If you’re looking for a PT position, wherever you are in your career, your résumé will likely need some updating. Résumé writing isn’t a skill most people learn in school. But to move onward and upward on your physical therapy career path, it’s essential.

You may be wondering if you should create a CV along with or in place of a résumé. For most physical therapy positions, a résumé will suffice; it’s a short, one-page document that gives hiring managers an overview of your career thus far. A CV has more of an academic focus and it can be longer than a one-sided page. You can list specific coursework, research and projects on a CV as well as hobbies and interests. The documents you need will largely be up to the companies you’re applying to. It’s a good idea to look through a few postings for jobs that interest you. This should give you a sense of what they’ll expect.

This article outlines eight sections you should include on your physical therapy résumé and a few extras to consider.

What should I include on my physical therapy résumé?

The standard physical therapy résumé format looks much like those in other career fields. Your name should be prominent at the top along with your contact information and a short professional statement. The next sections to include will partly depend on your education and experience and partly on the position you’re applying for. You should include sections for PT skills and professional skills, such as EMR systems, administrative skills and engaging patient experiences.

8 things every future physical therapist should include on their résumé

Your résumé is a “living” document that you should modify for each position you apply to. That might sound like a lot of work, but there are some ways to make this easier on yourself. It’s a good idea to keep a “master” résumé document with any and all relevant information you might want to include. As you look at job postings, note what skills and experiences they’re looking for. You should also look at the company’s About page on its website and its social media to get a sense of company culture.

Be sure to include the following information on your physical therapy résumé:

• Contact information — Yes, you’ll put this information in when you submit your application online. But your résumé and cover letter may be the only pieces that actually make it to the hiring manager. If they’re impressed and they want to reach out right away, you want to make it easy for them. Include your phone number and a professional email address at the top of your résumé. You may also want to list your address for local positions so they know you’re close by.
• Career objective or professional statement — Aside from your cover letter, this is another chance to introduce yourself and tell hiring managers why they should choose you. Let them know exactly what you’re looking to accomplish in your career and how you’ll benefit their company in the process. If you’re interested in working with specific patient populations, you can mention it here. This can highlight some of your special skills if they’re instrumental to your ultimate career goal. But because you have such little room to work with on a résumé, you shouldn’t duplicate any information.
• PT skills — What are the skills you’ll use every day in the clinic? This section can include both soft skills and daily tasks. If you’re trained in a specific assessment method, start with that. Mention any treatment methods you’re proficient in, conditions you can treat and EMR programs you’re familiar with. Decision-making and teamwork skills are always appreciated.
• Professional skills — This is where you can list more complex or detailed professional skills that can take some time to implement — for example, pain management, developing treatment plans and helping patients learn to use prosthetics. 
• Work history — List details about your most recent and relevant positions in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. If you don’t have a ton of PT experience, that’s OK. List your residency work and show that you have a steady work history. If there’s a big gap, provide the briefest information about what you were doing during that time as its own entry. “Full-time parent” or “medical leave” are good examples. Prepare to talk about anything you did to stay engaged with your career, such as continuing education, volunteering or skill building, during the interview. 
• Education — This section is for any degrees you’ve completed and time you’ve spent in higher education. You don’t need to list much besides the name and location of the school, the degree or program you were pursuing, whether you obtained your degree and the dates you attended. If you’re still in school, you can list the date you’re expecting to graduate. 
• Continuing education — Continuing education (CE) is professional-level training you’ve received through an employer or on your own. Each state requires PTs to complete a certain number of CE hours every year to maintain their license. If you have a long career and you want to list all of your CE credits, that’s a good reason to use a CV format when applicable.
• Certifications and licensure — What states are you licensed to practice in, and what other certifications have you earned? This section is important, but it doesn’t have to take up too much space. Just list each item as well as the dates you obtained them or a date range showing when they’ll be valid.

More nice-to-have résumé sections

If there are skills and experiences in another area that make you stand out, you may want to add another section. A good rule of thumb is to add a section when you have at least two or three items in another category. However, you have to make the best use of the little space you have. For instance, you could mention an academic honor under the school you attended in your education section. 

Additional skills and qualifications is a broad category where you can put things like languages you speak and technology you’re familiar with. If you can fit these into your skills section, you may not need to have a separate heading.

Consider adding any of the following sections if applicable:

• Academic honors 
• Volunteer work 
• Research 
• Teaching and mentorship 
• Additional skills and qualifications 

We’d love to be the first to see your finished PT résumé

It can take some time to establish connections and relationships with the companies you’re interested in working for. You should have a template version of your résumé ready to go when you need it. However, when you’re taking the time to apply for a position, you should tailor your résumé for the job and the company. 

There are often other ways to get your résumé in front of hiring managers besides applying through job boards. If you have any mutual connections with current employees on LinkedIn, it’s a good idea to ask for an introduction. Try to narrow down exactly who you want to talk to, whether it’s a hiring manager or a member of a team you’d like to contact for an informational interview. Conferences and networking events can also be great ways to meet people. Print out a few copies of your résumé to bring with you.

Are you looking for PT jobs in the New York area? Hop into the Lattimore Physical Therapy talent pool! We’ve created a supportive and collaborative work environment that’s great for people at all points in their PT career. Upload your résumé and information on our Careers page so we can keep you in mind when something opens up.