Writing a strong Physical Therapist CV
Hiring managers reviewing a Physical Therapist CV look for current state PT licensure, DPT credentials, clinical rotation history, and experience with specific patient groups such as orthopedic, neurological, geriatric, pediatric, or post-surgical cases. Your CV should make it easy to see the settings you have worked in, whether outpatient clinic, acute care, inpatient rehab, skilled nursing, home health, or sports medicine. Include relevant tools and workflows such as EMR documentation, gait analysis, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise programming, outcome measures like LEFS or Oswestry, and coordination with physicians, OTs, SLPs, nurses, and case managers.
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Three things that matter most
- List your PT license prominently with the issuing state, license number if appropriate, and expiration date. If you hold certifications such as OCS, NCS, SCS, GCS, CSCS, LSVT BIG, or dry needling credentials, place them near the top of the CV.
- Describe the types of cases you manage, including post-op ACL repairs, total joint replacements, stroke recovery, vestibular rehab, work injuries, balance disorders, or chronic pain. This helps employers match your background to their patient mix.
- Show how you document and measure progress by naming outcome tools, treatment frequencies, discharge planning responsibilities, and EMR systems such as Epic, WebPT, Net Health, or Clinicient.
Skills hiring managers look for
Frequently asked
How do I write a Physical Therapist CV with no experience?
Use your clinical rotations as your core experience and describe the setting, patient population, and treatments you performed under supervision. Include evaluations, treatment planning, documentation, discharge recommendations, and any exposure to orthopedic, neuro, acute care, or pediatric cases. Add your DPT, licensure status, CPR/BLS certification, and any continuing education that supports the role.
What certifications should a Physical Therapist include on a CV?
Include your active PT license, BLS or CPR certification, and any board or specialty credentials such as OCS, NCS, SCS, GCS, PCS, WCS, or CCS. If relevant to the job, add certifications in dry needling, vestibular rehabilitation, pelvic health, LSVT BIG, McKenzie MDT, or strength and conditioning. Make sure each credential includes the awarding body and current status.
Should a Physical Therapist CV include patient outcome data?
Yes, when you can share it without violating patient privacy or employer policy. Useful examples include improvements in discharge-to-home rates, reduced fall risk scores, return-to-sport timelines, functional outcome measure gains, or average caseload managed. Keep the data tied to rehab delivery rather than vague performance claims.
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