Entry-level physical therapist assistant resume example
A physical therapist assistant helps patients regain movement under the direction of a physical therapist. An entry-level physical therapist assistant resume has to show where you completed your clinical rotations, what treatment you gave under supervision, plus when your license will be in place.
What this resume has to prove
The Bureau of Labor Statistics covers this role in its profile of physical therapist assistants and aides, which says they "are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement" and manage pain after injuries and illnesses. Listed duties for assistants include "Observe patients before, during, and after therapy, noting the patient's status and reporting it to a physical therapist", "Help patients do specific exercises as part of the plan of care", "Treat patients using a variety of techniques, such as massage and stretching" and "Educate patients and family members about what to do after treatment". BLS says "Physical therapist assistants are involved in the direct care of patients," while aides handle tasks such as cleaning treatment areas, setting up equipment and scheduling.
BLS says "All states require physical therapist assistants to have an associate's degree from an accredited program," with coursework in subjects such as anatomy, physiology and kinesiology, and that "Assistants also gain hands-on experience during supervised clinical work." It adds that all states require assistants to be licensed or certified, that licensure typically requires graduating from an accredited program and passing a qualifying exam, and that assistants may earn CPR or basic life support certifications. Its important qualities include compassion, detail orientation, dexterity, interpersonal skills and physical stamina. So the resume should list your rotations by setting, name the treatment you gave, and state your exam and license status with dates.
Sample resume
Sample resume (fictional)
A.A.S. Physical Therapist Assistant (accredited program), Cascade Oaks Community College · December 2026
Courses: Kinesiology, Therapeutic Exercise, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Neurological Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Modalities
Physical therapist assistant licensing exam scheduled February 2027
State license application submitted, pending exam result
Basic life support (CPR) · current through 2028
Student Physical Therapist Assistant, Riverbend Sports and Spine (outpatient orthopedics) · Sacramento, CA · 2026
- Led therapeutic exercise for about 10 patients a day after knee, shoulder and back injuries, following each physical therapist's plan of care
- Applied stretching, soft tissue massage, hot packs and ice as directed, with the clinical instructor on site
- Taught home exercise programs and checked each patient's form at the next visit
- Wrote daily notes on exercises, sets and patient response in WebPT for the clinical instructor to co-sign
Student Physical Therapist Assistant, Maple Hollow Rehabilitation Center (inpatient and skilled nursing) · Elk Grove, CA · 2026
- Gait trained about 8 residents a day with walkers and canes, using a gait belt for every session
- Reported changes in pain, balance or vital signs to the supervising physical therapist before the next session
- Showed family members safe bed to chair transfers before residents went home
Physical Therapy Aide (part-time), Delta Point Physical Therapy · Sacramento, CA · 2024 to 2026
- Set up equipment, cleaned tables and washed linens between about 25 patients a shift
- Answered phones and scheduled follow-up visits for three physical therapists
Treatment: therapeutic exercise, gait training, transfers, stretching, soft tissue massage, hot and cold packs
Equipment: walkers, canes, gait belts, parallel bars, resistance bands
Documentation: WebPT (clinical rotation), daily notes, home exercise handouts
Languages: Tagalog (conversational)
License and certification follow Education because a clinic cannot schedule you for patients until you are licensed, even at the entry level. Clinical rotations come next, one per site, because outpatient orthopedics and a skilled nursing facility ask for different skills.
What to put in each section
Clinical rotations: setting, patients, supervision
Write one entry per site, with the setting in parentheses, such as outpatient orthopedics or skilled nursing. Bullets should name the treatment you gave, how many patients you saw on a typical day, and who supervised you. BLS lists observing patients and reporting to the physical therapist as a duty, so a reporting bullet belongs here.
Weak bullets, rewritten
BLS says assistants and aides "must often lift and move patients" and can limit the risk of back injuries "by using proper techniques when they work with patients." A gait belt or safe transfer bullet proves you do.
License and certification
Put the licensing exam on its own line with the month, such as "exam scheduled February 2027", and change it to "passed" with the month once you have the result. Add your state license status in plain words. List CPR or basic life support with the date it runs through.
Aide and other work
A physical therapy aide job shows you know how a clinic runs. BLS says aide tasks vary by state and are often indirectly related to patient care, so describe setup, cleaning and scheduling, not treatment.
Skills to list
Postings for physical therapist assistants name the setting, the documentation system and sometimes the patient group. Use those exact words for what you have done, and note the rotation where you did it. The University of Maryland career center also suggests mirroring the job description's keywords.
Tools
- Documentation systems such as WebPT or Epic, marked by rotation
- Mobility aids: walkers, canes, gait belts, parallel bars
- Exercise equipment: resistance bands, weights, balance boards
- Hot packs and cold packs
- CPR or basic life support certification, with dates
Abilities
- Following a physical therapist's plan of care
- Teaching exercises to patients and family members
- Safe transfers and gait training
- Accurate daily notes
- Kneeling, bending and standing through full clinic days
Common mistakes
- Rotations with no setting. "Clinical rotation, Riverbend" could be any clinic. Name the setting: outpatient orthopedics, inpatient or skilled nursing.
- Writing as if you planned the treatment. The physical therapist sets the plan of care. Say you followed it and reported back.
- Aide work written as treatment. If you were an aide, describe setup, cleaning and scheduling. BLS says states do not require aides to be licensed, and the tasks they may do vary by state.
- Patient details on the page. Avoid a name, room or anything that could point to one person. Write "patients after knee injuries" instead.
FAQ
How is this different from a nursing assistant resume?
A nursing assistant resume centers on daily care such as bathing, meals and vital signs, after a short state-approved program. A physical therapist assistant resume centers on therapy: exercise, gait training and patient teaching, after an associate's degree. See the nursing assistant (CNA) example for that format.
How is this different from a medical assistant resume?
A medical assistant mixes front desk and exam room tasks in a clinic. A physical therapist assistant spends the day treating patients under a physical therapist, so this resume stays on rotations, treatment and licensing. See the entry-level medical assistant example.
Should I list my clinical hours?
You can add one line under Education with your total clinical hours, but settings and treatment matter more. For whether to add a summary at the top, see Resume objective or summary?
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