A strong physical therapist resume is your gateway to standing out in a competitive healthcare field. Whether you’re aiming for a role at a top rehabilitation center or a private clinic, your resume needs to highlight your skills, experience, and patient-centered approach.
Not sure how to make that happen? Don’t worry, you’re in the right place. This guide has everything you need — detailed examples, professionally designed templates, authentic samples, and practical tips to help you create a standout physical therapist resume.
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Keep reading to:
- Choose a resume format that fits your experience level
- Write a resume summary that highlights your physical therapy skills
- Include both hard and soft skills to show off your diverse skillset
- Prioritize your most relevant work experience
- Include your educational and licensing credentials
- Create extra sections for certifications and awards
- Find out where to look for resources for job-seeking therapists
1. Choose a resume format that fits your experience level as a PT
When creating your physical therapist resume, there are two formats to consider: the reverse-chronological and the functional.
The reverse-chronological resume focuses on work experience, placing your most recent job first and working backward from there. While this is the most commonly used format and what employers expect to see, it can be a difficult resume to create if you lack a decent amount of prior experience.
The functional resume focuses on education, skills, and unpaid experience – removing the focus from work experience.
Generally, as a physical therapist, you want your resume to prioritize your work experience; however, if you are fresh out of school or training, a functional resume can help you fill in some of the gaps.
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2. Write a resume summary that highlights your physical therapy skills
A resume summary is placed at the very top of the document and introduces you, as the candidate, to the employer. This type of summary can either be very beneficial when written properly, as it gives you the opportunity to hook the attention of the reader.
To demonstrate the difference between a weak and strong resume summary, here is an incorrect example with a corrected explanation:
Incorrect physical therapist resume summary example
"Physical Therapist with many years of experience working with a diverse pool of patients of all ages. Certified specialist in 3 different areas of physical therapy, offering clients a wide range of different services."
What's wrong with this example? The primary issue with this summary is that it is far too non-specific. When you are discussing your credentials in a summary, you want to be as specific and contextual as possible, as this will make it clearer to the employer what specialized skills or certifications you bring to the table.
Corrected physical therapist resume summary example
"Driven Physical Therapist with more than 6 years of experience working in a clinical office with age-diverse clients. APTA board-certified clinical specialist in 3 physical therapy proficiencies: Geriatrics, Pediatrics, and Neurology."
Why is this better? This example provides much greater detail and context surrounding the applicant’s experience and credentials. They name the exact certification they have, as well as their certified proficiencies.
3. Include both hard and soft skills to show your diverse abilities
Physical therapists work directly with clients, often needing to use physical treatment and intervention on patients. As such, having strong people skills is just as important as knowing the technicalities of treatment.
This means that on your resume you should include both hard and soft skills. Hard skills are your most technical abilities that require education and training to achieve, while your soft skills are your interpersonal abilities that make it possible to communicate and work with patients.
Best hard skills to put on your physical therapist resume
- Diagnostic equipment operation
- Electronic patient record management
- Healthcare treatment planning
- Physical stamina
- Tracking patient progress
- Determining patient pain tolerance
- Observing patients during exercise
- Scheduling
- Specialized technologies
- Knowledge of health and safety procedures
Best soft skills to put on your physical therapist resume
- Active listening
- Empathy
- Patience
- Emotional intelligence
- Motivation
- Positive/Calm demeanor
- Emotional support for patients
- Delegation
- Organization
- Stress management
4. Prioritize your most relevant work experience first
Your work experience section is where you get to showcase the actual work you have done in the field and the time you have spent with clients.
Physical therapy involves intimate interactions with clients who may feel vulnerable or uncomfortable. As such, employers look for PTs who have experience working directly with people and show a strong ability for communicating and working with the client effectively.
Physical therapist work experience section resume example
Physical Therapist | Chattanooga PT Specialists
Chattanooga, TN | February 2018 to January 2021
- Worked directly with over 35 patients following disease or severe injury, achieving restored function in a 12-month period.
- Developed a new therapeutic exercise program specifically for athletes with back injuries to help not only restore function, but prevent future injury.
- Earned more than 40 5-star reviews for patient and compassionate service, as well as a high success rate in restoring function quickly in patients.
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5. Include your educational and licensing credentials
As a physical therapist, you may have a varying level of education depending on the level of your current PT position. The key when listing your education is to include your highest level or certification first, followed by any older relevant credentials.
Example of a physical therapist’s education section:
Education
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Standford University, Stanford, CA
- M.A. in Rehabilitation Services | Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- APTA Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Injuries
6. Create extra sections for certifications and awards
If you have earned several different certifications to become a more specialized physical therapist, including these on your resume is paramount. The general rule of thumb is that 3 or more certifications are worthy of their own section on your resume, placed near your education section.
Additionally, you may have earned a variety of local or regional awards for your service as a physical therapist. If this is the case, be sure to include these in a small additional section also place near the education section.
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7. Top resources for job-seeking therapists
Scouring the internet for the right opportunities as a physical therapist can sometimes be a bit of a hustle. But knowing where to look gives you a great advantage.
Here are some of the resources you should check out:
- Industry-specific job boards: You can start with sites like Physical Therapy Jobs or APTA's Career Center, which feature listings specifically for physical therapy roles, from entry-level to specialized positions.
- General job sites: Alternatively, you can always look at more general job sites like: Indeed, Monster or Glassdoor. These can also yield compelling results despite their broad focus.
- Professional associations: Another good way to boost your network is by joining organizations like the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) or the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), which provide access to networking events, conferences, and job boards exclusive to association members.
- Continuous education & certification programs: Staying competitive in this field requires continuous learning. Platforms like MedBridge and Coursera offer a vast selection of education courses, certifications, and webinars. These will not only boost your qualifications but also help you develop new skills.
- Networking: You've probably heard of the ultimate networking platform: LinkedIn—and for good reason. It’s a powerful tool, which allows you toconnect with a community of PT specialists, like those in the Physical Therapy Networking Group, stay updated with industry news, and access valuable insights. It’s an excellent starting point for building your network.
With these resources, you’ll build a strong networking foundation, stay on the radar, and even pick up new skills along the way.
Physical Therapist Resume FAQ
How can I showcase my skills on my physical therapist resume?
The best way to highlight your skills is by creating a dedicated “Skills“ section. There, you can list all your technical skills like manual therapy, rehabilitation planning, and patient assessment. Don’t forget to also spotlight your soft skills —like empathy, active listening, and teamwork. You can also weave them into your work experience section by sharing specific examples of their use.
How can I make my physical therapist resume stand out from the competition?
Apart from correctly highlighting both hard and soft skills, you can mention all your specialized training. Especially if you’ve worked with particular patient demographics or have experience with innovative treatments. Include an eye-catching summary at the top that briefly describes your values and philosophy, years of experience, and top accomplishments. Finally, tailor your resume to each job by using keywords from the job description.
What are some common mistakes to avoid on a physical therapist resume?
One common mistake is focusing too much on routine responsibilities and not enough on specific achievements or measurable outcomes. Avoid listing every task you've done—employers want to see how you’ve added value and what you’ve learned. Make sure to avoid cluttering your resume with unnecessary details. Make it simple and easy to read.
How can I effectively use keywords on my resume?
Keywords are crucial for passing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catching a hiring manager’s eye. Carefully read the job posting and highlight any specific skills, treatments, or certifications mentioned. Common keywords in physical therapy include terms like “patient care,” “manual therapy,” “rehabilitation,” “assessment,” and “treatment plans.” Use these words naturally in your summary, experience, and skills sections.
What sections are essential for a physical therapist resume?
Most important sections you should include in your resume are: contact information, professional summary, work experience, skills, education, and certifications. In your "Experience" section, focus on your achievements and specific contributions. Your “Skills“ section should highlight both hard and soft skills, which are equally vital in physical therapy. You can also add sections like “Professional Development” or “Specialized Training” to differentiate yourself from the competition.
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