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Physical therapist resume example

A resume for an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist six years after graduation, with a specialist certification and an acute care start. Clinic directors want proof that your patients get better and finish their plans, so the bullets lead with outcome data and plan completion, not lists of techniques.

Physical therapist resume example, page 1 of 1Grant HalvorsenPhysical Therapist, PT, DPT, OCSgrant.halvorsen@example.com · (801) 555-0139 · Salt Lake City, UT · linkedin.com/in/granthalvorsen-dptSummaryBoard-certified orthopaedic physical therapist with six years in outpatient orthopedics and sports rehab afterstarting in acute care. I see 13 to 15 patients a day, get people back to work and sport with plans they actually finish,and teach DPT students as a clinical instructor.ExperiencePhysical TherapistMar 2022 – PresentWasatch Motion Physical Therapy · Salt Lake City, UT•Treat 13 to 15 patients a day (about 70 active cases): post-operative knees and shoulders, spine pain and runninginjuries.•Risk-adjusted functional outcomes in FOTO ranked in the top 15% of the company’s 22 clinics three years in a row.•Raised plan-of-care completion from 71% to 86% by scheduling the full plan at evaluation and calling within a dayof any missed visit.•Built an ACL return-to-sport program with hop testing and strength benchmarks; 41 athletes completed it in 2025.•Clinical instructor for 5 DPT students on full-time rotations since 2023.Physical Therapist, Acute CareJun 2020 – Feb 2022Granite Peaks Hospital · Murray, UT•Evaluated and treated 10 to 12 patients a day on orthopedic and medical floors, with discharge recommendationsin by noon.•Helped start same-day mobility after total joint replacement, part of a team effort that cut average stay from 2.4 to1.6 days.EducationDoctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)2017 – 2020University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UTB.S. in Exercise Science2013 – 2017Utah State University · Logan, UTLicenses and certificationsBoard-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS)2023American Board of Physical Therapy SpecialtiesPhysical therapist license, Utah2020Utah Division of Professional LicensingCredentialed Clinical Instructor, Level 12022American Physical Therapy AssociationBasic Life Support (BLS)2025American Heart AssociationSkillsOrthopedic examination · Manual therapy · Therapeutic exercise ·Post-operative rehab (ACL, rotator cuff, joint replacement) · Return-to-sport testing · Running gait analysis ·Blood flow restriction training · FOTO, LEFS and ODI outcome measures · WebPT ·Medicare documentation and billing · Home exercise programs (Medbridge)
Physical therapistUse this example

What recruiters look for

  • License and setting: your state PT license and the settings you have worked in (outpatient, acute, inpatient rehab, home health, pediatrics).
  • Outcome data: FOTO scores, functional measures (LEFS, ODI, QuickDASH), return to work or sport. Outpatient clinics live on these.
  • Caseload and productivity: patients a day and active caseload. It tells a director you can carry a full schedule.
  • Plan-of-care completion and retention: patients who finish their plans get better and keep the clinic viable.
  • Specialization: an ABPTS board certification (OCS, SCS, NCS), a residency or fellowship, or a clear niche such as ACL rehab or vestibular care.

Writing the summary

Name your setting and specialty, your years in practice and any board certification. Then one sentence on how you treat or what kind of patients you are best with. If you are changing settings, say what transfers.

The summary in this example

Board-certified orthopaedic physical therapist with six years in outpatient orthopedics and sports rehab after starting in acute care. I see 13 to 15 patients a day, get people back to work and sport with plans they actually finish, and teach DPT students as a clinical instructor.

New DPT graduate

Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate (May 2026), NPTE passed, with clinical rotations in outpatient orthopedics, inpatient rehabilitation and acute care. Former collegiate soccer player and strength coach, looking for an outpatient orthopedic role with mentorship toward the OCS.

Moving from outpatient into home health

Physical therapist with seven years in outpatient orthopedics, now moving into home health. Comfortable working alone, documenting in OASIS-ready systems and coordinating with families, nurses and physicians on falls and post-surgical recovery.

Bullet points that work

Strong lines for this role, beyond the ones in the example. Borrow the shape and put in your own numbers.

  • Kept a visit arrival rate of 94% across a 75-patient caseload by booking the full plan at the first visit.
  • Reduced average visits per episode for uncomplicated low back pain from 12 to 8 with no loss in ODI improvement.
  • Started a vestibular program that treated 120 dizziness patients in its first year, previously referred out.
  • Mentored 3 new graduate therapists through their first year, all reaching full caseload within 10 weeks.
  • Ran injury screens for 220 high school athletes each preseason and built warm-up programs for 6 teams.
  • Cut documentation time to under 10 minutes a visit with WebPT templates adopted across 4 clinics.
  • Returned 85% of work-injury patients to full duty within the plan of care, reported to case managers monthly.
  • Led a monthly in-service on post-operative protocols with 4 orthopedic surgeons, aligning precautions across practices.
  • Taught a 6-week running injury prevention class for 40 community runners, which brought in 18 new patients.

Skills to list

Hard skills

  • Orthopedic and neurological examination
  • Manual therapy and joint mobilization
  • Therapeutic exercise prescription
  • Post-operative protocols
  • Return-to-sport and functional testing
  • Gait analysis
  • Outcome measures (FOTO, LEFS, ODI, QuickDASH)
  • Documentation and billing (CPT codes, Medicare rules)
  • EMR use (WebPT, Raintree, Epic)
  • Dry needling where your state allows it

Soft skills

  • Motivating patients to finish their plan
  • Clear teaching of home programs
  • Working with surgeons and physicians
  • Managing a full schedule

Certifications and licenses worth listing

  • State physical therapist license: required; earned after the NPTE from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. If you are moving, say whether your state is in the PT Compact.
  • ABPTS board certification (OCS, SCS, NCS, GCS and others): the clearest specialist credential, earned after clinical hours or a residency plus an exam.
  • APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor: shows you take students and helps clinics with university partnerships.
  • Dry needling certification: list it only for states where PTs may dry needle; the training rules differ by state.
  • BLS: required by most hospitals and many clinics.

Length and format

One page is enough for most PTs with under ten years of experience; two pages when you have specialist certification, teaching and several settings. Put licenses and certifications in their own section where a recruiter can confirm them quickly.

Common mistakes

  • Listing every manual therapy technique you have learned. Show what happened to patients instead.
  • Leaving out the setting for each job. Outpatient, acute care and home health are different jobs.
  • No outcome or productivity numbers, even though your clinic tracks both.
  • Putting continuing education courses ahead of experience. Keep only the ones that support your specialty.
  • Forgetting the clinical instructor role. Teaching students is valued and easy to show.

Questions and answers

Should I list my clinical rotations as a new DPT?

Yes, in a “Clinical experience” section with the setting, the site and the length, plus one line each on caseload or a project. After your first job, cut them to one line or drop them.

What outcome numbers can I use?

Your clinic’s outcome system (FOTO or similar), improvements on standard measures, plan-of-care completion, arrival rate and return-to-work rates. Use the figures your director already sees.

Do I need a board certification to get hired?

No, but it helps for specialist roles and pay. If you are working toward one, say so with the expected exam date.

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