Physical Therapist Resume Example & Writing Guide

Create a winning physical therapist resume. Includes PT resume examples, treatment techniques, patient outcomes, and ATS-optimized format.

ATS-Optimized Expert-Written Updated 2026

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Physical Therapist Resume Example

Here's a professional physical therapist resume example that you can use as a reference. This example highlights the key sections and content that hiring managers look for.

Alex Johnson

Physical Therapist

New York, NY | alex.johnson@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson

Professional Summary

Licensed Physical Therapist with 6+ years of experience in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation. Expert in developing individualized treatment plans that restore mobility and reduce pain. Track record of achieving 92% patient goal attainment rate and reducing recovery time by 25%.

Work Experience

Senior Physical Therapist

2022 – Present

ABC Corporation, New York, NY

•Maintained a caseload of 50+ patients weekly across orthopedic, post-surgical, and sports rehabilitation
•Achieved 92% patient goal attainment rate, exceeding clinic benchmark of 85%
•Reduced average recovery time by 25% through evidence-based manual therapy techniques

Physical Therapist

2019 – 2022

XYZ Company, Chicago, IL

•Generated $45K monthly in billable services while maintaining 95% documentation compliance
•Supervised 4 PT assistants and mentored 3 DPT students during clinical rotations

Skills

Manual Therapy • Therapeutic Exercise • Gait Training • Orthopedic Rehabilitation • Sports Medicine • Patient Assessment • Treatment Planning • Modalities (Ultrasound, E-Stim) • Documentation (WebPT) • Patient Education • Functional Capacity Evaluation • Ergonomic Assessment • Balance Training • Neuromuscular Re-education • Medicare Compliance

Education

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology or Exercise Science

Use This Template in Resume Builder

Physical Therapist Resume Summary Examples

Your resume summary is the first thing hiring managers read. Here's a strong example for aphysical therapist with 6+ years of experience:

Good Example

“Licensed Physical Therapist with 6+ years of experience in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation. Expert in developing individualized treatment plans that restore mobility and reduce pain. Track record of achieving 92% patient goal attainment rate and reducing recovery time by 25%.”

Avoid This

“Hardworking physical therapist looking for a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and experience. I am a team player with excellent communication skills.”

Why the first example works: It includes specific years of experience, quantified achievements, technical skills, and certifications — all things ATS systems and hiring managers look for.

Work Experience Bullet Points

Here are powerful, metrics-driven bullet points for a physical therapist resume. Notice how each one starts with an action verb and includes specific numbers:

Maintained a caseload of 50+ patients weekly across orthopedic, post-surgical, and sports rehabilitation
Achieved 92% patient goal attainment rate, exceeding clinic benchmark of 85%
Reduced average recovery time by 25% through evidence-based manual therapy techniques
Generated $45K monthly in billable services while maintaining 95% documentation compliance
Supervised 4 PT assistants and mentored 3 DPT students during clinical rotations

Pro Tip: Use the formula: Action Verb + Task + Quantified Result. For example: “Managed” + “team of 12 engineers” + “delivering project 20% under budget.”

Key Skills for a Physical Therapist Resume

Include these skills on your physical therapist resume to pass ATS screening and impress hiring managers:

Manual Therapy

Therapeutic Exercise

Gait Training

Orthopedic Rehabilitation

Sports Medicine

Patient Assessment

Treatment Planning

Modalities (Ultrasound, E-Stim)

Documentation (WebPT)

Patient Education

Functional Capacity Evaluation

Ergonomic Assessment

Balance Training

Neuromuscular Re-education

Medicare Compliance

ATS Keywords for Physical Therapist Resume

These are the most important keywords that Applicant Tracking Systems scan for in physical therapist resumes. Include them naturally throughout your resume:

physical therapistPTrehabilitationmanual therapytherapeutic exercisetreatment planpatient outcomesorthopedicfunctional assessmentgait trainingWebPT

Important: Don't stuff keywords. Use them naturally in your summary, experience, and skills sections. ATS systems can detect keyword stuffing and may flag your resume.

Education & Certifications

Education

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology or Exercise Science

Certifications

Licensed Physical Therapist
Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS)
CPR/BLS Certification
Dry Needling Certification

Expert Tips for Your Physical Therapist Resume

Quantify patient caseloads and outcome metrics

Include specialty certifications (OCS, SCS, etc.)

Show revenue generation and productivity metrics

Highlight evidence-based treatment approaches

Mention specific documentation systems (WebPT, Clinicient)

Physical Therapist Salary & Job Outlook

Entry Level

$76K

Median Salary

$98K

Experienced

$108K

Job Outlook

15% growth (2022-2032), much faster than average

Source: BLS 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a physical therapist put on a resume?

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Include your DPT degree, state license, specialty certifications, patient outcome metrics, caseload numbers, and specific treatment techniques. Quantify your results.