Physical Therapist Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
A physical therapist evaluates patients with injuries, chronic conditions or post-surgical limitations, then designs and delivers treatment plans to restore movement and reduce pain. The work is hands-on: manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, gait training and patient education, adjusted as the patient progresses.
Physical therapists work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools and home health. All need a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and a state license. The best PTs explain the plan clearly enough that patients actually do their home exercises, since outcomes depend as much on that as on the clinic sessions.
Physical Therapist job description template
Copy it, replace everything in [brackets] and cut what doesn't apply. Keep the requirements to what the job really needs.
Template · replace the [brackets]
Physical Therapist
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[Company] is hiring a physical therapist to evaluate and treat patients at [clinic / facility]. You'll build treatment plans for [patient population], track progress against measurable goals, and help patients return to the activities that matter to them.
What you'll do
- Evaluate new patients, assessing mobility, strength, pain and functional limitations.
- Design individualized treatment plans with clear, measurable goals.
- Deliver manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and modalities as appropriate.
- Document evaluations, progress notes and discharge summaries in [EMR system].
- Educate patients and caregivers on home exercise programs and injury prevention.
- Coordinate care with physicians, physician assistants and other providers.
- Adjust treatment plans based on patient progress and response.
- Supervise PT assistants or aides on assigned patients, where applicable.
What you'll bring
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree and active state license.
- [X]+ years of clinical experience, or completion of a relevant residency.
- Strong manual therapy and exercise prescription skills.
- Clear documentation habits that hold up for insurance and compliance review.
- Comfort explaining treatment plans and progress to patients in plain language.
- Physical stamina for a caseload involving standing, lifting and hands-on work.
Nice to have
- Board certification in a specialty such as orthopedics or sports.
- Experience with [population, e.g. post-surgical, geriatric or pediatric patients].
- Dry needling or other specialized technique certification.
- Bilingual skills relevant to [patient population].
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Continuing education allowance, license renewal reimbursement, health coverage, flexible scheduling]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: a recruiter call, a clinical interview with a lead therapist, a working interview or skills observation, and a final conversation about schedule and caseload.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
Physical Therapist duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
Junior
- Treats a standard caseload under mentorship from a senior therapist.
- Builds speed and confidence with evaluations and common treatment protocols.
- Learns documentation and billing requirements specific to the setting.
Mid-level
- Manages a full caseload independently, including more complex cases.
- Takes on a clinical specialty or patient population as a focus area.
- Mentors new hires and PT assistants on technique and documentation.
Senior
- Leads treatment planning for the most complex or high-risk patients.
- Supervises a team of therapists and sets clinical protocols.
- Represents the clinic in physician relationships and program development.
Physical Therapist career path
- Staff Physical Therapist
- Senior Physical Therapist
- Lead Therapist or Clinic Supervisor
- Clinic Director or Practice Owner
Physical therapists enter practice after a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, clinical rotations and a state licensing exam. From there, paths include specializing through board certification, moving into clinic leadership or ownership, or shifting into education, research or sports and performance settings.
Similar roles
- Occupational Therapist job description
Focuses on daily living skills and fine motor function rather than broad mobility.
- Registered Nurse job description
Handles overall patient care and medication rather than movement-focused rehabilitation.
- Physician Assistant job description
Diagnoses and manages medical treatment rather than delivering hands-on rehab.
- Certified Nursing Assistant job description
Supports basic patient care tasks without designing treatment plans.
Physical Therapist job description FAQ
What does a physical therapist do?
Evaluates patients with injuries or limited mobility, designs a treatment plan with measurable goals, and delivers hands-on therapy and exercise to restore movement and reduce pain, adjusting the plan as the patient progresses.
What license does a physical therapist job description require?
A Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and an active state license are standard requirements. Board certification in a specialty like orthopedics or sports is a common nice-to-have, not usually a baseline requirement.
What settings do physical therapists work in?
Outpatient clinics, hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation centers, schools and home health are the most common. The patient population and pace differ a lot between settings, so job descriptions should name the setting clearly.