How to write a winning physiotherapy CV

Crafting the perfect physiotherapy CV can feel like a full-time job. Between staying up-to-date with the latest certifications and trying to squeeze years of clinical experience onto a single page, it’s no wonder so many physios find themselves stuck at the starting line.

In this guide, we’ll take the guesswork out of building a winning physiotherapy CV. We’ll show you exactly what to include (and what to skip) so you can:

• Highlight the skills and qualifications that matter most: Tailor your physio CV to highlight those must-have skills and certifications that’ll make hiring managers stop and take notice.
• Turn clinical experience into measurable achievements: Learn how to frame your success stories with clear, impactful metrics that showcase your ability to drive positive outcomes.
• Make your CV stand out in a crowded field: Use insider tips on CV formatting, keywords, and structure to ensure your application sails past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and grabs the attention of hiring managers.

So, let’s dive in, and get your physio CV working as hard for you as you do for your patients.

What We'll Cover

• What should be included on a physiotherapy CV?
• What skills to add to a physio CV
• How to structure a physio CV
• Optimising your physiotherapy CV for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Think of your physio CV as a well-polished business card for your career—a snapshot of your skills and experience, designed to grab attention and start a conversation. It's not about being modest. This is where you showcase what you can bring to the table, and why an employer would be wrong to overlook you.

The essentials

• Contact details: Simple but crucial. Keep it concise - a phone number and a professional email address are all you need. Save space by putting them in a header or footer.
  
  
• Professional summary: Kick things off with a powerful introduction. Who are you, how much experience do you have, and where have you worked? Most importantly, what are you aiming for in your next role? Keep it brief, punchy, and aligned with the job you're applying for.
  
  
• Experience: List your jobs in reverse chronological order, highlighting your most recent experience first. Be sure to use the Context-Action-Result (CAR) method to show off the difference you made: What was happening, what you did, and what came out of it—back your outcomes up with numbers whenever you can to make your impact measurable and clear.
  
  For example, instead of saying:
  
  "Provided rehabilitation for a post-ACL surgery patient,"
  
  You could say something like…
  
  Worked with a post-ACL surgery patient to develop a custom rehab plan combining resistance training and manual therapy. Achieved 90% range of motion and strength recovery within 10 weeks, allowing early return to sports.
  
  
• Education: Your qualifications are key, but they belong towards the end. Mention the most important certifications in your profile, then give details in your education section.‍

Soft skills for physios

These days being a physio is about more than just knowing your anatomy. It’s a people-centric role, so your soft skills matter just as much to recruiters as your technical expertise. Here are a few non-negotiables to include:

• Emotional awareness: Understanding the physical and emotional challenges your patients face is a key part of supporting their recovery, and a skill you’ll want to highlight.
• Adaptability: No two injuries are exactly the same. The ability to tailor your approach to individual cases is an essential skill to demonstrate.
• Interpersonal skills: Building strong relationships with patients, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals ensures a collaborative and supportive treatment environment. Try to show off instances that demonstrate this strength.
• Time management: Managing a busy caseload while giving each patient the attention they need requires effective scheduling and prioritisation skills.

Hard skills for physios

When it comes to your technical abilities, you need to make sure the right boxes are checked. These are some of the key hard skills that employers will be looking for on your physiotherapy CV:

• Exercise prescription: It’s not just about assigning a series of exercises to strengthen muscles or alleviate pain. Recruiters are looking for demonstrable skills in customising these exercise plans to the individual, accounting for their unique conditions, limitations, and goals.
• Equipment knowledge: Familiarity with physiotherapy tools and technology, such as ultrasound machines, cryotherapy or heat therapy equipment is a major plus.
• Patient assessment and evaluation: Before you can fix a problem, you need to know exactly what’s causing it. Showcasing your diagnostic and assessment skills is an essential marker hiring managers are looking for.
• Orthotics assessment and fitting: Reference your experience in conducting biomechanical assessments and fitting custom orthotics for patients.
• Biomechanical knowledge: Understanding how the body moves and applying that knowledge to treatment is of course a key trait to highlight.
• Wearable technology: Highlight any experience with wearable devices like sensors and VR systems. Many recruiters are seeking the ability to deliver cutting-edge, tech-enhanced patient care.
• Medical record keeping: Precise and thorough documentation of patient treatments and progress is essential.
• Traction therapy: Include any experience or learning with tailoring traction therapy to individual patient needs to relieve joint pressure and pain.

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When it comes to structuring your physiotherapy CV, the golden rule is simplicity. Keep it clean, keep it concise, and make it easy for recruiters to find the information they need at a glance. You can use our physiotherapy CV template for pointers.

• Length: Ideally, keep it to one page. This is the sweet spot where you can demonstrate your qualifications without overwhelming the recruiter. If it spills onto two pages, make sure the second page isn’t filled with fluff.
• Formatting: Remember, recruiters typically spend just a few seconds reviewing each CV. Use clear headings for each section, and bullet points to highlight key details. Your CV should be easy to scan.

Many employers today use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to streamline their recruitment process. This means your physiotherapy CV isn’t just being judged by humans—it’s being scanned and scored by software before a recruiter ever lays eyes on it.

Over 75% of candidates are eliminated simply because their CV didn’t pass ATS screening. Here are some tips to ensure your physio CV makes the cut.

1. Use relevant keywords
   
   An ATS looks for keywords that match the job description. To keep your CV from being passed over by hiring bots you need to analyse the job posting carefully for phrases related to physiotherapy, such as "patient assessment," "manual therapy," or "rehabilitation techniques." Make sure these keywords naturally appear throughout your physio CV, especially in your skills and experience sections
   
   
2. Choose simple, standard formatting
   
   ATS can struggle to process complex formatting. Stick with a clean, simple structure—use standard fonts like Arial or Calibri, avoid images, graphics, or tables, and keep your sections clearly defined with common headings like “Work Experience” and “Education.”
   
   
3. Tailor your physiotherapy CV for each role
   
   Every job posting is different, and so should be your physio CV. Customise your summary, skills, and experience to reflect the specific role you’re applying for. Not only does this help the ATS pick up relevant keywords, but it also shows recruiters that you’ve made an effort to tailor your application.
   
   
4. Avoid unnecessary fluff
   
   ATS won’t be impressed by vague phrases like “team player” or “quick learner.” Focus on specific, quantifiable skills and achievements. For example, mention how you helped improve patient outcomes by 20% through a particular therapy method.
   
   

By tweaking your physiotherapy CV to play nice with the ATS, you’re boosting your chances of making sure your skills actually get seen, so you can score that interview.

Take the next steps in your physio career with UNTIL

At UNTIL, we know that a career in physiotherapy isn’t just about what you know—it’s about who you know. Whether you’re a fresh graduate or an experienced physio, networking can unlock doors to new opportunities. Our community is designed to help you make connections with like-minded professionals, share knowledge, and stay on top of the latest industry trends.

So, what’s next? You’ve got your physiotherapy CV sorted, but the journey doesn’t stop there. Join UNTIL today to access the support, resources, and connections you need to elevate your career to the next level, and take that first step toward your future.