What skills should I put on a physical therapist resume?

Key skills for a physical therapist resume include Patient Evaluation, Therapeutic Exercise, Manual Therapy, Treatment Documentation, Insurance Authorization, Outcome Measurement Tools, Patient Education, Motivational Coaching, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and more. Prioritize skills mentioned in the job description and demonstrate them through quantified bullet points rather than just listing them.

How many skills should I list on my physical therapist resume?

List 8 to 15 skills on your resume. Focus on the most relevant ones for each job application. Include a mix of technical/hard skills and transferable soft skills. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.

Should I include soft skills on a physical therapist resume?

Yes, but demonstrate them through achievements rather than listing them. Instead of writing 'strong communicator,' show it: 'Presented technical findings to 200-person all-hands meetings.' ATS systems also scan for soft skill keywords.

13+ Best Skills for a Physical Therapist Resume

Physical therapist resumes should demonstrate your clinical assessment abilities, treatment planning expertise, and measurable patient outcomes. Employers want therapists who can develop effective rehabilitation programs while maintaining strong patient relationships.

Clinical Skills

Patient Evaluation Therapeutic Exercise Manual Therapy Gait Training Neurological Rehabilitation

Patient Evaluation in action

“Evaluated and developed individualized treatment plans for a caseload of 45+ patients weekly”

Documentation & Compliance

Treatment Documentation Insurance Authorization Outcome Measurement Tools HIPAA Compliance

Treatment Documentation in action

“Maintained 100% documentation compliance across 2,000+ treatment sessions per year”

Interpersonal Skills

Patient Education Motivational Coaching Interdisciplinary Collaboration Empathy

Skill Priority Guide

Not all skills carry equal weight. Prioritize the ones most commonly requested in physical therapist job descriptions.

Skill	Priority
Patient Evaluation	Must Have
Therapeutic Exercise	Must Have
Manual Therapy	Must Have
Gait Training	Must Have
Treatment Documentation	Must Have
Outcome Measurement Tools	Must Have
HIPAA Compliance	Must Have
Patient Education	Must Have
Neurological Rehabilitation	Nice to Have
Insurance Authorization	Nice to Have
Interdisciplinary Collaboration	Nice to Have
Empathy	Nice to Have

Tip 1

Include your PT license, state, and any specialty certifications (OCS, NCS, SCS) to pass initial screening filters.

Tip 2

Quantify patient outcomes such as improvement percentages, discharge rates, or caseload volume to prove clinical effectiveness.

Keep Reading

→ Physical Therapist Resume Example → How to Write Your Skills Section → 200+ Resume Action Verbs That Get Results → The Complete ATS-Friendly Resume Guide

Related Skills Guides

Registered Nurse View skills → Medical Assistant View skills → Healthcare Administrator View skills →