Physical Therapist Resume Example

Use a single-column resume with plain text headings. ATS tools read your license, setting, EMR, and outcome keywords better when the file stays simple.

Key Formatting Guidelines

• Use standard headings such as Summary, Experience, Skills, Education, and Certifications.
• Put your state PT license, specialty, and primary setting near the top so the reader sees them fast.
• Write bullets as action plus result, using measures like ROM gains, pain scores, mobility scores, no-shows, or length of stay.
• List the EMRs, outcome tools, and treatment systems you actually used, such as WebPT, Epic, LEFS, Oswestry, Berg, or AM-PAC.
• Keep the document text-based. Skip tables, icons, charts, and skill bars so ATS software can parse it cleanly.

Hiring teams want proof that you can improve function, keep documentation clean, and work well with the care team. Show the patient group, the treatment setting, and the measurable change in every role.

Content Optimization Tips

• Match each role to the setting you worked in: outpatient ortho, inpatient rehab, home health, acute care, pediatrics, or sports medicine.
• Use outcome language that PT managers care about: range of motion, gait distance, balance scores, discharge disposition, pain reduction, and home exercise adherence.
• Name the tools and measures you used, such as WebPT, Epic, LEFS, Oswestry, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, or AM-PAC.
• Show how you coordinated care with physicians, nurses, case managers, athletic trainers, or occupational therapists.
• Include licensure and specialty credentials early if the posting asks for them.

Most weak PT resumes are too vague or too broad. Make it easy to see what patients you treated, what tools you used, and what changed because of your work.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving out your state PT license or specialty status.
• Writing bullets that only say you helped patients improve without naming the result.
• Listing every modality you know without showing where you used it.
• Skipping EMR systems, documentation tools, or outcome measures.
• Mixing PTA duties and PT responsibilities without clarifying your actual role.

Base pay varies by setting, region, and license level. Outpatient orthopedics, home health, acute care, and leadership roles can land at different points in the band.

• Urban markets and hard-to-fill settings usually pay more than entry-level outpatient roles.
• Home health, acute care, and travel assignments can move pay higher than standard clinic work.
• Board certification, bilingual care, and supervisory responsibility can push you toward the top of the range.
• Weekend coverage, on-call expectations, and productivity targets also affect base salary.

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