Physical Therapist Resume Example & Writing Guide
View a professional physical therapist resume example with proven bullet points, key skills, and expert tips. Copy what works and customize with your own experience.
Professional Summary Examples
Start your resume with a compelling summary. Here are proven examples you can adapt:
Licensed physical therapist with 6+ years of experience in outpatient orthopedic and sports rehabilitation. Managed caseload of 60+ patients weekly with 94% achieving functional goals within plan of care. Expert in manual therapy, dry needling, and post-surgical rehabilitation.
Physical therapist specializing in neurological rehabilitation and geriatric care. Improved patient functional independence measures (FIM) by an average of 35% across stroke and TBI populations. Strong background in balance training, fall prevention, and wheelchair positioning.
Evidence-based physical therapist with expertise in pediatric and developmental disabilities. Treated 45+ patients weekly including children with cerebral palsy, autism, and developmental delays. Known for creating engaging, family-centered treatment programs with measurable outcomes.
Work Experience Bullet Points
Use these achievement-focused bullet points as inspiration. Replace the numbers with your own metrics.
- Evaluated and treated caseload of 60+ patients weekly across orthopedic, post-surgical, and sports rehabilitation populations
- Achieved 94% patient goal attainment rate with average functional improvement of 40% as measured by standardized outcome tools
- Performed manual therapy techniques including joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and dry needling for 200+ patients
- Developed individualized treatment plans and home exercise programs for 1,000+ patients, improving compliance to 85%
- Reduced post-surgical ACL reconstruction return-to-sport timeline by 15% through evidence-based rehabilitation protocols
- Implemented fall prevention program for geriatric population, reducing fall incidence by 30% across 150-patient caseload
- Supervised and mentored 6 physical therapy students and 4 physical therapy assistants, providing clinical instruction and feedback
- Maintained 95% patient satisfaction scores while meeting 90% productivity standard of 28 billable units per day
- Led continuing education workshops on manual therapy techniques for team of 8 therapists, improving clinic-wide outcomes
- Contributed to interdisciplinary team rounds, collaborating with physicians, occupational therapists, and speech therapists on patient care plans
Key Skills for Physical Therapist Resume
Include these skills on your resume to pass ATS screening and impress recruiters:
Recommended Certifications
These certifications can strengthen your physical therapist resume:
Tips for Your Physical Therapist Resume
- Quantify your achievements: Use specific numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts to demonstrate impact.
- Use industry keywords: Include terms from the job description to pass ATS screening.
- Lead with action verbs: Start bullet points with strong verbs like developed, implemented, increased, reduced.
- Keep it concise: Aim for one page unless you have 10+ years of relevant experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a physical therapist include on their resume?
Include your PT license, DPT degree, and any board specializations (OCS, SCS, NCS). Highlight patient caseload size, outcome measures achieved, specialty populations treated, and practice settings. Mention specific techniques (manual therapy, dry needling) and documentation systems used.
How do I write a new grad physical therapist resume?
Lead with your DPT degree and licensure. Highlight clinical affiliations including setting, patient populations, and hours completed. Include any research, case studies, or community service projects from your program. Emphasize specific skills and techniques learned during rotations.
What metrics should physical therapists include on their resume?
Include patient caseload volume, goal attainment rates, functional outcome improvements (using standardized tools), productivity metrics, and patient satisfaction scores. Quantify specific achievements like reduced recovery timelines, fall prevention results, or program development outcomes.
Ready to Build Your Physical Therapist Resume?
Start with our free builder — no sign-up required. Your resume will be ATS-optimized and ready to download as PDF.
Related Resume Examples
Occupational Therapist Resume Example
Healthcare · $92,000
Registered Nurse Resume Example
Healthcare · $80,000
Physician Assistant Resume Example
Healthcare · $121,000
Respiratory Therapist Resume Example
Healthcare · $70,000