A physiotherapist is a trained health care provider who assists people with physical disabilities, injuries, and illnesses. He or she creates and implements patient-specific rehabilitation programs so that people can regain strength, learn self-care, and return to work. To begin a career as a physiotherapist, a person must complete a master’s or doctoral degree program from an accredited physiotherapy school, pass licensing exams in his or her state or country, and complete an internship that can last up to one year after graduation.
Advanced biology, chemistry, anatomy, and health courses can help a high school student prepare for a future career as a physiotherapist. These classes introduce students to the various functions of the human body as well as prevention and treatment strategies for a variety of physical ailments. Many students volunteer in school athletic programs or community sports organizations to gain hands-on experience identifying, treating, and designing rehabilitation programs for various injuries. In their senior year of high school, students typically apply to four-year undergraduate universities.
An undergraduate can major in a variety of subjects, but the majority of students choose to study health, biology, sports science, or physical therapy. A prospective physiotherapist will typically receive classroom and laboratory training, gaining advanced knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and health-care procedures. A student can take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) near the end of a bachelor’s program and begin applying to physical therapy programs at accredited graduate schools.
It can be difficult to get into a physiotherapy school because there is usually a lot of competition for spots. Students with the best academic records, GRE scores, personal essays, and letters of recommendation are usually accepted. A student is given extensive classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction in the fundamentals of physical therapy after being admitted. He or she prepares for a career as a physiotherapist shadowing and assisting experienced therapists in the clinic. Doctorate programs can take three to four years to complete. Master’s degree programs typically last two years.
Before practicing independently as a physiotherapist, a graduate must pass a licensing exam administered his or her state or country. Exams assess a person’s understanding of various procedures, safety precautions, and ethics. A new physiotherapist often works as an intern at a hospital or physical rehabilitation clinic for about a year after receiving their license, gaining valuable hands-on experience under the supervision of experienced professionals. After completing an internship, a physiotherapist can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices.