Physiotherapy also known as “Physical Therapy” is a science that helps individuals restore, maintain, and improve physical movement and function after an illness, injury, or disability.
Physiotherapists are the healthcare professional who play a crucial role in improving the quality of life, restoring mobility, and helps in the management of chronic conditions like arthritis, back pain etc.
If you have a strong interest in Biology/human anatomy and enjoy helping others recover from pain, injuries, or physical limitations. Then pursuing a career in Physiotherapy could be the best career option.
To become a Physiotherapist in India, candidates need to pursue UG and PG programs like a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) from a recognized university or institute.
In this article, we will explore in detail about the Career in Physiotherapy, popular courses, eligibility criteria and job opportunities.
The students who are interested in curing the people and helping physically disabled people, then this is the right career for such students. And no doubt, you will be a doctor.
What is Physiotherapy?
“Physiotherapy is the science of prevent, cure and rehabilitation of the physically disabled and challenged people”.
Physiotherapy focuses on the science of movement and is concerned with improving and restoring the functional capacity of the body’s muscular, skeletal, neurological, and cardiopulmonary systems.
The physiotherapy is one of the ancient sciences of curing the people by doing some physical practices. In India, A physiotherapist uses the prefix “P.T.”
Physiotherapy is a non-surgical treatment process aimed to reduce pain, improving movement & restoring functionality in order to improve the patient’s health.
Scope of Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is one of the popular medical courses after 12th, it offers a wide range of career opportunities in healthcare, sports, rehabilitation, and fitness industries.
The demand of skilled Physiotherapist is steadily growing in India as it is directly linked to the aging population, sports related injuries and varius lifestyle related disorders.
Candidates can choose any of the popular career path in the field of Physiotherapy:
Clinical Physiotherapist – Work in hospitals, private clinics, or rehabilitation centers
Sports Physiotherapist – Associated with athletes, sports teams, and fitness clubs
Orthopedic Physiotherapist – Specializing in joint, muscle, and bone recovery
Neuro Physiotherapist – Handling stroke, paralysis, and neurological disorders
Physiotherapy Courses
Candidates aspiring to work in the healthcare industry but who don’t wish to pursue an MBBS or BDS can consider physiotherapy as a rewarding alternative and promising career prospects.
Physiotherapy courses in India are offered at diploma, undergraduate (BPT), and postgraduate (MPT) levels, allowing candidates to choose a suitable path based on their qualifications and professional aspirations.
The course duration of diploma program is 2 years, for BPT 4.5 years and MPT is 2 years. The course curriculum covers subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, Exercise Therapy, Electrotherapy, Pathology, and Clinical Training.
Diploma Courses
- Diploma in Physiotherapy (DPT)
Undergraduate Courses
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)
Postgraduate Courses
- Master of Physiotherapy (MPT)
Also Check – Pharmacy Courses after 12th
Eligibility Criteria
For admission to physiotherapy programme, candidates should meet the eligibility requirement as given below:
For UG Courses
The candidate must have passed 10+2 with science stream.
The candidate must pass 10+2 with 45-50% marks having subjects Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
The candidate must be minimum 17 years of age at the time of admission.
For admission candidate must qualify NEET UG, CUET UG and any university specific entrance test.
For PG Courses
The candidate must hold a BPT degree from a recognized university/institute.
The candidate must have completed a 6-month of mandatory internship.
The candidate must score at least 50%–55% in BPT.
Admission Process
The admission process depends on the level of the course (Diploma, BPT, or MPT) and the institution/university. The admission in diploma program (DPT) is generally done on the basis of merit or class 12th marks.
Candidates can directly apply to the colleges or institutions offering diploma programs in Physiotherapy.
The admission to in UG and PG programs of Physiotherapy is done on the basis of entrance exams. The top universities admit students on the basis of CUET UG, NEET UG or any state specific entrance test.
Some of the popular entrance exams are listed below:
Top Physiotherapy Colleges
- All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mumbai
- Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
- Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal
- Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai
- Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER), Kolkata
- Government Medical College, Nagpur
- NIMS College of Physiotherapy, Jaipur
- Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai
- Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
- Amity Institute of Physiotherapy, Noida
- Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai
- Lovely Professional University, Punjab
- DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai
- Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru
Skills Required
- Good Communication Skills
- Patience
- Organizational Skills
- Administrative Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Team working Skills
- Sound knowledge of the subject
Career and Job Opportunities
In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, many people face musculoskeletal problems due to sedentary habits and over-reliance on mechanization. With limited physical activity and improper posture, conditions like backache, sciatica, lumbago, and other physical impairments have become increasingly common.
The physiotherapist is one who helps in curing such disorders. A physio can work as a health counsellor, physical trainer and a sports physiotherapist .
After the completion of the course, candidates can pursue master course like M.PT or a PhD. Candidates can work with hospitals, health organizations or start their own private practice.
The physiotherapy professionals can also work in government jobs in AIIMS, state government hospitals, medical universities/institutions.
Professional can also work with ministry of sports, hospitals, health societies and you can do the freelance practice.
There are also good opportunities to work abroad after completing this course, as there is high demand for physiotherapists in countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and others.
Specializations
Once you have completed your degree in Physiotherapy, you can work in the given specializations:
- Pediatrics Physiotherapy
- Obstetrics Physiotherapy
- Sports Physiotherapy
- Neurology Physiotherapy
- Orthopedic Physiotherapy
- Geriatrics Physiotherapy
- Post Operative Physiotherapy
- Cardiovascular Physiotherapy
Top Recruiters
Physiotherapist are hired by all fitness organizations & hospitals. The top recruiters include:
- AIIMS
- State Government Hospitals
- Fortis Hospital
- Apollo Hospital
- Max Healthcare
- Manipal Hospital
- Narayana Health
- Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises
- National Sports Teams & Training Academies
- Medanta – The Medicity
- National Sports Teams & Training Academies
- Academic Institutions (lecturers/trainers)
Salary
A fresher with no prior experience can start with ₹15,000–₹25,000 per month working in private hospitals and clinics. Candidates with higher education qualification and 3-5 years of work experience can expect ₹40,000-₹60,000 per month in India.
Candidates working in a specialized roles in top hospitals, sports organization or rehabilitation centers the salaries are typically higher often in the range ₹75,000–₹125,000 per month.
In government sector, the salaries are competitive and candidates can expect constant career growth. The starting salaries in government sector is typically ₹45,000 to ₹58,000 per month. In addition to this candidates have regular promotions, allowances, medical facilities along with the job security.
Candidates can also start their private practice and charge the consultation fees from the patients. In private practice, candidates have the potential to earn ₹50,000 to ₹100,000 per month depending on the patient volume and location.
Books & Study Material
- Orthopedic Physical Assessment by David J Magee
- Therapeutic Exercise by Carol Kisner
- The Principles of Exercise Therapy by Deena Gardiner
- Manual Therapy Approaches In Neuro-Physiotherapy by Ganvir Suvarna
- Manual of Mulligan Concept (Revised Edition) by Deepak Kumar
- Manipulative Physiotherapy Assessment, Treatment and Improvisation by Biswas Amrit
- Essentials of Orthopedics for Physiotherapists by Ebnezar
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