Healthcare·Mid level·3 min read

Physical Therapist cover letter

Write a Physical Therapist cover letter that highlights Patient evaluation, Treatment planning, Manual therapy. Get role-specific tips and examples.

A strong Physical Therapist cover letter goes beyond listing skills. Hiring managers want to see how you've applied Patient evaluation and Treatment planning to deliver results. This guide covers what to include, common mistakes to avoid, and how to stand out.

What to highlight

  • 1Practice setting (outpatient, acute, SNF)
  • 2Patient populations treated
  • 3Specialty certifications or training
  • 4Outcomes achieved
  • 5Manual therapy techniques

Key skills to mention

Patient evaluationTreatment planningManual therapyExercise prescriptionDocumentationPatient education

Tools & software

EMR systemsTherapeutic equipmentModalitiesOutcome measurement tools

Mistakes to avoid

  • Not specifying practice setting
  • Ignoring outcomes and patient success
  • Being vague about techniques used
  • Not mentioning productivity expectations

Relevant certifications

  • DPT
  • State license
  • Specialty certifications (OCS, SCS)
  • BLS

Frequently asked questions

Are specialty certifications (OCS, SCS) important?

They differentiate you, especially in competitive markets. Mention if you have them or are pursuing.

How do I show patient outcomes?

Mention functional improvements, discharge rates, patient satisfaction scores if available.

Should I mention productivity metrics?

Understand typical expectations. Show you can meet productivity while maintaining quality care.

Example physical therapist cover letter

I'm writing to apply for the Physical Therapist position at [Company]. As a DPT with 5 years of outpatient orthopedic experience, I'm passionate about helping patients return to the activities they love through evidence-based treatment.

At SportsMed Physical Therapy, I manage a caseload of 50+ patients weekly with outcomes that exceed clinic benchmarks. My patients achieve functional goals 15% faster than average, and I maintain a 95% satisfaction rating. I specialize in post-surgical rehabilitation and sports injuries, with additional training in dry needling and IASTM. I document efficiently in WebPT while maintaining thorough, defensible notes. I'm pursuing my OCS certification and regularly attend continuing education courses.

I'm impressed by [Company]'s reputation for excellent patient outcomes and would be excited to contribute my skills to your team. Thank you for considering my application.

Replace [Company] with the actual company name. Customize the details to match your experience.

Get started

Try it free. €5/month after.

Write your physical therapist cover letter