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Registered physical therapist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted experts

N. Travis Triplett Ph.D.,

N. Travis Triplett Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical registered physical therapist skills. We ranked the top skills for registered physical therapists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 46.7% of registered physical therapist resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a registered physical therapist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 registered physical therapist skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how registered physical therapists use patients:

Excelled in ability to customize/adapt conventional physical therapy techniques to meet the specific needs of patients.
Maintained comprehensive records and documented patients progress, conducted periodic examinations and modified treatments when necessary.

2. Respiratory Care

Respiratory care is the medical care discipline of having expertise in the treatment of illnesses and preventative care related to cardiopulmonary health.

Here's how registered physical therapists use respiratory care:

Evaluate, assess, and document the respiratory care as provided.

3. Healthcare

Healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of a person's health by the diagnosis and treatment of a person's injury, illness, or any other disease. Healthcare is a basic necessity of human life and is the responsibility of the country's government to ensure that each person gets healthcare. Providing healthcare is the job of certified health professionals that includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other physicians. Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, dentistry, therapy, and health training all come under healthcare. Healthcare plays a vital role in the country's economy and its development.

Here's how registered physical therapists use healthcare:

Coordinate a plan of care with the Healthcare Providers and Physicians.

4. PTA

The Parent-Teacher Association, PTA, is a formal organization made up of parents, teachers, and staff that aims to facilitate parental involvement in a school, discuss issues that affect children, organize events to raise funds for the school supplies, and supporting school efforts in general. It is also a forum for parents to gain insight and express their views on what is happening at their school.

Here's how registered physical therapists use pta:

Supervised physical therapist assistants and mentored PTA students.
Performed evaluations and co-treatments with OT's and delegated treatment plans to PTA's.

5. Rehabilitation

Here's how registered physical therapists use rehabilitation:

Assisted Director of Rehabilitation in managing and supervising the rehabilitation department and effectively manage staff, customers, and referral sources.
Job responsibilities: Supervised examination and prescription of PT rehabilitation programs, and co-supervisor of Internship students at the Outpatient clinic.

6. Home Health

Here's how registered physical therapists use home health:

Ensured charting accuracy through precise documentation in a home health setting.
Evaluated and treated home health patients Communicated with physicians and case managers Coordinated care with nursing, speech and occupational therapy

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7. Ventilation

Here's how registered physical therapists use ventilation:

Assist in intubation and initiation of ventilation Assist in bronchscopy Initiated therapy with respiratory driven protocols Provide excellent patient care

8. Direct Patient Care

Here's how registered physical therapists use direct patient care:

Direct patient care to post operative and non-surgical orthopedic patients in a physician owned physical therapy practice.
Direct patient care and associated physical therapy duties within a skilled nursing facility *Managing a rehabilitation department

9. Adaptive

Here's how registered physical therapists use adaptive:

Performed patient evaluations, developed treatment plans, evaluated for and ordered adaptive equipment, and determined appropriate discharge setting.
Presented an in-service to PT staff on improving community integration through adaptive sports for children with developmental disabilities.

10. EKG

Here's how registered physical therapists use ekg:

Assist the physician in bronchoscopy procedure, intubations, and extubations, Ekg, etc.

11. Physical Therapy

Here's how registered physical therapists use physical therapy:

Trained and supervised physical therapy interns in all physical-rehabilitation-therapy treatments and documentations
Provided physical therapy services for a 200-bed, specialized sub-acute care hospital/skilled nursing facility.

12. Orthotics

Here's how registered physical therapists use orthotics:

Participated in treatment of patients with orthopedic impairments and injuries in a hospital based setting* Observation and assistance to custom made orthotics
Assessed home settings and household/school/community mobility for needed equipment such as orthotics, wheelchairs/electric wheelchairs and referred to proper vendors.

13. Traumatic Brain Injury

Here's how registered physical therapists use traumatic brain injury:

Determined the appropriate discharge recommendation for patients with post-surgical orthopedic injuries, joint replacements, stroke and traumatic brain injury.
Facilitated community outings with traumatic brain injury and stroke populations.

14. Discharge Planning

Here's how registered physical therapists use discharge planning:

Incorporated patient/family education into explanation of PT diagnosis/prognosis, PT goals/expected outcomes, intervention selection, HEP, and discharge planning.
Performed care-giver training for discharge planning and provided training to newly hired nursing staff regarding body-mechanics and safe patient transfers.

15. ICU

ICU means intensive care units. It also has a name known as the critical care unit or intensive therapy unit. The ICU handles patients experiencing acute diseases or severe injuries that need specialized treatment procedures by specific professionals.

Here's how registered physical therapists use icu:

Practice settings included: Out patient Skilled Nursing facility Pediatric in patient ICU Acute care
Evaluated and treated patients in ICU implicating early mobilization to prevent further decline in cardiopulmonary compromised patients.

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What skills help Registered Physical Therapists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on registered physical therapist resumes?

N. Travis Triplett Ph.D.

Professor of Exercise Science, Exercise Science Undergraduate Program Director, Appalachian State University

Some of the most important items on a Kinesiology graduate's resume include certifications and hands-on experience. There are several certifications in the Health and Fitness field, where many Kinesiology graduates find employment, and these can include Personal Training, Special Populations, Group Exercise Instructor, Exercise Physiologist/Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Cancer and Exercise, and Inclusive Fitness, among others. Certifications should be chosen wisely and fit the population with which the student would most prefer to work. Hands-on experience before employment is most often gained through an internship or other types of field experiences before graduation. Sampling a few different work environments will help the student find which field they are most interested in.

What hard/technical skills are most important for registered physical therapists?

N. Travis Triplett Ph.D.

Professor of Exercise Science, Exercise Science Undergraduate Program Director, Appalachian State University

Having a thorough understanding of the scientific aspects of exercise and training is essential, and the ability to perform various tests of physical performance safely and correctly. Also, kinesiology graduates may be expected to understand the business or legal aspects of the fitness industry and apply those, so a good understanding of basic concepts in those areas is very helpful.

What soft skills should all registered physical therapists possess?

N. Travis Triplett Ph.D.

Professor of Exercise Science, Exercise Science Undergraduate Program Director, Appalachian State University

Kinesiology is a people-oriented field, so good people skills are a must. Careers in kinesiology often focus on the health aspects of fitness and not just peak or sports performance, so exercise recommendations must be based on science and need to fit the individual. Being able to obtain essential information from a client in a non-threatening and respectful manner is important. Also, being a sincere motivator is critical.

What registered physical therapist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Yuri Feito Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Exercise Science, Kennesaw State University

When you mention a "graduate," you refer to an undergraduate student, not a graduate student. If so, I would say the best thing to do would be to "work in the field." Although some jobs require a Master's degree, the reality is that most only need a bachelors. So, obtaining a career in the industry would be most valuable and would position students well for a graduate degree. However, if the student is interested in pursuing a graduate degree outside of the Kinesiology (i.e., Physical or Occupational therapy, Physician Assistant, Medical School, etc.), it would be wise to address any academic deficiencies they may have, for example, taking prerequisites for those graduate programs, or improving any grade that they think may not be adequate. With professional programs becoming exceedingly competitive, it is paramount that students have the highest GPA possible.

What type of skills will young registered physical therapists need?

Michael Mucedola Ph.D.

Department Chair, Longwood University

While numerous skills can assist a new graduate as they navigate the upcoming workforce, some proven skills from the past will still serve them well. Working hard, perseverance, positive attitude, effective communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and so on can help lay a pathway for students to enter the workforce. Skills related to technology, adaptability, being trained in multiple areas, and not becoming complacent are all keys. The ability to spot value and opportunity is vital, and being cognizant that everyone has to start somewhere. If a person is willing to relocate and live anywhere, there is a job available.

Do you want to know more?

List of registered physical therapist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a registered physical therapist resume and required skills for a registered physical therapist to have include:

Patients
Respiratory Care
Healthcare
PTA
Rehabilitation
Home Health
Ventilation
Direct Patient Care
Adaptive
EKG

Physical Therapy
Orthotics
Traumatic Brain Injury
Discharge Planning
ICU
Patient Plan
SNF
High-Volume Caseload
Crutches
Comprehensive Training

CVA
ABG
Discharge Summaries
Outpatient Clinic
Muscle Reeducation
Acute Care
IEP
Cervical
Therapeutic Exercises

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Registered Physical Therapist Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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