As a physical therapist assistant (PTA) graduate, you should create a career-specific resume which highlights your required clinical experience and other work experience in a medical setting. (Use the Physical Therapist Assistant Resume Template and the instructions below to create your resume.)
Instructions for creating a physical therapist assistant resume:
A. Heading
List your contact information at the top center like this:
SHAWN ANDERSON*
Street Address, City, MI 00000
(000) 000-0000 sandersonemail@gmail.com
LinkedIn Profile URL
*List your credentials after your name when you have successfully passed your licensing exam: SHAWN ANDERSON, PTA
B. Professional Qualifications
Begin your resume with a summary of your professional qualifications. To write the bulleted statements in this section, be sure to use keywords, requirements and preferences mentioned in the job posting. (For more information see Begin Your Resume With Professional Qualifications and 185 Action Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome.) Below is an example:
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Proficient in making knowledgeable choices for each patient following the physical therapist’s written treatment plan
- Skilled in using verbal and written communication to obtain and accurately record patient information for documentation
- Excel in using compassion and active listening to build relationships with clients and understand their emotional and physical needs and their goals
- Trained to effectively use a variety of techniques to meet therapist’s treatment objectives
C. Licenses/Certifications
List licenses or certifications granted by a governing body. If they are listed as requirements in the job posting, choose the optimum place on the resume for this information. Below is an example:
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant-Michigan License No. A-0960 Anticipated/Obtained 00/0000
American Heart Association BLS for the Healthcare Provider Expires 00/0000
D. Clinical Education And Experience
A physical therapist assistant’s clinical education and clinical experience are important examples of professional experience. List your clinical education and experience first (in reverse chronological order) followed by a WORK EXPERIENCE section if you have other job experience. List your three clinicals using this format:
CLINICAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Setting Location Semester/Hours
Outpatient Orthopedics Name of Organization Spring 0000/Hours: 320
Student PTA
- Used flexible approaches to accomplish treatment objectives with diverse clients, including children, adults, and geriatric patients
- Discussed the treatment plan and progress clearly with the client and family members displaying openness to questions and concerns
Skilled Nursing Facility Name of Organization Fall 0000/Hours: 320
Student PTA
- Observed patients before, during, and after therapy, noting their status and reporting to the physical therapist
- Used energy and a positive approach in demonstrating exercises to patients and assisting patients in learning them
Subacute Rehab Name of Organization Summer 0000/Hours: 80
Student PTA and Rehabilitation Center
- Conducted thorough screenings of residents at regular intervals to determine need for intervention/treatment
- Assisted the physical therapist in the evaluation process by identifying a target list, including short-term goals, long-term goals, and treatment plan
E. Education
Place your education information directly after CLINICAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE. You may include any colleges at which you have completed courses or from which you have obtained a degree. See the example below which shows how to list your degree:
EDUCATION
Baker College City, MI Expected graduation 05/0000
Associate of Applied Science Honors: Dean’s List
Physical Therapist Assistant
Include the information listed above. If you had a relevant major or a specific education track, you could list it here.
Other optional information: organizations, honors, and GPA if 3.5 +.
F. Work Experience
List non-medical work experience with two to three bullets which highlight soft skills. Also, be sure to list related medical experience outside of your clinical education and experience which would be desirable to the employer (e.g., Physical Therapist Technician, CNA) and highlight transferable skills.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Name of Business/Organization City, MI 00/0000–00/0000
Job Title
- Do not simply list job duties; state an accomplishment or a skill you have shown in this job, beginning with an action verb
G. Optional Sections
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Blood Services Team Member-American Red Cross 0000–0000
Coast Guard Festival volunteer for special needs children 0000–0000
- Be sure to list the volunteer hours in the community, such as the example of being a Coast Guard volunteer with special needs children.
- Depending on the length of your resume and your goals, the VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE section can simply be a list of your titles and the organizations or can include duties/achievements as in the PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS section.
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
This section may be placed after your education section and should only include specific coursework required for or desirable for the job you are targeting. Highlight courses that may not be part of a typical PTA degree if these courses show important skills for the job. Examples: Pediatrics, Cardio-Pulmonary, Orthopedics
Revised 12 December 2024