Physical Therapist & Physical Therapy Resume Examples
A physical therapist evaluates how patients move and designs treatment programs to restore, maintain and improve physical function: exercise, manual therapy, mobility and gait training, and teaching patients and families what to continue at home. A physical therapist resume should prove skills such as musculoskeletal and neurologic evaluation, therapeutic exercise, and manual therapy with numbers from your own work. Below are three samples, entry-level to senior, with summaries, bullets and skills.
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Examples by experience level
All three samples are illustrative: the people, employers and every figure are made up.
Entry-level sample
Emily Langford
Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate · orthopedic and neuro rotations · 36 weeks of clinical education
Denver, CO · (303) 555-0127 · emily.langford@example.com
Summary
- Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate with 36 weeks of clinical education across outpatient orthopedics, acute care and inpatient neurology. Looking for a physical therapist job in an outpatient orthopedic clinic.
Clinical education
- Outpatient Orthopedics, Front Range Physical Therapy, Denver, CO · 12 weeks, 2026 · Treated 8 to 10 patients a day under supervision; wrote daily notes and updated 5 home exercise programs a week.
- Acute Care, a 300-bed hospital, Aurora, CO · 12 weeks, 2025 · Mobilized post-surgical patients on 3 floors and took part in 15 discharge planning meetings.
Education
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, a university in Colorado · 2026
- BS in Exercise Science, a state university · 2023
Skills
- Musculoskeletal evaluation, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, gait training, documentation, home exercise programs, patient education, bilingual English/Spanish
Mid-level sample
Brian Nguyen
Physical Therapist · 4 years in outpatient orthopedics and sports rehab
Austin, TX · (512) 555-0194 · brian.nguyen@example.com
Summary
- Physical therapist with four years in outpatient orthopedics, treating about 12 patients a day with 90% completing their full plan of care. Focus on post-surgical knee and shoulder rehabilitation.
Work experience
- Physical Therapist, Lone Star Sports and Spine, Austin, TX · 2023 – present · Treat about 12 patients a day; ACL, rotator cuff and low back cases; 90% of patients complete their full plan of care; mentor 2 student interns a year.
- Staff Physical Therapist, Capital Rehab, Austin, TX · 2022 – 2023 · Treated 10 patients a day after joint replacement; updated goals and documentation on every visit.
Education
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, a university in Texas · 2022
- BS in Kinesiology, a state university · 2019
Skills
- Orthopedic evaluation, post-operative rehab, manual therapy, dry needling if certified, return-to-sport testing, documentation in an EMR, patient education
Senior sample
Karen Ivanov
Senior Physical Therapist / Rehab Team Lead · 12 years · neurology and inpatient rehab · team of 9
Cleveland, OH · (216) 555-0113 · karen.ivanov@example.com
Summary
- Senior physical therapist with twelve years in inpatient neurorehabilitation, leading a team of 9 therapists and assistants on a 30-bed stroke unit. Raised discharges to home from 58% to 71%.
Work experience
- Senior Physical Therapist and Team Lead, Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital, Cleveland, OH · 2018 – present · Lead 9 therapists and assistants on a 30-bed unit; carry a caseload of 8 a day; raised discharges to home from 58% to 71% in two years.
- Staff Physical Therapist, Buckeye Medical Center, Columbus, OH · 2014 – 2018 · Treated 9 inpatients a day after stroke and spinal cord injury; trained families before 120+ discharges.
Education
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, a university in Ohio · 2014
- Neurologic physical therapy continuing education, 40 hours · 2022
Skills
- Neurologic rehabilitation, balance and gait training, team leadership, discharge planning, outcome measures, documentation, supervising physical therapist assistants
Related resume examples
- Therapist resume
- Doctor resume
- Nurse resume
- Staff Nurse resume
- Personal Trainer resume
- Lab Technician resume
- Dentist resume
- Physical Therapist Assistant resume
What does a physical therapist do?
Settings differ by employer, so a physical therapist resume should name the setting, caseload and patient groups you have treated.
Physical Therapist duties to put on a resume
- Plan and carry out individually designed treatment programs to maintain, improve or restore physical function.
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating the findings to identify problems before treatment.
- Review referrals and medical records to decide the treatment needed.
- Test and measure strength, motor function, sensation and functional capacity.
- Administer manual exercises, massage or traction to relieve pain and increase strength.
- Instruct patients and families in the treatment to be continued at home.
- Record prognosis, treatment, response and progress in the patient's chart.
- Direct, supervise and communicate with supportive personnel.
Best resume format for a physical therapist
- Keep it to one page for new graduates and mid-career therapists, and two pages when you have teaching, research or leadership to show.
- Show caseload and outcomes: patients a day, plan-of-care completion, discharge rates, outcome measure gains.
- Name your settings and patient groups, such as outpatient orthopedics, acute care, neurology, pediatrics or home health.
The section order and what goes in each are on the how to write a resume guide; the resume format guide covers every format by type and country.
Summary examples by level
- Entry-level: Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate with 36 weeks of clinical education in orthopedics, acute care and neurology, ready for an outpatient physical therapist role.
- Mid-level: Physical therapist with four years in outpatient orthopedics, treating about 12 patients a day with 90% completing their full plan of care.
- Senior: Senior physical therapist with twelve years in inpatient neurorehabilitation, leading 9 staff and raising discharges to home from 58% to 71%.
Work experience bullet points
- Treated about 12 patients a day with individually designed exercise and manual therapy programs.
- Raised plan-of-care completion to 90% by setting written goals with patients on the first visit.
- Documented every evaluation and visit in the EMR within 24 hours across a caseload of 60 patients.
- Taught 8 to 10 patients a day their home exercise program and checked their technique before they left.
- Reduced average time to discharge by 2 days on a 30-bed unit by planning with nurses and case managers.
- Tested and measured strength, balance and range of motion for 15 new patients a week.
- Supervised 3 physical therapist assistants and 2 aides, reviewing each patient's plan weekly.
- Mentored 4 student physical therapists through their clinical rotations.
Key skills to list
Hard skills: Musculoskeletal and neurologic evaluation, Therapeutic exercise, Manual therapy, Gait and balance training, Post-operative rehabilitation, Outcome measures, EMR documentation, Home exercise program design, Supervising physical therapist assistants, Discharge planning.
Soft skills: Patient motivation, Clear teaching, Empathy and patience, Teamwork with nurses and doctors, Time management on a full schedule.
Education and certifications
- O*NET places physical therapists in Job Zone Five, extensive preparation, with a master's or doctoral degree; most respondents reported a doctoral degree (47%) or a master's degree (38%).
- List your degree, school and graduation year, and clinical education sites with the weeks completed.
- Licensing is set by each state, so check your state licensing board; list your license and state only if you hold it, and a specialty or certification only with the issuer and year.
Sources
Checked on 5 October 2026.
How do I write a physical therapist resume as a new graduate?
Lead with your Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and clinical education: the setting, weeks and what you treated. Add patients seen a day under supervision, documentation skills and any language you speak. Show your license status honestly, such as "exam scheduled" only if it is.
Can you show a physical therapist resume example?
Yes. The physical therapist resume example above for four years' experience shows the pattern: a summary with caseload, bullets that start with a verb and carry a number, education, and skills matched to the job posting. Swap in your own settings and results.
What does a physical therapist resume sample need to show?
A physical therapist resume sample should show your caseload, setting, outcomes and teaching: patients treated a day, plan-of-care completion, discharge results, and any students or assistants you supervise. Keep the language plain so non-clinical recruiters can follow it.
Where can I find resume examples for physical therapist jobs?
Use the three samples on this page, from a new graduate to a senior therapist, as a starting point. Pick the level closest to yours, replace the details with your own caseload and settings, and match the skills to each job posting.