Physiotherapists plan and apply massage, promote and encourage movement and exercise, use hydrotherapy, electro-therapy and other technological equipment in the treatment of a wide range of injuries, diseases and disabilities in order to assist rehabilitation by developing and restoring body systems.
Also calledSports physiotherapistVeterinary physiotherapistAnimal physiotherapistPhysiotherapy practitionerSuperintendent physiotherapistElectro-therapistand 3 more titles
Recruitment from abroad. 63 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from India, Nigeria, Australia, ranking it 120th of 313. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
10%aged 55 or over
96%hold a degree
14%self-employed
61%women
Age of physiotherapists
Age profile of physiotherapists
6.5%!
35%!
26%!
22%!
7.1%!
3.2%!
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
16–24
6.5% (small sample)
25–34
35% (small sample)
35–44
26% (small sample)
45–54
22% (small sample)
55–64
7.1% (small sample)
65+
3.2% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by physiotherapists
Degree or equivalent96%
Higher education below degree!1%
A levels or equivalent!2.7%
GCSEs or equivalent–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
Degree or equivalent
96%
Higher education below degree
1% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent
2.7% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent
Not published
Main employers: other human health activities (40%), hospital activities (31%), regulation of the activities of providing health care, education, cultural services and other social services, excluding social security (14%), general medical practice activities (2.3%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
96%
as their highest qualification
Registration
HCPC
required to practise: Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Apprenticeships
1
from level 6, a degree apprenticeship
Apprenticeships take
4 years
typically
Routes in
Physiotherapist
You can get into this job through:
University
You can do a physiotherapy degree course approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
You can also do a postgraduate master's course if you already have a first degree in a related subject, like:
biological science
health science
sports and exercise science
Once you are qualified and have clinical experience you could specialise in an area like sports injuries and rehabilitation.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do a Physiotherapist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
It usually takes 4 years to complete and includes a mix of learning on the job while studying at university.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, preferably including biology, for a degree apprenticeship
Other ways in
Work your way up
You may be able to start as a physiotherapy assistant, for example in the NHS, and study part time for a degree or degree apprenticeship to qualify as a physiotherapist.
Volunteering
Volunteering in the NHS is a good way to get work experience in healthcare. This can be helpful when you apply for training or jobs.
You can also get advice on work experience from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
What you’ll need
pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
Registration and professional bodies
Registration
you'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council
Career tips
If you're interested in sports physiotherapy, it will help if you can get some experience with an amateur sports team or club. This will show your commitment to the profession when it comes to applying for training and jobs.
You would also be expected to have an understanding of how the NHS values would impact your work, if applying for jobs in the NHS.
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy for professional development and to build up your contacts in the industry.
Further information
You can find out more about a career in physiotherapy from:
Health Careers
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for physiotherapist. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Veterinary physiotherapist
You can get into this job through:
University
You'll usually need to study one of the following qualifications:
a degree in veterinary physiotherapy
a degree in human physiotherapy, approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
If you have completed a degree in human physiotherapy, or animal science, you could apply for a place on a postgraduate master's course in animal physiotherapy.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You could start your career by doing a Physiotherapist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship. You could then go on to complete a postgraduate award in veterinary physiotherapy.
This apprenticeship can take around 4 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, preferably including biology, for a degree apprenticeship
Other routes
You could train in animal massage or animal hydrotherapy, if you do not have a degree but want to work in a related area.
You can get more details about training from the:
Equine Sports Massage Association
National Association of Registered Canine Hydrotherapists
Canine Massage Therapy Centre
Registration and professional bodies
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy for professional development and training opportunities.
Further information
You can find out more about becoming a veterinary physiotherapist from the:
National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists
Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy
Institute of Registered Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for veterinary physiotherapist. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Apprenticeships
1 for this job
Level 6About 4 yearsDegree
Physiotherapist
You gain
BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy or Level 7 qualification approved by the Health and…
Registration
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Employers may ask for
Entry requirements are agreed between the employer and the HCPC approved education provider but are typically 3 A levels to include biology or human biology…
examines medical reports and assesses patient to determine the condition of muscles, nerves or joints in need of treatment
writes up patients’ case notes and reports, maintains their records and manages caseload
plans and undertakes therapy to improve circulation, restore joint mobility, strengthen muscles and reduce pain
explains treatment to and instructs patient in posture and other exercises and adapts treatment as necessary
offers advice and education on how to avoid injury and promote patient’s future health and well-being
supervises physiotherapy assistants
monitors patient’s progress and liaises with others concerned with the treatment and rehabilitation of patient, and refers patients requiring other specific medical attention
Skills
accept own accountability
adhere to health well-being and safety
adhere to organisational guidelines
adjust physiotherapy interventions
advise on healthcare users' informed consent
advocate health
apply clinical physiotherapy skills
apply context specific clinical competences
apply health sciences
apply organisational techniques
collect healthcare user's general data
communicate effectively in healthcare
comply with legislation related to health care
comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice
Suits people who like
Helping and caring for people
Working with ideas and solving problems
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for health professionals, a group of 24 jobs that includes physiotherapists.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 19%about 310,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.3 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
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