Physical Therapist Resume: Examples & Guide (2026)

A physical therapist resume is screened for credentials before anything else: an active PT license, the state it covers, and the setting and specialties you work in. After that, clinics, hospitals, and rehab facilities want evidence that your treatment plans improve function and outcomes — and that you manage a productive caseload.

Here is how to structure a physical therapist resume that clears the license check and proves clinical impact.

What employers screen for first

Hiring managers scan first for your license and setting, then your specialties and certifications, then evidence your care improves patient function and outcomes.

• Active PT license (DPT), the state it covers, and a current BLS/CPR card.
• Setting: outpatient ortho, inpatient/acute, skilled nursing, home health, pediatric, or sports.
• Specialties and certifications: OCS, SCS, NCS, dry needling, manual therapy.
• Outcome signals: functional gains, discharge goals met, and caseload/productivity.

How to structure a physical therapist resume

• Header: name and credentials (e.g. "Lena Park, PT, DPT"), location, phone, email.
• Licenses & certifications: PT license, state, specialties, BLS — list early.
• Summary: your setting, years licensed, and a standout outcome.
• Experience: facility, setting, dates, and outcome-focused treatment bullets.
• Skills: evaluation, treatment modalities, EMR, and specialties.
• Education (DPT program) and clinical rotations last.

Skills and keywords to include

Match the setting and the posting. An outpatient ortho clinic and an inpatient rehab unit screen for different skills — use the ones that apply to you.

• Clinical: evaluation, plan of care, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, gait training, modalities.
• Specialties: orthopedic, neurological, sports, geriatric, pediatric, vestibular rehab.
• Systems: EMR/documentation (WebPT, Epic, Raintree), outcomes tracking.
• Compliance and soft skills: HIPAA, plan-of-care documentation, patient education, interdisciplinary care.

Resume bullet examples

Weak: "Treated patients and created treatment plans."

Strong: "Managed a 14-patient daily caseload in outpatient ortho, with 90% of patients meeting functional discharge goals."

Weak: "Helped improve patient mobility."

Strong: "Designed post-op ACL rehab protocols that returned 85% of athletes to sport within target timelines over two years."

Common mistakes to avoid

• Burying your license and specialties where the ATS may miss them.
• Listing duties every PT shares without caseload or outcome context.
• Omitting the setting or specialty the posting names.
• Letting license or certifications show as expired; note renewal dates clearly.

Quick checklist

• License, state, and specialties in your name line and a dedicated section.
• Setting and years licensed visible immediately.
• Bullets show caseload and a functional patient outcome.
• EMR and clinical keywords match the posting.
• One page for most PTs; clean, ATS-readable layout.

Ready to build yours? Browse more resume examples, start from a free Applygrid resume template, keep it ATS-friendly, and pair it with a tailored letter from our AI cover letter generator.