Physical Therapist Cover Letter Example and Template for 2023
Updated August 28, 2023
A physical therapist is a health specialist who helps injured, disabled or ill individuals regain their physical strength, movement and coordination. If you have an interest in helping individuals better manage their pain and enhance their physical mobility, you may want to consider a career in physical therapy. When applying for physical therapist positions, it's important to review the job description carefully so you can determine what to include in your resume and cover letter in order to strengthen your application and increase your chances of obtaining an interview.
In this article, we describe what to include in a physical therapist cover letter, provide a few helpful tips for writing one and offer a cover letter sample to help you learn how to structure your own. Reviewing resume samples can also help you prepare a stronger application. When you're ready, you can upload a resume file or build an Indeed Resume to start applying for physical therapist positions.
Nathaniel Zhang
555-555-0111 | nate.zhang@email.com | New York, NY
May 3, 2023
Forest Village Physical Therapy
Dear Hiring Manager,
My name is Nathaniel Zhang, and I'm writing to express my interest in the open position of Physical Therapist in the pediatric division at Forest Village Physical Therapy. With a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, five years of experience working as a Physical Therapist and two years working as a Pediatric Physical Therapist, I have developed a talent and a passion for helping treat a variety of conditions and creating treatment plans that help improve patients' experiences. I'm impressed with Forest Village Physical Therapy's commitment to maximizing patient comfort and providing exceptional hands-on care.
During my previous role as a Physical Therapist at Verndale Body Works, I was responsible for over 60 patients ranging from birth through adolescence, including many with special needs. I was able to develop a variety of mobility improvement plans for these patients and also created a home care program which helped increase revenue by 10%. Besides my extensive clinical knowledge and experience ensuring high-quality care, I also have excellent time management and communications skills, which allow me to engage with patients and ensure that they're comfortable with their treatment plans.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to learning more about the position of Physical Therapist at Forest Village Physical Therapy. I believe that I possess the necessary pediatric experience and clinical knowledge you're looking for, and I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to utilize my unique skill set. Please don't hesitate to contact me either by phone or email if you have any questions about my qualifications.
Sincerely,
Nathaniel Zhang
To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.
Related: Resume Samples and Templates To Help Get You Hired
What to include in a physical therapist cover letter
As you apply for physical therapist positions, it's important that you describe your qualifications in an easy-to-read format so that potential employers can determine whether you meet the requirements listed in the job posting. Consider including the following content in your cover letter:
Contact information
While a resume is important for detailing your relevant experience and skills, a cover letter invites hiring managers to contact you for an interview or to discuss your experience in greater detail. To make it easier for potential employers to contact you, it's important to include your full name, phone number and email address in your cover letter. This provides employers with multiple communication methods to arrange an interview with you. Many cover letters also contain the city, state and zip code where the candidate resides.
Physical therapy experience
In your cover letter, describe any relevant experience you've had in physical therapy and explain which positions make you an ideal candidate. When you describe previous positions, it's important that you include any information about your job title and primary responsibilities. If you have direct experience working as a physical therapist, try to include specific details about the primary age groups you worked with. You can also mention the full name of the clinics or facilities where you worked. Be sure to compare your resume to the job posting to see how your experience aligns with the employer's specific requirements.
Relevant skills
Listing the skills you have that are relevant to the position can demonstrate to employers that you're capable of working with patients to help them improve their conditions and achieve greater independence. Physical therapists use a variety of both hard and soft skills to complete their job successfully. You can briefly mention soft skills like communication, interpersonal relations, compassion, being detail-oriented, time management and multitasking. You may also want to mention technical skills that demonstrate your level of competence in the field, such as diagnosis, human anatomy and physiology, treatment planning and medical records.
Related: 10 Skills for Cover Letters
Enthusiasm
Begin your cover letter by showing employers your enthusiasm and interest in the position. Mention that you're excited at the prospect of becoming a physical therapist at a new organization. At the end of your cover letter, you can reiterate your overall excitement for the position and express that you're thankful for the consideration. When describing your qualifications, consider including action verbs to better retain employers' attention.
Related: Tips To Write a Great Cover Letter
Keywords
Another way to enhance your cover letter is by including keywords or common phrases that employers are likely to look for in a physical therapist candidate. By using keywords, you can increase your credibility and demonstrate your knowledge of the position's requirements. For physical therapists, common keywords might include variations of "rehabilitation", "injury prevention" or "sports medicine" and are likely to differ, depending on the particular specialty. For example, job postings for pediatric physical therapists are likely to have keywords that differ significantly from postings for geriatric therapists.
Related: Your Guide To Cover Letter Keywords
Accomplishments
Describing your past accomplishments can help employers better determine whether your particular strengths match the needs of their organization. Explain what you were able to achieve in your previous positions and highlight your most impressive accomplishments. For example, if you previously worked as a physical therapist and maintained a patient satisfaction rate of 98%, you can mention this in the body of your resume.
Call-to-action
In the last paragraph of your cover letter, include a call to action encouraging the hiring manager to contact you for further discussion. Mention your preferred contact method, along with when you're available. This can remind employers to invite you to interview and further demonstrate how committed you are to earning the position. It's important to ensure that your call to action is both concise and professional while also remaining polite.
Read more: How To Write a Call-To-Action in Your Cover Letter
3 tips for writing a physical therapist cover letter
Here are three tips you can use to write an effective physical therapist cover letter:
1. Write a compelling introduction
Use the introduction of your cover letter to discuss your background and mention your eagerness to join the company as a physical therapist. Briefly highlight your experience and how it's prepared you for the position and be sure to choose language that entices employers to continue reading your letter. It's also useful to include an overview of your skills and competencies in your second or third sentence.
Related: Cover Letter Do's and Dont's
2. Format your cover letter professionally
Rather than writing one long paragraph, condense your cover letter into three to four smaller paragraphs to enhance readability. Try to keep the primary contents of your cover letter aligned to the left side of the page to make it easier for employers to read. Be sure to keep the style and size of the font you use consistent throughout your letter. This is another way to ensure that your letter is easy to read and can help employers identify your qualifications more quickly.
Related: How To Write a Cover Letter: Top 3 Tips, Format & Examples [Video + Transcript]
3. Address your letter to the hiring manager
By addressing your letter directly to the hiring manager, you can personalize it and help it appear more professional. You may be able to find the hiring manager's information on the job posting or on the organization's website. If you're unsure who to address the letter to, you can use a greeting like "Dear Hiring Manager," in place of overly formal wording like "To whom it may concern."
Read more: How To Address a Cover Letter (With Examples)