Physical Therapist job description.
A Physical Therapist evaluates and treats patients with movement impairments caused by injury, illness, or disability. They design individualized treatment plans, guide patients through therapeutic exercises, and track progress toward functional recovery goals.
The Physical Therapist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Physical Therapist Reports to: Clinic Director or Rehabilitation Manager
A Physical Therapist evaluates and treats patients with movement impairments caused by injury, illness, or disability. They design individualized treatment plans, guide patients through therapeutic exercises, and track progress toward functional recovery goals.
- Evaluate patient mobility, strength, and functional limitations
- Design individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans
- Guide patients through therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Clinic Director or Rehabilitation Manager
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Evaluate patient mobility, strength, and functional limitations
- Design individualized treatment and rehabilitation plans
- Guide patients through therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques
- Educate patients and families on home exercise programs
- Monitor and document patient progress against treatment goals
- Adjust treatment plans based on patient response and outcomes
- Coordinate care with physicians and other healthcare providers
- Ensure compliance with clinical and billing documentation standards
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree or equivalent
- State licensure as required to practice
- Strong knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology, and rehabilitation techniques
- Excellent interpersonal and patient education skills
- Specialty certification (e.g., orthopedic, sports, neurologic)
- Experience with outpatient or acute rehabilitation settings
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Physical Therapist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Physical Therapist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Clinic Director or Rehabilitation Manager) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What degree is required to become a physical therapist?
- A Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from an accredited program is the standard entry-level qualification, followed by state licensure.
- How is a physical therapist different from an occupational therapist?
- Physical therapists focus primarily on restoring movement and physical function, while occupational therapists focus on helping patients perform everyday activities and tasks.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Occupational Therapist
An Occupational Therapist helps patients develop or regain the skills needed for daily living and work activities following injury, illness, or disability.
Nurse Practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner provides advanced clinical care, including diagnosis and treatment of illness, within their scope of licensure.
Case Manager
A Case Manager coordinates services and resources on behalf of clients or patients to ensure continuity and quality of care.
This Physical Therapist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.