke at
• Certifications (e.g. First Aid)
• Groups
• Volunteer work
• Freelance work
• Foreign languages
• Publications
• Additional activities
• Fitness

These physical therapy resume examples work it out:

Sample Physical Therapist Resume—Extra Sections

License

Licensed Physical Therapist: California State License #PT00000

Certifications

• Pediatrics Specialist Certification, ABPTS
• First Aid & CPR, American Red Cross

Additional Activities

• Member, APTA, mentor 20+ physical therapists annually.
• Teach yoga 2x monthly for fun & fitness.

Additional Activities

• Sea kayaking.
• Going to festivals.

Oh, and put your license in its own section, near the top. You don’t want the hiring manager to miss it!

Expert Hint: Write a cover letter. Your resume for physical therapy jobs will get more special care. Why? Most managers read those letters. Some insist on them. Here's how to write a cover letter for a job that does the trick.

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Key Points

Here’s how to write a physical therapy resume:

• Use the physical therapist resume template up top. It lets you match your hard-won skills to the job.
• Get physical therapist resume skills from the physical therapy job description.
• Pump up your physical therapy resume sections with your accomplishments. Show proof of how you helped patients.
• Add “other” sections that show you’re not just another PT who needs work.

Got questions on how to write great resumes for physical therapy jobs? Not sure how to show physical therapy on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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