How to write resume for DPT program??

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

cg11092

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2013
Messages
49
Reaction score
10
Any one have any jumping off points on how to do this? I'm really stuck on how to lay this out for a DPT program.

I don't know how to organize & separate my observation experience, employment experience, and some experiences that were both (such as how working as a tech doubles as observation experience)?

Members don't see this ad.
 
working as a tech is definitely working experience. I'd list all paid positions under "work experience" and have a separate section for "shadowing experience."

template:
-objective or profile
-education
-work
-shadowing
-additional (you could possibly list your community service experiences or extra currics, certifications, languages)

I would refrain from including your service industry or retail position (especially if it was a short summer job) or anything irrelevant to your PT application profile, unless it somehow offers value to your resume/application. as you work on your resume, you'll soon realize there isn't enough space to include everything single thing so you'll have to only include the most necessary information.

and this goes without saying, but your resume should be in reverse chronological order.
 
working as a tech is definitely working experience. I'd list all paid positions under "work experience" and have a separate section for "shadowing experience."

template:
-objective or profile
-education
-work
-shadowing
-additional (you could possibly list your community service experiences or extra currics, certifications, languages)

I would refrain from including your service industry or retail position (especially if it was a short summer job) or anything irrelevant to your PT application profile, unless it somehow offers value to your resume/application. as you work on your resume, you'll soon realize there isn't enough space to include everything single thing so you'll have to only include the most necessary information.

and this goes without saying, but your resume should be in reverse chronological order.

That really helps! Thank you!!

I'm still not sure how to list shadowing experiences -- since I can't place any bullet points under those with action verb statements (as I would for employment experiences) because all I did was literally sit and watch. At the same time, I wouldn't want to list patient populations or anything under each one because they are already listed on my observation hours form in detail. Should I just list the shadowing experiences and hours completed at each one and that's it? Nothing else?
 
Members don't see this ad :)
you can DM me and ill give you some pointers. but most PT schools just take a quick glance at the resume, you don't need to over think it.
 
For observation hours, I listed the name of the site, the location (city/state), and how many hours I completed, as well as the type of setting. Since you've got that elsewhere, you could leave that out.
 
For observation hours, I listed the name of the site, the location (city/state), and how many hours I completed, as well as the type of setting. Since you've got that elsewhere, you could leave that out.
I would add a therapist and his/her credentials as well to add a personal touch
ex:
Scottsdale Physical Therapy (250 hours) Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Steven Nashton, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
*
observed __ in an outpatient orthopedic setting
*and so on

something like that but organized consistently with the rest of your resume's format
 
Last edited:
Does the program you are applying to specifically require a separate resume? Normally you just put all this info into PTCAS. And if it's not a PTCAS school they still will have an application format for you to follow.
 
If you want I can send you the resume I used for a program that asked for it and I ended up getting accepted. Pm me if interested.
 
If you're applying to DPT through PTCAS, you don't have anything to worry about.
They provide sections, where you just fill in the blanks and they organize everything for you.
 
Top