Physical Therapist Assistant Resume: Examples & Tips
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Physical therapist assistants work with patients of all ages who are suffering from physical injuries or other disorders that limit them in their everyday activities. Tasks and responsibilities for this job include interacting directly with patients, monitoring patient progress, maintaining medical records, helping patients conduct exercises, and advising patients and family members on treatment. To succeed in this profession, you should possess knowledge of physiology and strong interpersonal skills.
To get ahead in this career, put together a professional resume, using these tips and our resume examples.
Get inspiration from 800+ resume samples and explore our 40+ resume templates to find the best one for you.
Physical therapist assistant example (text version)
Name: ISAIAH BELL
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
SUMMARY STATEMENT
Motivated physical therapist assistant with exemplary knowledge of rehabilitation and needs assessments. Experience working with outpatient patients to provide outstanding treatment techniques. Currently working part-time supporting a team of physical therapists in serving patients recovering from surgery and sports injuries. Seeking a full-time physical therapist assistant position
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
- Skilled at providing relief from pain through therapy, exercise and stretching
- Works especially well with youth and elderly patients.
- Focused problem-solver with an upbeat attitude and desire to help others.
RELEVANT SKILLS
Physical Therapy Assistance
- Assisted five physical therapists to initiate different patient care plans in outpatient setting.
- Completed passive and active manual therapy techniques to help patients manage pain and related symptoms.
- Offered expert mobility assistance with physical support, wheelchairs and other strategies.
Patient Care
- Collected measurements to properly fit orthopedic devices and medical prostheses.
- Aided 100+ patients in adjusting to use of assistive devices by performing demonstrations, administering manual exercise and providing motivation.
- Worked with up to 16 children each week with juvenile arthritis and those in recovery from sports injuries.
Verbal & Written Communication
- Used WebPT to chart patients’ progress and update departmental records with data according to healthcare documentation regulation.
- Answered questions from patients via email, phone and in person
- Communicated with physicians to provide updates on patient care.
WORK HISTORY
Physical Therapist Assistant
09/2019 to Current
Company Name, City, State
Physical Therapy Volunteer Intern
06/2018 to 09/2018
Company Name, City, State
EDUCATION
Associate of Applied Science: Physical Therapy Assisting
05/2019, City, State
CERTIFICATIONS
Texas Board of Physical Therapy – PTA License #123456 (2019-Current)
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Physical Therapy Assistant Resume FAQ
1. Which skills are important for the position of physical therapy assistant?
| Technical skills: | Soft skills: |
| Physical therapy | Coaching |
| PTA | Teamwork |
| Rehab | Patient-focused approach |
| CPR | Critical thinking |
| Ultrasound | Sound judgment |
| Skilled in Medlinks, EPIC and Documentation System | Active listening |
| EMR System | Time management |
| PC Proficient | Interpersonal skills |
| Therapeutic techniques | Excellent written and verbal communication |
| Administrative support | Organization |
| Inventory management | Goal-oriented |
| Certified in First Aid | Attention to detail |
| Knowledge of medical terminology |
| Technical skills: |
| Physical therapy |
| PTA |
| Rehab |
| CPR |
| Ultrasound |
| Skilled in Medlinks, EPIC and Documentation System |
| EMR System |
| PC Proficient |
| Therapeutic techniques |
| Administrative support |
| Inventory management |
| Certified in First Aid |
| Knowledge of medical terminology |
| Soft skills: |
| Coaching |
| Teamwork |
| Patient-focused approach |
| Critical thinking |
| Sound judgment |
| Active listening |
| Time management |
| Interpersonal skills |
| Excellent written and verbal communication |
| Organization |
| Goal-oriented |
| Attention to detail |
2. How should you format your resume?
Getting your format right is an important step to creating the right resume. Follow these guidelines:
- Functional resume format: If you wish to display your skills more prominently than your work experience, use this format, which is suitable for new college graduates or first-time job seekers looking to present an extensive rundown of their skills.
- Combination resume format: This format is perfect for those who want to provide a mix of relevant work experience and skills. If you have a few years of experience under your belt, choose this format, as it brings attention to both your relevant work experiences and skills.
- Chronological resume format: If you have extensive physical therapy experience, show it to best advantage using this format, which features a robust work experience section.
For more information on resume formatting, visit our resume format page.
3. Is it important to include references in your resume?
Avoid putting references in your resume — use the valuable real estate for listing your top skills and work-related achievements. If potential employers want references, they’ll usually send a separate request. For more tips on how to put together the perfect references list, see our References article.
4. How should you craft your resume if you are planning to take the next step in your resume?
Include the following experiences and skills in your resume:
- Work examples where you’ve successfully mentored and coached team members
- Advanced training or certifications in physical therapy and related specialties
- Becoming more knowledgeable about all types of physical therapy equipment
- Examples of success treating patients with different needs, in different settings
5. Why use action verbs in your resume?
How do you describe your achievements and responsibilities? Do you say you “were responsible” for something, or that you “managed” or “implemented” something? Avoid sounding wishy-washy by using action verbs, as we do in our resume examples. Some top-notch verbs you can use include:
- Improvised
- Achieved
- Coordinated
- Treated
- Collaborated
- Organized
- Scheduled
- Performed
- Supported
- Administered
- Assisted
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume
- DO proofread your resume. In dealing with patients, you’ll be expected to be accurate and detail-oriented — apply these same qualities to your resume. Review your resume before you submit it for spelling and grammatical errors, and double-check the information you provide, making sure it’s correct and up to date. Our Resume Builder can help check your resume for these issues.
- DO include soft skills. While knowledge of the human body and various therapy regimens is important, interacting with colleagues and patients is also key — and that’s where soft skills come in. Mention intangible skills such as good listening skills, sound decision-making and a positive approach. Make sure you include work history examples that make use of these skills. For example: “Forged strong relationships with patients, providing them with treatment plans and education.” Our Top Resume Skills page has more details on in-demand soft skills.
- DO use the right keywords. When employers, and the applicant tracking systems (ATS) they use, scan your resume, they’ll be looking for keywords that show you’re the right fit for the job. To get the correct keywords in your resume, review the job description, picking out phrases that spell out the job’s requirements and primary tasks (e.g., “Passion for aiding and working with the elderly” or “Delivering manual therapy under therapist supervision”). Then list skills and experiences that fit these qualities in your own resume. For example, you could list “manual therapy” as a skill, or feature an experience working successfully with senior patients in your work history section.
- DON’T use an over-fancy layout for your resume. Stay away from cutesy graphics, flamboyant fonts or crazy colors when putting your resume together — making a visual statement is far less important than communicating your qualifications to an employer, and an ostentatious design can throw off employers, or even worse, confuse the software they use to scan resumes. Stick with a straightforward professional resume template.
- DON’T make your resume too long. Since hiring managers spend scant seconds to browse through a single resume, keeping things to the point is critical. Limit your resume to one to two pages, and only include the information that’s directly related to the post you’re applying for. Don’t laundry list your past work duties — highlight achievements and tasks that feature your best skills. Use bullet points and short phrases (nothing longer than one line) for a clutter-free, organized look.
- DON’T forget to quantify your work experience. Don’t just say that you’re good at something — show how good you are by applying numbers and metrics to your work accomplishments. This will give hiring managers a better picture of your potential. For instance, instead of writing “Experienced in working long hours during overtime shifts,” quantify the statement: “Experienced in working on overtime shifts for up to 12 hours.”
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Physical Therapist Assistant Resume
Summary
Create a brief overview of your tip-top qualities, skills and work experience, targeting them towards the position you’re applying for. Lead off by combining your work experience with your top skills. For example: “Dedicated physical therapist assistant resume example Assistant with 5+ years’ experience providing quality patient care in rehabilitation settings.”
Skills
Split this section into hard (or technical) skills and soft (intangible) skills. For a physical therapist assistant position, important technical skills include administrative support, knowledge of medical terminology, therapeutic techniques and CPR and First Aid. Crucial soft skills include physical stamina, a sensitive and compassionate approach, and patience.
Work History
Focus on the last 10 years of your work history, sharing your best achievements from previous jobs, rather than listing everyday responsibilities. Use action verbs like “managed” or “implemented” to describe your accomplishments. For example: “Promoted a positive, professional and solutions-oriented approach with colleagues and ancillary staff,” or “Contributed to medical center operations, helping to earn facility five-star ratings on MediEval website.”
Education
List your highest level of education (e.g., high school diploma, college degree) along with the name and location of the institution. Be sure to add any additional certifications, training, or course work that can be applied to the job, such as a specialist certification from ABPTS, or a certificate in CPR and First Aid.
Cover letter examples for the next step in your physical therapy career
CV examples for the next step in your physical therapy career
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Physical Therapist Assistant Resume Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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