Physical Therapist CV Example & Template for 2026
Evaluates and treats patients with physical impairments through exercise programs, manual therapy, and rehabilitation plans.
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What skills should a Physical Therapist put on their cv?
Mid-Level (3-7 years)
Must-have
Nice-to-have
How to write Physical Therapist experience bullets
Start each bullet with a strong action verb and quantify your impact with metrics. Here are the most effective verbs by experience level:
Junior action verbs
Mid-Level action verbs
Senior action verbs
Key phrases for your cv summary
Include these terms in your professional summary to signal relevance to both ATS systems and recruiters:
What certifications help a Physical Therapist get hired?
These certifications appear most frequently in Physical Therapist job listings. Include them in a dedicated certifications section on your resume.
- PT License
- BLS
- OCS/NCS/SCS (Specialty Certification)
- Board-Certified Clinical Specialist
- Fellow of APTA
Physical Therapist career path: Junior to Senior
Junior
0-3 years experience
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
5 core skills · 2 certifications
Mid-Level
3-7 years experience
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
6 core skills · 2 certifications
Senior
7-15 years experience
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
6 core skills · 3 certifications
Example bullets for a Physical Therapist cv
Adapt these examples with your own metrics and achievements. Each bullet follows the formula: action verb + task + measurable result.
- Provided direct patient care for 5-7 patients per shift in a 32-bed medical-surgical unit, consistently achieving 95%+ patient satisfaction scores across quarterly surveys.
- Reduced unit-level medication errors by 40% through implementation of barcode scanning verification protocol and staff education program for 24 nursing team members.
- Served as charge nurse for 12-hour shifts managing 28-bed ICU, coordinating care assignments, rapid responses, and physician communication for 8-12 nursing staff.
- Mentored 6 new graduate nurses through 12-week orientation program, achieving 100% retention rate and accelerating clinical competency milestone completion by 2 weeks.
Example professional summary
“Dedicated Physical Therapist with clinical expertise in Advanced Manual Therapy, Treatment Planning, Outcome Measurement, Patient Education. Committed to physical therapist, rehabilitation, patient outcomes with strong patient advocacy, evidence-based practice, and collaborative interdisciplinary care.”
5 expert tips for your Physical Therapist cv
1Licenses and certifications come first
In healthcare, credentials like PT License are non-negotiable. Place your licenses and certifications in a dedicated section near the top of your cv — many ATS systems use these as hard filters.
2Quantify patient care outcomes
Show measurable impact: patient satisfaction scores, readmission rate reductions, infection rate improvements, or throughput gains. Healthcare hiring increasingly values evidence-based outcome metrics.
3Highlight specialty experience and clinical settings
Specify units worked (ICU, ER, OR, Med-Surg), patient populations, and care models. A Physical Therapist in emergency medicine has fundamentally different experience from one in outpatient primary care.
4Show EHR and clinical technology proficiency
Name the EHR systems you have used (Epic, Cerner, Meditech). Include Advanced Manual Therapy, Treatment Planning, Outcome Measurement, Patient Education in your skills section. EHR proficiency reduces orientation time and is a strong hiring preference.
5Include continuing education and professional development
Healthcare values lifelong learning. List recent CEUs, specialty training, conference presentations, or preceptor experience. These signal commitment to evidence-based practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
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