Resume guide · Updated October 2026
Physical Therapist Resume Example and Writing Guide
Short answer
A physical therapist resume should lead with your state PT license and DPT degree, then a summary naming your setting (outpatient orthopedics, acute care, inpatient rehab, home health, pediatrics) and caseload. Bullets should show patients per day, evaluations, outcome measures and documentation quality. Add board certification such as the OCS, clinical rotations for new graduates, and your EMR.
| Median pay (May 2025) | $102,760 per year ($49.40 per hour) |
|---|---|
| Typical entry-level education | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Job outlook, 2025-35 | 12% (Much faster than average) |
| Number of jobs | 283,700 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapists, checked 27 October 2026.
Physical Therapist resume example
Below is a full physical therapist resume for Daniel Okafor, a fictional outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapist in Denver, CO. Keep the section order, then replace each line with your own work and results.
Daniel Okafor, PT, DPT, OCS
Outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapist
Denver, CO · daniel.okafor@example.com · (555) 018-3315 · linkedin.com/in/danielokaforpt
Summary
Board-certified orthopedic physical therapist (OCS) with 6 years in acute care and outpatient sports and spine clinics. Sees 12 to 14 patients a day, including post-operative ACL, rotator cuff and total joint cases, and finishes notes the same day in WebPT. APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor who has supervised 5 DPT students.
Experience
Physical Therapist, Front Range Orthopedic and Sports Therapy
Aug 2022 to present
Denver, CO
- Evaluate and treat 12 to 14 patients a day in a 4-therapist outpatient clinic, with a caseload weighted toward post-operative knee and shoulder.
- Built a return-to-sport test battery for ACL patients (hop tests, isokinetic strength, psychological readiness scale) now used by every PT in the clinic.
- Track LEFS, QuickDASH and Oswestry scores at evaluation, re-evaluation and discharge; held average visits per episode at 11 in 2025.
- Supervise DPT students on 8- to 12-week clinical rotations as clinical instructor (5 students to date).
Staff Physical Therapist, Acute Care, Mile High Medical Center
Jun 2020 to Jul 2022
Aurora, CO
- Treated 9 to 11 patients a day across orthopedic, cardiac and ICU units, including early mobility for ventilated patients.
- Made discharge recommendations (home, skilled nursing, inpatient rehab) for 40+ patients a week with case management.
- Trained nursing staff on 3 units in safe patient handling and mechanical lift use.
- Documented evaluations and daily notes in Epic within the same shift.
Continuing education
- Manual therapy of the lumbar and thoracic spine (40 hours)
- Blood flow restriction training course (8 hours)
Education
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Western Plains University · Clinical rotations: outpatient orthopedics, acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, pediatrics
2020
BS in Kinesiology, Western Plains University
2017
Certifications
Physical Therapist, Colorado (active) · Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), ABPTS · BLS (American Heart Association) · APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor
Skills
Orthopedic evaluation · Manual therapy · Therapeutic exercise prescription · Post-operative rehab protocols · Return-to-sport testing · Gait training · Outcome measures (LEFS, ODI, QuickDASH) · WebPT · Epic · Medicare documentation
Physical Therapist resume summary examples
3 physical therapist summaries, one each for new graduate DPT, experienced, acute care and specialist, neurologic rehab. Pick the closest and rewrite it with your own title, years and one real result.
Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate who passed the NPTE in 2026, with 36 weeks of full-time clinical rotations in outpatient orthopedics, acute care and inpatient rehab. Carried 80% of a full outpatient caseload in the final rotation. BLS certified; documented in WebPT and Epic.
Acute care physical therapist with 5 years in a Level I trauma center. Evaluates 10 to 12 patients a day across ICU, neuro and orthopedic units, leads early mobility rounds and makes discharge recommendations with case management. BLS certified; charts in Epic.
Neurologic clinical specialist (NCS) with 9 years in inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, spinal cord injury and brain injury. Uses body-weight-supported treadmill training and functional electrical stimulation, tracks progress with the 10-Meter Walk Test and Berg Balance Scale and supervises 3 PTAs.
Physical Therapist resume objective examples
Use an objective instead of a summary for new graduate and PTA to PT situations: one or two sentences on what you bring and the physical therapist job you want.
Licensed new graduate DPT seeking an outpatient orthopedic position with structured mentorship, bringing 2 orthopedic clinical rotations, a sports medicine research project and a plan to pursue the OCS.
Physical therapist assistant of 6 years, now a licensed DPT, seeking a staff PT role in skilled nursing or home health where caseload management and Medicare documentation experience carry over directly.
Physical Therapist resume bullet points
Bullets grouped by evaluation and treatment, outcomes and documentation, program building and education and leadership and teaching. The numbers are illustrations; put in your own.
Evaluation and treatment
- Completed 8 to 10 new evaluations a week, setting goals tied to functional outcome measures.
- Treated 12 to 14 patients a day with manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and neuromuscular re-education.
- Progressed post-operative patients through surgeon protocols for ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair and total joint replacement.
Outcomes and documentation
- Recorded LEFS, Oswestry and QuickDASH scores at intake and discharge to show change in function for payers and physicians.
- Completed daily notes the same day and Medicare progress reports on time; passed the 2025 internal chart audit with no documentation findings.
- Billed timed CPT codes under the Medicare 8-minute rule, reviewed in quarterly compliance audits.
Program building and education
- Started a running injury screening program that received 60 referrals from local running clubs in its first year.
- Taught a 6-week fall prevention class for 25 older adults at a community senior center.
- Built home exercise programs in MedBridge and checked adherence at every visit.
Leadership and teaching
- Served as clinical instructor for 5 DPT students and 2 PTA students.
- Supervised 2 PTAs and 1 rehab aide, reviewing plans of care weekly.
- Led a monthly in-service series for clinic staff on return-to-sport testing.
Skills for a physical therapist resume
17 skills employers list in physical therapist postings. Include the ones the posting asks for and that your bullets prove.
| Type | Skills |
|---|---|
| Hard skills | Musculoskeletal evaluation, Manual therapy and joint mobilization, Therapeutic exercise, Neuromuscular re-education, Gait and balance training, Post-operative rehabilitation, Vestibular rehabilitation, Standardized outcome measures, Plan of care and goal writing, Medicare and CPT documentation, Patient and caregiver education |
| Soft skills | Motivating patients, Clear explanations, Empathy, Time management, Teamwork with physicians and nurses, Clinical reasoning |
| Tools and software | WebPT, Epic, Cerner (Oracle Health), Net Health, Raintree, MedBridge, Biodex isokinetic systems |
Certifications for a physical therapist resume
| Credential | Issued by | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Physical therapist license | Your state physical therapy board, after passing the NPTE (administered by FSBPT) | Required in every state. List the state and active status; new graduates can list their NPTE date while the license is pending. |
| Board-certified clinical specialist (for example OCS, SCS, NCS, GCS, PCS) | American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) | Specialist certification in areas such as orthopaedics, sports, neurology, geriatrics and pediatrics. Add the letters after your name. |
| Basic Life Support (BLS) | American Heart Association or American Red Cross | Expected in hospitals and most clinics. Keep it current. |
| Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) | National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) | Useful for sports medicine and performance settings. |
| Credentialed Clinical Instructor | American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) | Shows you are trained to supervise DPT and PTA students. |
How do you list a PT license and credentials on a resume?
Put your credentials after your name in the usual order: license first, then your highest physical therapy degree, then specialist certification, for example "Daniel Okafor, PT, DPT, OCS." Repeat them in a Licenses and Certifications section with the state, active status and expiration dates for BLS.
You do not need to print your license number; employers verify licenses with the state board. If you hold licenses in more than one state, or your state is part of the PT Compact and you hold a compact privilege, say so, because it matters for travel, telehealth and border-area jobs.
What should a physical therapy resume say about setting and caseload?
Each setting reads a resume for different things. Outpatient managers look for patients per day, evaluations per week, diagnoses and manual therapy skills. Acute care managers look for ICU and early mobility experience, discharge planning and lines and drains comfort. Skilled nursing employers look for Medicare Part A and B documentation and Section GG functional scoring. Home health agencies look for OASIS documentation and visits per day.
Name the setting, the population and your typical daily load for every job. "Outpatient orthopedics, 12 to 14 patients a day, mostly post-operative knee and shoulder" tells a manager in one line whether you can carry their schedule.
- Outpatient: patients per day, evaluations per week, diagnoses, visits per episode
- Acute care: units covered, early mobility, discharge recommendations
- Inpatient rehab and SNF: functional outcomes, Section GG, team conferences
- Home health: visits per day, OASIS, caregiver training
- Pediatrics and schools: age range, IEP goals, family education
How do new graduate physical therapists write a resume?
Treat clinical rotations as your experience section. List each rotation with the facility, setting, length in weeks and your caseload by the end, such as "carried 80% of a full caseload by week 10." Give your final rotation 2 or 3 bullets like a job.
Add your NPTE date or license status at the top, research or capstone projects, and any work as a rehab aide, PT tech or athletic trainer. Hiring managers for new graduate roles want to see the settings you have already worked in and how close you are to a full caseload.
Should a physical therapy resume be one page or two?
One page suits new graduates and therapists with a few years in one setting. Two pages is fine for experienced PTs with several settings, a specialist certification, teaching or program development, as long as page one has your credentials, current role and setting.
Use a clean single-column template with Licenses and Certifications near the top. Academic, residency and fellowship applications usually want a full CV with research, presentations and continuing education instead.
ATS keywords for a physical therapist resume
Terms that show up in physical therapist job postings. Mirror the exact wording of the posting you apply to, but only for work you have done.
- physical therapist
- DPT
- PT license
- plan of care
- therapeutic exercise
- manual therapy
- gait training
- orthopedic
- post-operative rehabilitation
- outcome measures
- patient education
- home exercise program
- Medicare documentation
- CPT coding
- BLS
- WebPT
- Epic
- interdisciplinary team
Mistakes to avoid on a physical therapist resume
- Hiding the license. "PT, DPT" after your name and a licenses line with the state belong at the top of the page.
- Leaving out the setting. Outpatient, acute, skilled nursing, home health and pediatric jobs need different skills. Name the setting and patient population for every job.
- No caseload numbers. Patients per day, evaluations per week and visits per episode are the numbers PT managers look for.
- Listing every continuing education course. Keep the courses that fit the job (vestibular or blood flow restriction training for outpatient, for example) and drop the rest.
- Patient identifiers in case examples. Never include names, dates of birth or details that could identify a patient.
Frequently asked questions
What should I include on a physical therapist resume?
Your PT license and state, DPT degree, a summary naming your setting and caseload, experience bullets with patients per day and outcomes, certifications such as BLS and any ABPTS specialist credential, and the EMR systems you use. New graduates add clinical rotations.
How do I write a physical therapy resume as a new grad?
Put your NPTE date or license status at the top, then a Clinical Rotations section listing each facility, setting, length and caseload. Give your final rotation bullets like a job and include rehab aide or PT tech work.
Should I list clinical rotations on a PT resume?
Yes, for your first year or two of practice or when you are changing settings. List the facility, setting, weeks and your caseload. Drop them once you have a year or more of work in the setting you are applying to.
How should I write my PT credentials after my name?
List your license first, then your highest physical therapy degree, then specialist certifications, for example "PT, DPT, OCS." Keep other certificates in the certifications section rather than after your name.
How much do physical therapists make?
The BLS reports a median pay of $102,760 per year for physical therapists in May 2025. It projects employment to grow 12% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
Do I need to list my NPTE score on my resume?
No. Employers need to know you passed and are licensed, not your score. List your license state and status, or your exam date if the license is still being issued.
Related guides
Sources, checked 27 October 2026
We opened every page below on that date. Pay, rules and requirements change, so check the source before you rely on a detail.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapists (median pay, education, outlook, number of jobs, licensing)
- Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy: Getting Licensed (licensure in every state and the NPTE requirement)
- American Physical Therapy Association: APTA Specialist Certification, governed by ABPTS (board certification specialty areas)