Tyler Nakamura: Physical Therapist
Tyler has only months as a licensed therapist, so his clinical rotations get a full entry with setting, caseload and teaching. His current job shows the conditions he treats and that he already supervises an assistant. The capstone project gives a concrete example of evidence-based patient education, while his athletic background is mentioned briefly because sport-focused clinics value it.
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Tyler Nakamura · Austin, TX · tyler.nakamura@email.example · (512) 555-0103
Summary
Licensed physical therapist and recent DPT graduate with clinical rotations in outpatient orthopedics, acute care and inpatient rehabilitation. Now treating an outpatient orthopedic and sports caseload, with a focus on post-operative knee and shoulder rehab. Former college athlete who coaches clear, progressive home programs and works well with surgeons' protocols.
Experience
Physical Therapist, Lamar Street Orthopedic & Sports PT · Austin, TX · Jul 2026 — Present
- Evaluate and treat an outpatient orthopedic caseload of about 12 patients a day, including ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair and total knee replacement patients.
- Supervise a physical therapist assistant on shared plans of care, reviewing progress notes weekly and adjusting exercise progressions.
Student Physical Therapist, Clinical Rotations, Travis Hills Medical Center and partner clinics · Austin, TX · Jun 2025 — May 2026
- Completed full-time rotations in outpatient orthopedics, acute care and inpatient rehabilitation, carrying most of a full caseload by the end of each rotation.
- Mobilized post-surgical and medically complex patients in acute care, recommending discharge destinations and equipment with the care team.
- Delivered an in-service on early mobility after hip fracture to inpatient rehab nurses and therapy aides.
Projects
DPT capstone: return-to-running guide
- Wrote an evidence summary and patient handout on graded return to running after knee surgery, used by the outpatient clinic during my final rotation.
Education
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Central Plains University (2026)
BS, Kinesiology, Gulf Coast State University (2023)
Certifications
Texas Physical Therapist License · CPR and BLS (AHA)
Skills
Orthopedic evaluation, Post-operative rehab protocols, Manual therapy, Therapeutic exercise, Return-to-sport testing, Gait and balance training, Home exercise programs, WebPT, Medicare documentation, Plan of care writing, PTA supervision, CPR
Chloé Tremblay-Singh: Registered Physiotherapist
Chloé's resume uses Canadian terms: registered physiotherapist, rostered for acupuncture, WSIB and motor vehicle accident files. Her bilingual practice, including work in Quebec under the provincial order, matters a great deal in the Ottawa region. She shows a program she built and supervision duties, which signals readiness for a senior or clinic lead role.
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Chloé Tremblay-Singh · Ottawa, ON · chloe.tremblaysingh@email.example · (613) 555-0165
Summary
Registered physiotherapist with six years in Ottawa outpatient and hospital practice, treating orthopedic, vestibular and post-concussion patients in English and French. Rostered for acupuncture with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Manages a full private-practice caseload, works with motor vehicle accident and WSIB files and mentors physiotherapy residents and students.
Experience
Registered Physiotherapist, Rideau Canal Physiotherapy & Sport · Ottawa, ON · Feb 2022 — Present
- Treat a private-practice caseload of orthopedic, vestibular and post-concussion clients, with assessments and follow-ups in English or French as the client prefers.
- Built the clinic's concussion program with a sport physician, including graded return-to-activity plans and school or workplace accommodation letters.
- Write treatment plans and progress reports for motor vehicle accident and WSIB files, meeting insurer timelines and keeping documentation audit-ready.
- Supervise two physiotherapist assistants and mentor physiotherapy students on placement from a local university program.
Physiotherapist, Gatineau Hills Community Hospital · Gatineau, QC · Sep 2020 — Jan 2022
- Assessed and treated inpatients on medicine and orthopedic units, focusing on mobility, fall risk and safe discharge planning.
- Worked with occupational therapy and social work in daily discharge rounds, recommending equipment and home supports.
- Practised in French under the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec, documenting in the hospital's bilingual chart.
Education
Master of Science in Physiotherapy (MScPT), Outaouais University (2020)
BSc, Human Kinetics, Capital Region University (2018)
Certifications
Registered Physiotherapist, College of Physiotherapists of Ontario · Rostered for acupuncture, College of Physiotherapists of Ontario · Vestibular rehabilitation course certificate
Skills
Orthopedic assessment, Vestibular rehabilitation, Concussion management, Manual therapy, Acupuncture (rostered), Exercise prescription, WSIB and MVA documentation, Jane App, Clinical supervision, Telerehabilitation, Bilingual English and French, Interprofessional care
Michelle Okoro-Davies: Clinic Director
Michelle's resume is written for director roles: number of clinics and staff, mentoring track, surgeon partnerships and continued treatment of complex patients. The OCS shows clinical depth. Her hospital years stay short, showing breadth of settings without taking space from her leadership record.
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Michelle Okoro-Davies · Nashville, TN · michelle.okorodavies@email.example · (615) 555-0129
Summary
Board-certified orthopedic physical therapist and clinic director with fourteen years in outpatient and sports practice. Runs three outpatient clinics, mentors therapists through residency-style development plans and partners with orthopedic surgeons on shared protocols. Still treats a reduced caseload of complex shoulder and spine patients each week.
Experience
Clinic Director, Cumberland Sports & Spine PT · Nashville, TN · Mar 2020 — Present
- Direct three outpatient clinics with 16 physical therapists, assistants and front-desk staff, overseeing scheduling, compliance, hiring and budgets.
- Created a structured mentoring track for new graduate therapists with weekly case reviews and skill check-offs during their first year.
- Wrote shared post-operative protocols with two orthopedic surgery groups, giving patients consistent guidance from surgery through return to sport.
- Treat complex shoulder and spine patients two days a week and serve as clinical instructor for DPT students.
Senior Physical Therapist, Music City Orthopedic Rehab · Franklin, TN · Jun 2016 — Feb 2020
- Carried an outpatient orthopedic caseload focused on spine and shoulder, earning the OCS while mentoring three junior therapists.
- Ran a monthly running injury screening at a local running store, introducing the clinic to new patients and referring physicians.
- Led the clinic's switch to a new documentation system, training staff and building note templates for common diagnoses.
Physical Therapist, Harpeth Valley Hospital · Franklin, TN · Jun 2012 — May 2016
- Treated patients in acute care and outpatient settings, covering orthopedic, neurological and cardiac rehabilitation caseloads.
- Served on the hospital falls committee, helping write the mobility screening steps used by nursing on admission.
Education
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Tennessee Valley University (2012)
Certifications
Tennessee Physical Therapist License · Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), ABPTS · Dry needling certification · CPR (AHA)
Skills
Clinic operations, Staff development, Orthopedic and spine rehab, Shoulder and post-operative rehab, Manual therapy, Dry needling, Referral relationships, Productivity and scheduling, Medicare and payer compliance, WebPT, Clinical instruction, Hiring and onboarding
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How to write each section of a physical therapist resume
Licensure and registration
Place your license or registration right under your name. In the US, list each state license and note if you practice in other states through the PT Compact privilege. New graduates who have passed the NPTE but await a license number can say so with an expected date. Add board certifications such as OCS or SCS and state-specific credentials like dry needling where your state allows it.
In Canada, list your registration with the provincial college, such as the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, and any rostered or authorized activities like acupuncture. If you hold a provisional or resident certificate while completing the Physiotherapy Competency Exam, say so clearly.
Summary
Name your setting and patient population first: outpatient orthopedics, sports, neuro, pediatrics, acute care, home health or long-term care. Add your years in practice, special skills such as vestibular rehab, pelvic health or dry needling, and one sign of responsibility, such as supervising assistants or leading a program.
New graduates should mention their strongest rotation and the setting they are targeting.
Clinical experience
For each role, describe the caseload: patients per day, main diagnoses and age groups. Then add programs you built, protocols you wrote, documentation and payer work, and supervision or teaching. Name funding streams where relevant, such as Medicare in the US or WSIB and motor vehicle accident insurers in Ontario.
Avoid outcome statistics unless your clinic formally tracks and reports them. Programs, partnerships and responsibilities are easier to verify and still show your impact.
Clinical rotations and education
New graduates should list rotations by setting with a short description of caseload and responsibilities, or group them in one entry. List your DPT, MPT or MScPT and year, and your undergraduate degree if it is relevant, such as kinesiology.
Capstone projects, in-services and research assistant roles deserve one line each when they relate to the job you want. Experienced therapists can drop rotations entirely.
Skills and continuing education
Group skills into assessment, treatment techniques, special populations and systems. Continuing education matters in this field, so list substantial courses such as manual therapy levels, vestibular courses or McKenzie training, but skip short webinars.
Add EMRs like WebPT, Epic or Jane App, telerehabilitation experience and languages spoken with patients. If a posting names a technique you know, such as vestibular rehab or pelvic health, make sure it also appears in a bullet that shows where you used it.
Physical Therapist resume summary examples
Entry-level objective: Licensed physical therapist and new DPT graduate seeking an outpatient orthopedic or sports position with structured mentorship. Brings rotations in outpatient, acute care and inpatient rehab, a return-to-running capstone and a strong background in strength training.
It names the setting and asks for mentorship, which many clinics offer to new graduates, then gives specific evidence.
New-grad summary: Physical therapist with clinical rotations in outpatient orthopedics, acute care and inpatient rehabilitation, now treating about 12 outpatients a day. Focused on post-operative knee and shoulder rehab, manual therapy and progressive home programs, and comfortable supervising a PTA.
Shows readiness for a full caseload and names the patient groups the candidate wants to treat.
Mid-level summary: Registered physiotherapist with six years in Ottawa private practice and hospital care, treating orthopedic, vestibular and concussion clients in English and French. Rostered for acupuncture, experienced with WSIB and motor vehicle accident files, and mentors students and assistants.
Uses Ontario terms, highlights bilingual service and lists the funding streams private clinics rely on.
Senior summary: Board-certified orthopedic physical therapist and clinic director with fourteen years in outpatient and sports practice. Runs three clinics with 16 staff, builds mentoring for new graduates and shared protocols with surgeons, and keeps a weekly caseload of complex shoulder and spine patients.
It balances leadership scope with clinical credibility, which most PT director roles require.
Physical Therapist resume bullet examples: weak vs strong
The strong versions use made-up figures for a fictional candidate. Replace them with your own real numbers, or describe the scope (team size, volume, frequency) if you have none.
Volume and conditions tell a clinic whether you can fill their schedule.
A program with partners and tools shows initiative, without unverifiable outcome claims.
Acute care is about safe discharge decisions; this bullet says so directly.
Clinic owners care about documentation that gets approved and paid.
Shows responsibility for care delivered by others, an expectation in most outpatient clinics.
Referral relationships drive outpatient caseloads, and protocols show you built one.
Names the teaching role and the format, signalling a mentor others can learn from.
Shows the full scope of a director role and continued clinical practice.
Keywords from live physical therapist job postings
We read 307 live physical therapist postings (222 US and 85 Canadian) from our job feed on October 14, 2026 and counted how many mention each skill, tool or credential. A posting counts once per term, wherever it appears in the title or description. Use the list to check your resume for gaps that are real for you, not as a checklist.
| Keyword | Postings | |
|---|---|---|
| License / registration | 281 of 307 (92%) | |
| Evaluation and treatment plans | 195 of 307 (64%) | |
| CPR / BLS | 153 of 307 (50%) | |
| Outpatient orthopedics | 145 of 307 (47%) | |
| Supervising PTAs / assistants | 127 of 307 (41%) | |
| Clinical instructor | 122 of 307 (40%) | |
| Documentation | 100 of 307 (33%) | |
| Caseload / productivity | 98 of 307 (32%) | |
| Interdisciplinary team | 77 of 307 (25%) | |
| Acute care | 74 of 307 (24%) | |
| Home health | 69 of 307 (22%) | |
| Discharge planning | 56 of 307 (18%) | |
| Neurological rehab | 52 of 307 (17%) | |
| Gait and balance | 45 of 307 (15%) | |
| Physiotherapy registration | 40 of 307 (13%) | |
| EMR (WebPT, Epic) | 39 of 307 (13%) | |
| Therapeutic exercise | 36 of 307 (12%) | |
| Manual therapy | 34 of 307 (11%) | |
| Patient education | 34 of 307 (11%) | |
| Pediatrics | 29 of 307 (9%) | |
| DPT | 28 of 307 (9%) | |
| Modalities | 28 of 307 (9%) |
Source: 307 unique postings whose title matches the role, from the WhatJobs publisher feed (US and Canada), collected October 14, 2026. Duplicate reposts were counted once. Counts change daily; a term not listed may still matter for a specific employer.
Skills for a physical therapist resume
Assessment
- Orthopedic examination
- Neurological screening
- Gait and balance assessment
- Functional outcome measures
- Return-to-sport testing
Name the patient groups you assess most; settings vary a great deal.
Treatment
- Manual therapy
- Therapeutic exercise
- Dry needling or acupuncture
- Vestibular rehabilitation
- Post-operative protocols
- Pelvic health
List advanced techniques only where your license and training allow them.
Documentation and payers
- Plan of care writing
- Medicare documentation
- CPT billing
- WSIB and MVA reports
- Workers' compensation
US and Canadian payer systems differ; list the ones you know.
Systems and settings
- WebPT
- Epic
- Jane App
- Telerehabilitation
- Home health documentation
Matching an employer's EMR shortens onboarding.
Soft skills, and how to prove them
- Patient motivation: Describe how you build home programs patients follow, such as short videos, written plans or check-ins between visits.
- Clear explanation: Mention education sessions, handouts or in-services you created for patients or staff.
- Teamwork: Show work with surgeons, physicians, OTs or athletic trainers, such as shared protocols or discharge rounds.
- Time management: Give your daily caseload alongside documentation and supervision responsibilities you keep up with.
- Mentoring: Name students, residents or assistants you supervise and any structured program you run.
Certifications and licenses
- National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) (Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)): Required for US licensure; once licensed, list the state license rather than the exam.
- Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) (Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR)): Used for entry to practice in most provinces; exam components and timing have changed in recent years, so check your provincial college.
- Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) (American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)): Board certification for experienced orthopedic therapists; valued for senior outpatient and residency faculty roles.
- Sports Clinical Specialist (SCS) (American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)): Relevant for therapists working with athletes and sports medicine teams.
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) (National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)): Useful for sports and performance settings, especially when working with coaches and athletic trainers.
US vs Canada: physical therapist resumes and pay
United States
US physical therapists are licensed by each state after passing the NPTE, and the PT Compact lets licensed therapists practice in member states through a privilege. Direct access, dry needling and supervision rules for assistants vary by state, so describe your practice within your state's rules. Outpatient employers look for productivity, Medicare documentation and referral relationships. Board certifications from ABPTS help for senior roles. The DPT is the entry degree; older degrees are still valid if you are licensed. Leave out photo, age and marital status.
| BLS occupation | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123) | $77,140 | $102,760 | $135,140 |
Annual wages, US national, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Canada
In Canada, the usual title is physiotherapist, and both physiotherapist and physical therapist are protected titles regulated by provincial colleges, such as the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Most provinces use the Physiotherapy Competency Exam, with provisional or resident registration while you complete it. Authorized activities like acupuncture or spinal manipulation may require separate rostering. Private clinics rely on extended health benefits, motor vehicle insurers and workers' compensation boards like WSIB. Quebec practice requires membership in the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec and French proficiency.
| Job Bank occupation | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapist (NOC 31202) | $30.00/h | $46.15/h | $56.21/h |
Canada-wide wages in CAD, Job Bank (Government of Canada), reference period 2023-2024. Provincial figures differ; follow the link for your province.
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FAQ
Should I call myself a physical therapist or physiotherapist?
Use the title your regulator issues. In the US that is physical therapist. In Canada, physiotherapist is standard, and both titles are protected, so use them only once you are registered. If you move between countries, keep employers' official titles in your history and match your headline to the new market.
How do new DPT graduates show experience?
List clinical rotations as an experience entry with settings, caseloads and responsibilities. Add any work as a PT aide or tech, capstone projects and in-services you delivered. A short objective naming the setting you want and the mentorship you are looking for helps clinics see the fit.
Should I list continuing education courses?
List significant courses that changed what you can do, such as manual therapy series, vestibular training, dry needling or pelvic health courses. Skip short webinars and required annual training. Board certifications belong in their own credentials section.
How do I show productivity without misleading numbers?
Give your typical patients per day or visits per week and the documentation you keep up with. Avoid percentages or outcome claims unless your clinic formally tracks them. Mention programs, partnerships and supervision instead, which show impact without overstating results.
Can a US physical therapist work in Canada?
Yes, but you need registration with the provincial college, which assesses your education and may require the Physiotherapy Competency Exam. Requirements differ by province and can take months. Quebec requires French. List your US license and your Canadian registration status once you begin the process.