How to Become a Physiotherapist

About Physiotherapist

A career as a Physiotherapist: Physiotherapy is the process to that is followed to treat deformity and injury of the entire body or a body part caused due to some ailment or accident. The affected part is treated using physical methods like heat treatment, massage and exercise. This field is considered to be one of the most promising medical fields that involves both medical as well as physical training in order to detect and treat the problem of the patients. Professionals who perform the process of treatment are known as physiotherapists. These competent individuals help people to come out of their disabilities, ailments and injuries and lead a normal and healthy life.

If you aspire to become a physiotherapist then you must strive hard for it. Choice of course and college is completely your decision. All you need to remember is your interest area not only in the subject but in the job profile. So, if you like doing exercise and helping others to do so, then you can think of becoming a physiotherapist. Read in detail about the job profiles, academic requirements, employment opportunities, pay scale, etc., related to Physiotherapy here.   

Eligibility to become Physiotherapist

If you want to know how to become a physiotherapist then you must be familiar with the steps of how to become a physiotherapist. It is important to understand the eligibility norms prescribed for being a physiotherapist in India. Given below are details related to the same. Read the details and start your preparation from today itself.

Subject Combination – Science Stream (Physics + Biology + Chemistry) in Class XII

Exam– NEET, CET, GGSIPU CET, JIPMER, RUET, JAKBOPEE CET, KAIET, UPMT, etc.

Eligibility –

• A basic requirement is to have a passing certificate of 10+2 from a recognised institution in the Science stream.
• Candidates must have Physics, Chemistry and Biology and major subjects in their 10+2 with an aggregate of 50% in final examination.
• Candidates also need to clear the entrance exam designed for the aspirants of physiotherapy.
• If candidates plan to do Master course in this stream then they must produce their bachelor degree marksheet at the time of admission along with the entrance exam marksheet.

Types of Job Roles Physiotherapist

The job of a physiotherapist is to help patients recover from injuries and accidents. For that, physiotherapists conduct exercise session, supervise specialist therapies such as electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy etc. They are also involved in collecting statistics and writing reports and communicating with doctors and nurses on a regular basis. Physiotherapists are also required to stay up to date with the latest developments in the profession. 

Employment Opportunities for Physiotherapists

If you have successfully acquired a relevant degree to become a physiotherapist then you must look for the various industries and organizations hiring physiotherapists. There are different employment opportunities for physiotherapists available in the market. These opportunities are based on the type of degree gained by the candidates and the institution from which the degree has been acquired. There are different industries and firms that hire physiotherapists. Candidates can check the list of these industries and select one according to their choice, interest and requirement.

Hospitals: Hospitals mainly hire physiotherapists to help treat the patients for different departments. The patients can be affected with orthopedic problems, obstetric problems, rehabilitation process for cardiology patients, medical and surgical problems, etc. These professionals work in close contact with the different specialists and experts of the medical field.

Corporate Houses: Physiotherapists hired by the corporate houses work for the health and fitness of their employees. The physiotherapists organise workshops and exercise sessions for the employees and promote them to stay fit and fine, both mentally and physically.

Healthcare Centers:Physiotherapists of a healthcare center work on the patients’ wellness and fitness and focus on areas of improvement. They also guide patients with their dietary plans and supplements that will help in boosting their metabolism.

Private Clinics: Work of a physiotherapist in a private clinic is similar to that of a hospital. The difference lies in the number of patients and the different categories of treatments and specialties. A clinic generally focuses on two or three specialities, unlike the hospitals which are often termed as multi-specialty hospitals.

Universities: In universities, the physiotherapists are hired to teach students the healthy way of living. They are hired either as professors or trainers to guide students through the subject-matter. They teach technical and theoretical parts to the students so that batch of new and well-trained physiotherapists are ready for the nation.

Rehabilitation Centers: As the name suggests, these centers work mainly on improving the lives of patients admitted there. A  physiotherapist here will help and support the experts working on the patients. Different exercises, for both mind and body, are taught by the physiotherapists in a rehabilitation center. 

Orthopedic Clinics: An orthopedic clinic focuses on problems related to deformities of muscles or bones. The role of a physiotherapist here is to train the patients to come out of their deformities with regular exercises. The physiotherapists work under the orthopedic doctors and provide sessions to their patients at the clinic or at home.

Sports and Fitness Centers: A physiotherapist at a sports and fitness center works with the experts for the fitness of the clients. Maintaining the records of the clients and to figure out which fitness programme should be scheduled for a particular day, is also a task of the physiotherapists of the sports and fitness centers. 

Defence Establishments: At a defence academy or establishment, the role of the physiotherapist rotates from planning the exercise sessions to treating the injuries of the defence personnel.

Employment Sector/Industry for Physiotherapist

An aspiring physiotherapist can look for a number of options available in the market. There are more than 100 companies or organisations that hire physiotherapists. These recruiting companies judge the qualification of the individuals and then offer them the job they have. To name a few top recruiting companies for physiotherapist you can see the following list:

• Defence Ministry of India
• First Physio Clinic
• Fortis Healthcare Company
• Apollo Hospital
• Sarthak Health Care
• DRS Physio & Wellness
• Spectrum Physio Centre
• Pain-Free Physiotherapy Clinic

Pay Scale/Salary of Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists’ salary depends on the industry in which they have been hired. Mentioned-below is the salary scale of a physiotherapist.

Note: The figures mentioned above are an approximate estimate and may vary from one organisation to the other organisation.

Books & Study Material to Become Physiotherapist

Candidates planning to take up Physiotherapy as a career option need to acquire proper degree and certification. For this, they will have to take admission into a recongnized and reputed institution. Candidates need to clear entrance exams in order to take admission in reputed medical colleges of India. To help candidates clear the examination we have enlisted best books and study materials for preparation of entrance exams. Candidates can go through this list, select the one as per their requirement and start preparing for the entrance examination. 

• GGSIPU: PARA-CET (BPT/BPO/MLT/BASLP) Common Entrance Exam Guide by RPH Editorial Board
• MCQs for Master in Physiotherapy (MPT) Entrance Examination by Suraj Kumar
• JIPMER Chapterwise Solutions 7 Years by MTG Editorial Board
• NCERT Physics Class XI & Class XII
• 30 Years NEET Chapter-wise & Topic-wise Solved Papers (PCB) (2017 - 1988) 12th Edition by Disha Experts
• AIPMT (All India Pre-medical/pre Dental Entrance Test) by S.Sivakumar
• Handbook of Chemistry by Arihant Experts
• Handbook of Biology by Arihant Experts

Pros of becoming a Physiotherapist

• Physiotherapists in India are paid well. The initial pay scale of as compared to other healthcare industry jobs is comparatively more.
• With the changing health conditions and lifestyle of the people, the requirement of physiotherapists has increased and this increment will continue in the near future. Therefore, the number of employment opportunities are more for the new therapists.
• It is a job that can be done anywhere and the professionals need not necessarily be associated with an organisation or institution.
• You have a scope of starting your own practice and can open your clinic on your terms and conditions.
• As a physiotherapist, you get the chance to interact a number of people of different stream and genre which in a way will help you to gain more knowledge not only of your field but also of different fields.   

Cons of becoming a Physiotherapist

• The job of a physiotherapist demands time and attention. As a physiotherapist, you will have to spend ample amount of time with your patients in order to understand their problems. Time for your personal work will definitely be hampered by this.
• In order to be a physiotherapist, you too need to be fit and fine with no physical ailments and problems. You will have to work hard on your physic also, which can be troublesome for some.
• Physiotherapists must most importantly be a good communicator. If you are an introvert or are not comfortable in commuting with people then this job is not meant for you.
• You need to have a lot of patience with the patients. Sometimes you may lose control but this will affect your professional life.
• Physiotherapists need to be very attentive while dealing with patients suffering from multiple or sensitive diseases or problems.