Physiotherapist
Also advertised as: bobath physiotherapist, cardiovascular physiotherapist, chiropractic therapist, Community Physiotherapist, eurythmy therapist, hydrotherapist
Helps patients recover movement and manage pain after injury, illness or surgery.
What the job involves
Physiotherapists assess physical problems and design treatment plans using exercise, manual therapy and education. Settings range from hospital wards and sports clinics to community rehabilitation and private practice. Building trust with patients matters as much as technical knowledge, since recovery depends on people sticking with a plan.
Typical responsibilities
- Assess mobility and physical function
- Design and deliver treatment programmes
- Teach exercises and self-management
- Track progress and adjust plans
- Liaise with doctors and other therapists
Common employers
- NHS trusts
- Private physiotherapy clinics
- Sports clubs
- Care homes
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£29,000 – £32,000 a year
With experience
£38,000 – £47,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours, some evening clinics in private practice
Working environment
Hospital gyms, clinics or patients' homes
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Clinical assessment
- Manual therapy techniques
- Programme design
- Patient motivation
- Report writing
Transferable skills you may already have
- Coaching people to build habits
- Sports or fitness training background
- Problem solving
Requirements employers ask for
- Clinical assessment
- Manual therapy techniques
- Programme design
- Patient motivation
- Report writing
- BSc Physiotherapy degree
- HCPC registration
- HCPC registration
- Enhanced DBS check
- engage in physiotherapy research
- conduct physiotherapy assessment
- develop physiotherapy services
- deal with emergency care situations
- advise on healthcare users' informed consent
- sociology
- develop plans related to client discharge
- neurology
- ensure safety of healthcare users
- respiratory therapy
- manage healthcare users' data
- supervise physiotherapy students
Useful but not essential
- Coaching people to build habits
- Sports or fitness training background
- Problem solving
- Sports massage or Pilates qualifications
- Experience in a care or gym setting
- employ foreign languages for health-related research
- prescribe medication
- apply massage therapy
- hydrotherapy
- apply acupuncture
- employ foreign languages in care
- sport and exercise medicine
Helpful qualifications
- Sports massage or Pilates qualifications
- Experience in a care or gym setting
Licences and checks
- HCPC registration
- Enhanced DBS check
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Physiotherapist (Degree Apprenticeship)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Biology
- Related subject: PE
- Related subject: Sport science
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Physiotherapist
next
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist
next
Practice Owner
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Wide variety of settings and specialisms
- Visible, motivating patient progress
- Private practice can boost earnings
What people find hard
- Physically demanding on the body
- NHS caseloads can be heavy
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a physiotherapist?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. required
- How much does a physiotherapist earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £29,000 to £32,000 a year, rising towards £47,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Coaching people to build habits, Sports or fitness training background, Problem solving.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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