Healthcare Careers

Physiotherapy

What is it?

As a physiotherapist, you help and treat people of all ages with physical problems caused by accidents, illness or ageing. You also help people take care of their bodies and stay active and well.

So if you’re a physiotherapist, movement of the body is what you do. It can be movement of muscles and joints – say, getting someone up and about after an operation.

It can be movement of the blood round the body – maybe if someone has heart or lung problems which slow down their circulation.

It’s a physical, ‘hands-on’ career. You need to be active and fit, and enjoy working with different people. One day it might be a young child, the next an elderly person, the next a top footballer.

Once qualified, your training will open doors to a wide range of jobs worldwide.

What are the good bits?

• Rewarding work with lots of variety
• When you study Physiotherapy at university, tuition fees are paid for you
• Career options – industry, sport/dance, leisure, special schools, management, research
• Chance to work with top level sports performers

What about pay?

£19,000 - £51,000

What skills and interests do I need?

• Interest in fitness and how the body works
• Able to work independently and in teams
• Good communication, caring person
• Determined, dedicated

What qualifications/training will I need?

After GCSEs you need to stay on at school or go to college to study science, including Biology – for example, Biology at AS and A2 level with other subjects, or with the 12-unit AVCE in Science. Then you’ll study Physiotherapy at university for three or four years.

Compiled with reference to:
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
www.nobarriers2uni.org

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