Entry Level Sports Physical Therapist Jobs
New grad sports physical therapist jobs are open to recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong clinical rotation work or internship hours can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Healthcare & Medical Services, with employers like Rehab Employee Services, Phoenix Children's, and Rehab Employee Services hiring at this level now.
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The UPMC/CRS Sports Residency offers two residency positions with slightly different tracks.
Professional Athlete Focus:
This position has two specific sports venue coverage components. During the first 9 months, the resident spends two days a week in the athletic training room at Carnegie Mellon University with a sports residency faculty member to treat any athletes who require post-operative PT. During the second half of the program, the resident spends a minimum of 10 hours/week in the training room with the Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club.
Youth Athlete Focus:
This position focuses on the treatment of high school aged athletes during the first year of the residency. The resident spends 2-3 afternoons per week providing on-field and training room coverage at a local high school with one of our staff athletic trainers. This allows for a wide variety of sport experiences including but not limited to football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, baseball and track and field. During the final 5-6 months of the program the resident is assigned to assist in the Pitt Department of Athletics, primarily with Men's and Women's basketball
The Sports Residency is 18 months
Responsibilities:
- Performs physical therapy assessment, reassessment and treatment and supervises physical therapist assistants in the treatment of pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients referred by a physician to the clinic
- Develops plan of care including goals and treatment plan in accordance with physician referral, nature of injury/illness and results of physical therapy assessment
- Modifies or adjusts plan of care based on patient's response to treatment and/or changes in patient's status
- Maintains written documentation for all physical therapy services rendered including documentation of initial assessment, follow-up visits, and discharge summary consistent with department standards
- Co-signs physical therapist assistant documentation biweekly
- Provides verbal and/or written home instructions to patient and/or family members when applicable
- Communicates patient's status to the referring physician and other health care team members
- Schedules patients to achieve and maintain a level of productivity which meets or exceeds the standard established for the facility by the organization while ensuring delivery of quality patient care
- Graduate of an accredited program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Cumulative experiences that indicate interest and high performance in residency area based on strong academic performance and clinical rotation evaluations
Evidence of emerging skills in clinical reasoning and application of acquired skills
In order to be considered for this residency program, you must complete both the UPMC application as well as the RF-PTCAS application
Licensure, Certifications and Clearances:
Physical Therapist
Act 33 Child Clearance with Renewal
Act 34 Criminal Clearance with Renewal
Act 73 FBI Clearance
Basic Life Support OR Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer.
Minority/Females/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The UPMC/CRS Sports Residency offers two residency positions with slightly different tracks.
Professional Athlete Focus:
This position has two specific sports venue coverage components. During the first 9 months, the resident spends two days a week in the athletic training room at Carnegie Mellon University with a sports residency faculty member to treat any athletes who require post-operative PT. During the second half of the program, the resident spends a minimum of 10 hours/week in the training room with the Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club.
Youth Athlete Focus:
This position focuses on the treatment of high school aged athletes during the first year of the residency. The resident spends 2-3 afternoons per week providing on-field and training room coverage at a local high school with one of our staff athletic trainers. This allows for a wide variety of sport experiences including but not limited to football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, baseball and track and field. During the final 5-6 months of the program the resident is assigned to assist in the Pitt Department of Athletics, primarily with Men's and Women's basketball
The Sports Residency is 18 months
Responsibilities:
- Performs physical therapy assessment, reassessment and treatment and supervises physical therapist assistants in the treatment of pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients referred by a physician to the clinic
- Develops plan of care including goals and treatment plan in accordance with physician referral, nature of injury/illness and results of physical therapy assessment
- Modifies or adjusts plan of care based on patient's response to treatment and/or changes in patient's status
- Maintains written documentation for all physical therapy services rendered including documentation of initial assessment, follow-up visits, and discharge summary consistent with department standards
- Co-signs physical therapist assistant documentation biweekly
- Provides verbal and/or written home instructions to patient and/or family members when applicable
- Communicates patient's status to the referring physician and other health care team members
- Schedules patients to achieve and maintain a level of productivity which meets or exceeds the standard established for the facility by the organization while ensuring delivery of quality patient care
- Graduate of an accredited program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Cumulative experiences that indicate interest and high performance in residency area based on strong academic performance and clinical rotation evaluations
Evidence of emerging skills in clinical reasoning and application of acquired skills
In order to be considered for this residency program, you must complete both the UPMC application as well as the RF-PTCAS application
Licensure, Certifications and Clearances:
Physical Therapist
Act 33 Child Clearance with Renewal
Act 34 Criminal Clearance with Renewal
Act 73 FBI Clearance
Basic Life Support OR Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer.
Minority/Females/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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Find JobsEntry Level Sports Physical Therapist Job Market
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- Healthcare & Medical Services
Entry Level Sports Physical Therapist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level sports physical therapist job?
Entry level sports physical therapist roles look for candidates who have completed their Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, passed the NPTE licensure exam, and gained hands-on experience through clinical rotations or internships with athletes. Highlighting a specific sports population you worked with, a relevant clinical specialty, or a sports residency application strengthens your candidacy significantly at this stage.
Which companies hire entry level sports physical therapists?
Companies hiring entry level sports physical therapists right now include Rehab Employee Services, Phoenix Children's, and Rehab Employee Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from outpatient orthopedic and sports medicine clinics, collegiate athletic departments, and hospital-affiliated sports performance programs that actively recruit new graduates.
Are there remote entry level sports physical therapist jobs?
Yes, though most sports physical therapist roles require in-person patient care. About 0% of entry level sports physical therapist openings are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those tend to involve telehealth consultations, injury screening, or rehabilitation program design rather than direct hands-on treatment.
Are these new grad sports physical therapist jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior sports physical therapist roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts clinical rotations or internships toward the requirement, or lists a sports residency or fellowship as a plus rather than a prerequisite, meaning new grads are competitive applicants.
Which industries hire the most entry level sports physical therapists?
Entry Level sports physical therapist roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at this level because they rely on a steady pipeline of licensed new graduates to staff outpatient caseloads, sideline coverage, and athletic training room support that experienced clinicians often move away from.