Healthcare
Physical Therapist Resume Example (2026)
A strong Physical Therapist resume has to clear two gates: the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that scans for the right keywords, and the recruiter who decides in seconds whether to keep reading. The Physical Therapist example below does both — it scores 87/100 on our ATS checker and reads like it was written by a hiring manager, not a template. It leads with the exact terms employers search for (Manual Therapy, Therapeutic Exercise, Treatment Planning, Rehabilitation, Patient Assessment, Outcome Measurement, Orthopedics) and backs every claim with a measurable result. Use it as a blueprint: copy the structure, then swap in your own numbers. Pay attention to how certifications and credentials are surfaced near the top — for a Physical Therapist, that placement matters. Below the example you'll find the 20 keywords ATS systems expect for this role, achievement-style bullet points you can adapt, and a short writing guide.
This example's score on our real ATS checker — not a guess
Physical Therapist Resume Sample
Grace Sullivan
Boston, MA • (555) 123-4567 • grace.sullivan@email.com • linkedin.com/in/gracesullivandpt
Professional Summary
Licensed Physical Therapist (DPT) with 6+ years in outpatient orthopedics delivering manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and patient-centered care. Skilled in treatment planning, rehabilitation, and outcome measurement, returning 90% of patients to prior function and earning top patient-satisfaction scores.
Work Experience
- Returned 90% of orthopedics patients to prior function through individualized treatment planning
- Delivered manual therapy and therapeutic exercise for a caseload of 14-18 patients per day
- Designed post-surgical rehab plan of care improving range of motion outcomes 28%
- Tracked progress with standardized outcome measurement tools and detailed clinical documentation
- Educated patients on injury prevention reducing reported re-injury rates 20%
- Provided gait training and neuromuscular re-education for post-stroke and post-op patients
- Applied modalities and pain management techniques as part of comprehensive rehabilitation
- Completed thorough patient assessment and discharge planning maintaining HIPAA compliance
- Mentored 3 PT students through clinical rotations
Education
Skills
Manual Therapy • Therapeutic Exercise • Treatment Planning • Rehabilitation • Orthopedics • Patient Assessment • Gait Training • Pain Management • Outcome Measurement • Clinical Documentation • Modalities • Patient Education • Functional Mobility • Neuromuscular Re-Education • HIPAA Compliance • Post-Surgical Rehab
Certifications & Licenses
- Licensed Physical Therapist (PT)
- BLS Certification
20 ATS Keywords for a Physical Therapist Resume
Applicant Tracking Systems rank your resume on keyword match. These are the terms recruiters and ATS filters look for in physical therapist applications — use the ones that genuinely fit your experience, inside your bullet points, not just in a list.
Achievement Bullet Points You Can Adapt
Every bullet starts with an action verb and ends with a measurable result — the structure ATS parsers and recruiters both reward. Swap in your own numbers.
- Returned 90% of orthopedics patients to prior function through individualized treatment planning
- Delivered manual therapy and therapeutic exercise for a caseload of 14-18 patients per day
- Designed post-surgical rehab plan of care improving range of motion outcomes 28%
- Tracked progress with standardized outcome measurement tools and detailed clinical documentation
- Educated patients on injury prevention reducing reported re-injury rates 20%
- Provided gait training and neuromuscular re-education for post-stroke and post-op patients
- Applied modalities and pain management techniques as part of comprehensive rehabilitation
- Completed thorough patient assessment and discharge planning maintaining HIPAA compliance
How to Write a Physical Therapist Resume (5 Steps)
- 1
Lead with a keyword-rich professional summary
Open with 2-3 sentences that state your title, years of experience, and 2-3 signature strengths. Work in terms like Manual Therapy, Therapeutic Exercise, Treatment Planning so the ATS registers them immediately.
- 2
Make every experience bullet an achievement, not a duty
Start with an action verb and end with a number. "Returned 90% of orthopedics patients to prior function through individualized treatment pl…" beats "Responsible for…" every time.
- 3
Mirror the job description
Before you apply, paste the posting into the ResumeWalk builder. It surfaces the exact physical therapist keywords that posting uses so you can match them honestly.
- 4
List role-relevant skills
Prioritize Manual Therapy, Therapeutic Exercise, Treatment Planning, Rehabilitation, Orthopedics. Put the most job-critical ones first and demonstrate the top few inside your experience section.
- 5
Keep the format ATS-safe
Single column, standard headings (Summary, Experience, Education, Skills), no tables, columns, headshots or graphics. The example above follows all of these rules.
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Build my Physical Therapist resume freePhysical Therapist Resume FAQ
What keywords should a Physical Therapist resume include?
Prioritize the terms ATS systems and recruiters actually search for in this field: Manual Therapy, Therapeutic Exercise, Treatment Planning, Rehabilitation, Patient Assessment, Outcome Measurement, Orthopedics, Plan of Care. Weave them naturally into your summary and bullet points rather than listing them in isolation — ATS parsers reward keywords that appear in context, and recruiters distrust keyword stuffing.
How long should a Physical Therapist resume be?
One page if you have under ~10 years of experience, two pages for senior or highly technical profiles. The Physical Therapist example here keeps every bullet to one or two lines and leads with quantified results, which lets you say more in less space.
What skills do employers look for in a Physical Therapist?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Manual Therapy, Therapeutic Exercise, Treatment Planning, Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, Patient Assessment. List the ones you genuinely have, ordered by relevance to the specific job you're applying for, and demonstrate the most important ones inside your experience bullets instead of only naming them.
Is this Physical Therapist resume example ATS-friendly?
Yes. It scores 87/100 on our ATS checker: single-column layout, standard section headings, no tables or graphics, parseable dates, and role-specific keywords used in context. You can build the same structure for free with the ResumeWalk builder.