Physical Therapist Resume Examples
People’s recovery from serious physical injuries and medical conditions often lie in the capable hands of physical therapists. An important part of preventive care and rehabilitation, virtually all hospitals have separate physical therapy departments. In 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the number of working physical therapists to be 258,200, with that number expected to continue growing rapidly.
Our physical therapist resume example was written by certified resume writers to help you learn to build your own attention-grabbing resume for this growing, critical role. Below we’ll break down what it takes for physical therapists to build a strong resume.
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What is a Physical Therapist?
Physical therapists treat those with mobility-impairing injuries or conditions to improve their physical well-being. Their primary focus is on muscles and bones, and they assign or assist in performing various exercises to enhance the strength of patients’ affected body parts.
Physical therapists need a minimum amount of strength and stamina themselves to help their patients with exercises. Following sessions with physical therapists, many of these exercises can be completed at home to continue enhancing their physical ability. In addition to requiring a bachelor’s degree, physical therapists also require a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in order to practice in the United States.
What Makes This a Great
Physical Therapist Resume Example?
Getting your resume noticed by recruiters is the first step to getting hired. By referring to our physical therapist resume example, written by certified resume writers, you can be sure you’re writing a strong, professional resume.
Here’s how our physical therapist resume example can help you fasttrack your job search:
- Professionally written content: The content of our physical therapy resume example utilizes job-relevant keywords that tell employers you’re a perfect fit the role they want to fill. Terms like “instructive seminars” and “diagnostics” communicate the kind of industry familiarity you’ll need to show recruiters. For extra phrasing suggestions, use our Resume Builder’s pre-written text.
- How to pick a resume format: The right format for your resume depends mostly on your level of experience. The above example uses a chronological resume format, which is ideal for professionals with many years of experience. For those changing industries or with slightly less experience, a combination format might be a better option.
- Choosing the right resume template: Choose your resume template based on your field and the taste of your future employer. The example above uses one of our Creative templates. Depending on the setting in which you’d work, pick whichever or our many template options matches the style or company culture of that workplace.
3 Physical Therapist Professional Summary Examples
The professional summary section is looked at first by most recruiters, so be sure to use it to impressively summarize your most relevant career achievements. Use our physical therapist resume example as a jumping-off point, or use our Resume Builder to customize your summary.
Listed below are three more professional summary examples:
- Licensed physical therapist with eight years of experience in pediatric PT and patient family education. Multitasker with ability to work calmly in high-stress situations. Achieved 85% success in rehabilitation-oriented goals for patients. Excellent leadership ability; managed 10 interns by delegating duties and training them thoroughly.
- Physical therapist with three years of experience in sports medicine. Achieved phenomenal success over the last two years, helping professional baseball players recover from injuries and return to top form. Regularly monitor patients’ condition and make changes to rehab programs as necessary, while preparing progress reports to discuss with other specialists..
- Enthusiastic physical therapist with a decade of experience in program management. Adept at preparing rehabilitation programs including diet and exercise protocol to restore functional mobility. Possess excellent interpersonal skills and regularly consult with attending and referring physicians to implement and design rehab programs.
3 Physical Therapist Work Experience Examples
Our resume examples help job seekers analyze what recruiters look for and write their resume accordingly. Customize our Resume Builder’s content or learn from our examples to write a work experience section that demonstrates the specific contributions you’ve made to past employers, using quantifiable figures.
Here are three more work experience examples we might recommend:
- Helped improve mobility regular dialysis patients an average of 25 days ahead of schedule by customizing patients’ daily exercise patterns.
- Monitored average of 35 patients daily and two teams across two hospital campuses.
- Implemented the latest technology for testing and treatment; resulted in long-term savings of $1.5 million in hospital’s annual budget.
Top Skills for Your Physical Therapist Resume
Our physical therapist resume example utilizes and suggests keywords for the skills applicants need to do this job. For additional suggestions more tailored to your own work history, our Resume Builder can offer even more help.
Below are more hard and soft skills that our experts could recommend:
Hard Skills
- Delivering active instruction
- Using therapeutic and diagnostic equipment
- Planning health treatments
- Strength and coordination
Soft Skills
- Commitment and empathy
- Interpersonal skills
- Organizational skills
- Active listening skills
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Physical Therapist FAQs
- What are the qualifications required to become a physical therapist?
- What is the work environment of a physical therapist?
- What is the job outlook for physical therapists?
What are the qualifications required to become a physical therapist?
The minimum qualification needed to become a physical therapist is earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Many of these are three-year programs that require a bachelor’s degree for admission, along with other prerequisite courses. Some colleges also offer a six- or seven-year course from which you can graduate with both a bachelor’s degree and DPT.
What is the work environment of a physical therapist?
Physical therapists must be active and on their feet often. There is a risk of physical stress and exertion since they often help lift and move patients. Physical therapists usually work in a hospital or clinic. They can work full-time or part-time, and may be required to work during evenings or weekends, depending on the type of facility.
What is the job outlook for physical therapists?
In 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated there would be 47,000 new job openings for physical therapists by 2029. The demand for physical therapists is growing due to the aging of the “baby boomer” population and the sheer number of people who work full-time jobs while sitting at a desk, which can have negative effects on the body.
