Physical Therapist Interview Questions

Physical Therapist interview questions:

Once you have verified the essential qualifications of your candidates, including accredited PT certification, proof of passing the National Physical Therapy Examination, and a valid state license, you are ready to begin interviewing them.

The majority of the following interview questions are open-ended and situational. They are designed to help you assess the level of experience of your candidates and how they handle challenging and unpredictable situations. The responses from your candidates will provide insights into their interactions with patients, patients’ families, and other members of the healthcare team. Look for candidates who demonstrate qualities such as composure, keen observation skills, empathy, strong ethics, and sound judgment in various situations.

It’s important to note that these interview questions should serve as a starting point, not a rigid script. If your physical therapists are primarily serving a specific population (e.g., seniors) or working in a particular environment (e.g., patients’ homes), be sure to tailor your questions to address these specific contexts. To make the best hiring decision for your team, provide detailed information about the actual working conditions and expectations during the interview process.

Operational and Situational questions:

• What motivated you to pursue a career in physical therapy?
• Do you have any specific areas of interest within the field of physical therapy?
• Can you provide an overview of a typical day in your current or previous job as a physical therapist?
• Please discuss your experience in working with patients requiring long-term care.
• What are some of the unique challenges you’ve encountered while working with geriatric patients?
• How do you approach the treatment of patients with movement disorders?
• If one of your patients were to suddenly become agitated and aggressive, how would you handle the situation?
• How would you address a scenario where a patient begins to refuse to cooperate or work with you?
• What approach would you take in treating a patient with a specific post-surgical status?
• How would you handle a patient with a medical diagnosis that you are not familiar with?
• Can you share an example of a situation where you believe you provided exceptional patient care?
• In what ways have you demonstrated sensitivity to potential cultural differences while working with patients?
• How would you respond if you discovered that a colleague had provided false information about treating a patient?
• What would you consider an inappropriate interaction with a patient in your role as a physical therapist?
• Have you ever had experience working with a challenging coworker? How would you address such a situation?
• What aspects of being a physical therapist do you find particularly stressful, and how do you manage and cope with that stress?