Why choose Physiotherapy

Why choose physiotherapy?

Becoming a physiotherapist means you can play a key role in enabling people to improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.

It's a profession that works with people to identify and maximise their ability to move and function – an essential part of what it means to be healthy.

In order to become a physiotherapist, you must study at university either full-time, part-time or while working as part of an apprenticeship.

If you have been inspired by how the NHS frontline workforce has responded to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, and you would like to train to be a physiotherapist, please continue to apply to your chosen universities as normal.

Due to the pandemic, all universities across the UK are adapting their teaching to make learning available online. For physiotherapy students, there has always been a great emphasis on self-directed learning and independent study. Although online learning is a temporary necessity during this pandemic, all universities will expect future students to be able to manage their own learning.

Please be assured that the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the CSP is working closely with universities to reduce the impact of temporary changes. Communication between programme teams and the CSP is happening on a continuous basis to ensure learning can continue.

Universities may not physically be open, but you can still apply and begin your physiotherapy degree from home.

Once you have a physiotherapy degree you are eligible to register with the HCPC. You can also join the CSP as a qualified member and enjoy the chartered status that inspires public confidence and provides an advantage in the jobs market.

So if you want an academic qualification and professional status, physiotherapy can be a great choice of career:

See a list of physiotherapy degree programmes

Flexible employment opportunities

Physiotherapy offers you many different and flexible employment options. Once you have qualified and gained some clinical experience you could go on to become:

• a physiotherapist to a national sporting team

• a physiotherapy lecturer in a university

• a researcher for a patient charity such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society

• a consultant physiotherapist in musculoskeletal services

• a physio running their own private practice

• a physiotherapy services manager.

'Physiotherapy is the best thing that ever happened to me. '

After 32 years I still love going to work and remain passionate about my amazing profession'

Sammy Margo, media physiotherapist

Taken from an interview with Sammy Margo by The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy