Physiotherapist

What does a physiotherapist do?

• Assess patients' movement, strength, pain and daily function.
• Design exercise and rehabilitation programmes and teach patients how to do them.
• Use hands-on techniques such as massage, joint mobilisation and stretching.
• Help patients recover after surgery, strokes, heart problems or sports injuries.
• Treat breathing problems, for example in intensive care or for people with lung disease.
• Advise on posture, lifting and preventing injuries at work or in sport.
• Track progress, adjust treatment and keep clinical records.

Where do they work?

Physiotherapists work in hospitals, including intensive care, orthopaedic and stroke units, and in outpatient clinics, private practices, rehabilitation centres, care homes, schools and patients' homes. Many work with sports clubs or in occupational health for employers. Others are self-employed or run their own clinics, especially in countries where private care is common. The job is active and practical, and hospital roles may include weekend or on-call work.

What skills do you need?

• Anatomy and knowledge of how the body moves
• Clinical assessment and reasoning
• Designing exercise programmes
• Hands-on treatment techniques
• Motivating and encouraging patients
• Clear explanations and teaching
• Physical fitness and stamina
• Accurate record keeping

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• formulate a treatment plan
• apply organisational techniques
• apply clinical physiotherapy skills
• provide physiotherapy diagnosis
• inform policy makers on health-related challenges
• triage clients for physiotherapy
• deal with emergency care situations
• provide health education
• manage healthcare users' data
• employ cognitive behaviour treatment techniques
• engage in physiotherapy research
• interact with healthcare users

Essential knowledge: rehabilitation · neurology · pharmacology · psychology · respiratory therapy · medical terminology · paediatrics · sociology

How do you become a physiotherapist?

In most countries, you need a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy, usually three to five years, that includes supervised clinical placements. In the United States, you first complete a bachelor's degree and then a Doctor of Physical Therapy programme of about three years, and in Canada a master's degree after a bachelor's is standard. Graduates in subjects such as sports science or biology can often take a two-year graduate-entry master's in countries such as the UK and Australia. After training, you register with the national or state regulator, and some countries, including the United States and Canada, also require a licensing exam.

1. Physiotherapy degree. A bachelor's degree of three to five years is the standard route in most countries, including the UK, Australia, India and much of Europe and Latin America. You study anatomy, physiology and treatment methods and spend a large part of the course on placements in hospitals and clinics. Some programmes include a period of internship before you can register.
2. Graduate-entry master's or doctorate. In the United States and Canada, physiotherapy is studied at graduate level after a bachelor's degree: a Doctor of Physical Therapy in the United States and usually a master's in Canada. The UK, Australia and some other countries also offer two-year graduate-entry master's programmes. This route suits career changers with a science or sports degree.
3. Vocational training or apprenticeship. In a few countries, such as Germany, physiotherapists have traditionally qualified through a vocational school programme ending in a state exam, although university programmes are growing. In the UK, degree apprenticeships let physiotherapy support workers train while they work. Check which qualifications your national regulator accepts.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Physiotherapy

  A physiotherapy degree trains you to help people move, recover and manage pain after injury, illness or surgery, using exercise, hands-on treatment and advice.

  3 linked careers

• Sports science

  A sports science degree studies how the body performs and responds to exercise, and how psychology, nutrition and coaching affect performance and health.

  5 linked careers

• Biology

  A biology degree teaches how living things work, from molecules and cells to whole organisms and ecosystems.

  6 linked careers

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Do you need a licence to work as a physiotherapist?

Physiotherapy is a regulated profession in most countries, and the job title is often protected by law. You usually need to complete an approved programme and register with a national or state regulator before you can practise. Some countries, such as the United States and Canada, also require a licensing exam, and many regulators require continuing professional development. Rules on what physiotherapists may do, such as seeing patients without a doctor's referral, vary by country, so check the local regulator.

How much does a physiotherapist earn?

Pay in the United States

• $102,760Median annual wage, May 2025
• $77,140–$135,140Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 267.3KPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 29-1123, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes physiotherapist and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Newly qualified or junior physiotherapist
2. Physiotherapist
3. Senior or specialist physiotherapist
4. Clinical lead, advanced practitioner or clinic owner
5. Head of therapy services or consultant physiotherapist

Job outlook

Ageing populations, more people living with long-term conditions and a focus on keeping people active and out of hospital support steady demand for physiotherapists. Sport, occupational health and private practice also create jobs. Digital tools, such as video appointments and exercise apps, are changing how some care is delivered. In some countries, competition for first jobs in public hospitals can be strong, and private work depends on insurance cover and on patients' ability to pay.

Questions about becoming a physiotherapist

What is the difference between a physiotherapist and a physical therapist?

There is no real difference. Physical therapist is the usual title in the United States, the Philippines and some other countries, while physiotherapist is used in the UK, Canada, Australia, India and many others. The work is very similar, although the qualification needed to practise, such as a bachelor's, master's or doctorate, varies by country.

How long does it take to become a physiotherapist?

In most countries it takes three to five years to complete a physiotherapy degree. In the United States, you need a bachelor's degree followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy of about three years, so around seven years in total. In Canada, a master's of about two years usually follows a bachelor's degree. You must then register and, in some countries, pass a licensing exam.

Can you become a physiotherapist with a sports science degree?

Not directly, but it is a common starting point. A sports science or kinesiology degree does not usually qualify you to register as a physiotherapist. However, it can help you get into a graduate-entry master's or doctoral programme in physiotherapy, which exist in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and some other countries. Check each programme's science entry requirements.

How do you become a sports physiotherapist?

First qualify and register as a physiotherapist, then build experience in treating muscle, bone and joint problems. Many sports physiotherapists work in general clinics or hospitals for several years and take postgraduate courses in sports physiotherapy. Jobs with professional teams are popular and competitive, so volunteering with local clubs and events can help you get started.

Related careers

• Occupational therapist

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  Degree required · Licensed

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Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 29-1123, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2264.3

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become a physiotherapist: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/physiotherapist/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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