To apply for physical therapist assistant positions you will need a formidable resume that can get the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. If you have been feeling stuck in drafting your physical therapist assistant resume, then you have come to the right place. In this guide, we will cover all aspects of the resume writing process and hopefully assist you in clearing all your doubts and queries in the process. In this guide, we will be taking you through the following topics.
- Physical therapist assistant resume samples
- Brief overview of the roles and responsibilities of a physical therapist assistant
- Detail the format and main sections of your physical therapist assistant resume
- Provide you with tips on how to get your physical therapist resume noticed
Physical Therapist Assistant Resume Examples
Entry-Level Physical Therapy Assistant Resume Sample
Sports Physical Therapist Assistant Resume Sample
Senior Physical Therapist Assistant Resume Sample
Physical Therapist Assistant Job Responsibilities
Physical Therapist Assistants play a crucial role in the healthcare industry, working closely with physical therapists to help patients recover from injuries, post surgeries, illnesses, or other conditions that can severely impact their mobility and overall physical well-being. They have a lot of responsibilities that are indispensable to the rehabilitation and recovery of patients. Here are the key roles and responsibilities of a Physical Therapist Assistant:
Patient Care
A physical therapist assistant provides hands-on care to patients, helping them in performing mobility exercises and activities designed to improve their physical form. These health professionals work with patients of all ages and medical conditions, including those with orthopedic, neurological, and cardiopulmonary issues.
Treatment Implementation
A physical therapist assistant implements treatment plans created by the physical therapist. They help patients follow exercise regimens, use assistive devices, and apply therapeutic modalities such as heat, cold, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation.
Patient Assessment
A physical therapist assistant helps physical therapists in assessing a patients' conditions. They may measure and record vital signs, observe patients' mobility, and make a note of improvements or deterioration in the patient's recovery process.
Monitoring Progress
Throughout the course of treatment, a physical therapist assistant closely monitors the patient's progress. They maintain records of each session, recording information like patient responses and side effects
Patient Education
A physical therapist assistant needs to educate patients and their families on proper exercise techniques, safe movement strategies, and home care. This includes explaining the purpose of exercises, demonstrating correct form, and offering guidance on preventing future injuries.
Assisting with Devices and Equipment
Physical therapist assistants are responsible for setting up and preparing therapeutic equipment and devices used in treatment. They ensure that equipment is safe to use and appropriate for each patient.
Safety
Safety is the topmost priority in physical therapy. A physical therapist assistant must create a safe environment during their therapy sessions, taking measures to prevent accidents or injuries to both the patient and themselves.
Strong Communication
Effective and clear communication with the patients and the rest of the healthcare team is crucial. Physical therapist assistant must report changes in a patient's condition to the lead physical therapist and collaborate with other healthcare professionals as needed.
Patient Documentation
A physical therapist assistant maintains accurate and detailed records of each patient's treatment, including progress notes, treatment plans, and reports. Proper documentation is essential for tracking patient progress and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations.
Modifying Treatment Plans
Physical therapist assistants work with physical therapists to modify treatment plans as needed. They provide feedback on the patient's response to therapy and help adjust the plan to optimize results.
Patient Empowerment
A physical therapist assistant aims to empower patients by teaching them about their conditions and the benefits of rehabilitation. This helps patients take an active role in their recovery.
Compliance with Legal and Ethical Standards
Physical therapist assistant must adhere to legal and ethical standards governing patient care. They protect patient confidentiality and provide care in a way that is respectful and dignified.
Lifestyle and Wellness Education
In addition to therapeutic exercises, a physical therapist assistant may offer guidance on lifestyle changes, such as food habits and exercise regimens to support the patient's recovery.
How to Write a Physical Therapist Assistant Resume?
To pursue a career in physical therapy means that you need to have a trustworthy and dependable professional image as only then can you be trusted with taking care of other individuals. So, that is where your resume comes in. Your physical therapist assistant resume needs to help you convey to hiring managers that you are dependable, qualified and capable for the physical therapist assistant position.
Pick the Correct Resume Format
To effectively showcase your best professional self, you need to first pick the most appropriate and apt resume format for yourself. Let’s take a look at the three most commonly used formats in the job market these days.
Chronological Format
- In a chronological format, your employment history is the most important section and it is presented in a reverse chronological order starting with the most recent job. This provides hiring managers with a clear timeline of your professional career.
- It is best to use this format if you have a consistent work history in physical therapy with no employment gaps and career shifts.
Functional Format
- In a functional format, the prime focus is given to your skills and qualifications rather than your employment history. It includes a skills summary section which is then followed by a brief work experience section.
- This format is ideal for candidates who have employment gaps or are changing their career paths.
Hybrid Format
- The hybrid format is an amalgamation of the chronological and functional resume formats. A hybrid format begins with a summary of qualifications at the beginning highlighting your top physical therapist assistant skills and then is followed by your work experience section in a reverse chronological order.
- This format is best utilized for candidates who feel their skills and qualifications are a strong selling point or feel like they want to emphasize both their work experience as well as their skills.
The Important Sections of a Physical Therapist Assistant Resume
Every professional resume has a set of fixed sections that are the parameters with which a hiring manager will assess your suitability for the role. The order of these sections is determined by the resume format you choose. Once you have done that, the skeleton structure of your physical therapist assistant resume is ready. The following sections need to be included in your physical therapist assistant resume.
- Header section
- Professional summary/objective section
- Work experience section
- Skills section
- Education section
- Certifications section
- Additional sections- Professional memberships, languages, volunteer work etc
Header Section
The header section houses your professional contact information in the topmost part of your resume. It is important to scan this section for possible errors. Make sure to include the following details for your contact information.
- Full name
- Job title
- Phone number
- Email address
- LinkedIn profile
Incorrect Example of a Header Section(000)-111-1111
Los Angeles
Correct Example of a Header SectionPhysical Therapist Assistant
(000)-111-1111
hank.benes@example.com
linkedin.com/in/hank-benes
Professional Summary/Objective Section
A good professional summary is meant to act as an impactful introduction for your physical therapist assistant resume. It needs to be an effective summary of your professional skills and qualifications and career objectives. Here are some pointers to write a good professional summary for your physical therapist assistant resume.
- Begin with a strong opening that conveys your enthusiasm for the position.
- Mention the number of years you have worked as a physical therapist assistant.
- Mention any relevant specialized qualifications to heighten your credibility.
- Put emphasis on the unique expertise that you bring to the position.
Incorrect Example of a Professional Summary SectionCorrect Example of a Professional Summary SectionWork Experience Experience
The work experience section of your physical therapist assistant resume is extremely vital to demonstrate your ability to provide holistic physical therapy to patients. Here are some helpful pointers to assist you in organizing your work experience section.
- It is advisable to list your work history in a reverse chronological order, to provide a clear view of your career progression.
- Start each subsection with your job title, name of the company where you worked, location, and dates of employment mentioning the month and year you started and ended each job.
- Use bulleted lists to describe your key responsibilities and duties.
- Begin each sentence with a powerful action verb.
- If you specialize in a field of physical therapy like orthopedics, pediatrics, sports medicine, then make sure that is highlighted in this section.
- Keep it brief and avoid long paragraphs.
Incorrect Example of a Work Experience SectionXYZ Hospital
Assisted patients with passive manual exercises
Assisted in development of treatment plans
Prescribed exercise regimens
Contributed to patient improvement
Constructed home exercise programs
Correct Example of a Work Experience SectionXYZ Hospital, Seattle, Washington
March 2018 - Present
- Assist in developing patient treatment plans under the supervision of the lead physical therapist.
- Conduct thorough patient assessments which include strength and checking their range.
- Administer therapeutic exercises, modalities and manual therapy techniques to help with pain management and promote recovery.
- Educate patients about home exercise programs and injury prevention.
- Contributing o a positive patient outcome resulting in 20% reduction in pain levels through efficient therapy.
Skills Section
This section of your physical therapist assistant resume should feature a medley of your hard and soft skills. This section should contain all the qualifications that showcase your strengths and can prove that you are a capable candidate for the physical therapist assistant position. Here are some of the top skills that you can include in your physical therapist assistant resume.
- Patient assessment
- Developing treatment plans
- Prescribing manual therapy exercises
- Expertise in manual therapy techniques
- Wound care
- Pain management
- Orthopedic rehabilitation
- Neurological rehabilitation
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail
- Team collaboration
Education Section
To become a licensed physical therapist assistant, you will need to complete an accredited associate’s degree program in physical therapy. Once you have completed that, you need to pass the licensing exam to become a licensed physical therapist assistant allowing you to practice and work. In your resume’s education section, ensure that the following details are included while you mention your educational qualifications.
- Degree earned
- Name of the university
- Graduation Date
- Relevant coursework (optional)
Incorrect Example of Education SectionSalt Lake College
Correct Example of Education SectionSalt Lake College, Utah
Graduation Date: April, 2021
Certifications Section
If you have relevant training and certifications, it is important that you mention them in a separate section. It is advisable to only include relevant certification that is specific to the physical therapist assistant jobs that you are applying to. Here are some of the certifications you can mention on your resume.
- CPR Certification
- Specialization certifications related to pediatric, geriatric, orthopedic or neurological rehabilitation
- Certified Physical Therapist Assistant
Additional Sections
After you have written the main sections of your resume, you always have the option to add sections that you feel can improve your physical therapist assistant resume. Some of the sections that you can include are professional memberships and affiliations, languages and volunteer work. It is important to keep in mind that these additions should add value to the position you are applying for and not just fluff up your resume.
Tailor Your Resume for Every Job Application
The main purpose of your resume is to get the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. To achieve that, you will need to tailor your resume to align with the employer’s job posting and beat the applicant tracking softwares. Here’s some tips to customize your physical therapist assistant resume.
Carefully Read The Job Description
- Review the job posting thoroughly and understand the requirements for the position. Make a note of keywords, phrases and skills mentioned in the job description.
Align Your Skills and Experience
- Identify the skills and qualifications that you possess that align with the job posting and make sure to highlight them in your physical therapist assistant resume.
Use Keywords
- Match the keywords and phrases from the job description into your physical therapist assistant resume.
Customize the Main Sections of Your Resume
- Modify the main sections of your resume to align with the employer’s requirements.
- Adjust the order of your skills and put the most relevant skills on the top.
Proofread and Edit
It is important to proofread and edit your physical therapist assistant resume multiple times. A professional resume needs to be polished, error free and that is only possible if you take the time to check it thoroughly. Consider asking a friend or a colleague to check your resume, a fresh perspective can always do wonders and make your resume better.
Career Outlook for a Physical Therapist Assistant
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, the overall employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow at 19% from 2022 to 2032. This is higher than many other jobs means that there is going to be an increase in demand for physical therapist assistants over the next decade in the job market.
Around 24,000 openings are projected for physical therapist assistants and physical therapy aides every year on average for the next decade.
The median annual wage for a physical therapist assistant was calculated at $62,770 as of May,2022. The lowest 10% earned less than $43,340 and the highest 10% earned more than $85,230.
Dos and Don'ts
During your job search, to excel in the critical process of making your physical therapist assistant resume, it is important to keep some do’s and don'ts in mind.
Dos
- Do tailor your resume for each job application to align your skills and experience with the specific requirements of the job posting,
- Do maintain a clean and consistent format so that your resume is easy to read.
- Do write an impactful resume objective that highlights your suitability for the role.
- Do focus on including relevant experiences, skills and qualifications.
- Do use specific metrics to quantify your achievements wherever possible.
- Do use bullet points while listing your key responsibilities in your previous jobs.
- Do include keywords from the job description to increase the chances of your resume passing through the ATS software
- Do include relevant certifications that you have received in physical therapy
Don'ts
- Don't use the same resume for every job application.
- Don't clutter your physical therapist assistant resume with irrelevant information.
- Don’t neglect the basic sections like header.
- Don't use long paragraphs to describe your job responsibilities.
- Don’t skip proofreading and editing your physical therapist assistant resume.
- Don’t ignore formatting inconsistencies on your resume.
Conclusion
Whether you are just beginning your career or you are already an experienced professional, following the guidelines and utilizing the resume examples that have been provided in this guide will help you create a compelling physical therapist assistant resume. By showcasing your education, professional experience and skills you will be able to distinguish yourself from the competition and be on your way to make a positive impact in the lives of your future patients.
If you need more assistance with drafting the perfect resume, then do check out our vast collection of resume samples and templates to assist you in your resume making journey. These resume samples and templates are curated and optimized to offer you best chance of success. Once you have your physical therapist assistant resume ready, you will surely land your dream job in no time. We wish you all the luck in your job hunt!
