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Chartered physiotherapists combine their knowledge and skills to identify an individual patient's functioning needs and improve a broad range of physical problems associated with different systems of the body.

For example, they treat neuromuscular (brain and nervous system), musculoskeletal (soft tissues, joints and bones), and cardiovascular and respiratory systems (heart and lungs and associated physiology).

Physiotherapists work autonomously, most...

If you have been a team player at school or have had a previous career and know you have good interpersonal skills and enjoy motivating others to achieve, physiotherapy could be the career for you.

Physiotherapists work with patients or clients to achieve positive health gains, so having the ability to motivate and sensitively support patients who are in pain or struggling after a serious injury or illness is a key required attribute.

If you are looking for an exciting and...

The starting salary for a qualified physiotherapist in an entry level position in The National Health Service (NHS) is £21,176. This will rise for specialist physiotherapists and for physiotherapist team managers. Principal physiotherapists (consultants) earn considerably more. Extra allowances are payable in the London area, where there may also be assistance towards the costs of accommodation. Salaries in the private sector may vary from those in the NHS.

All full-time NHS allied...

• Full time programmes: the majority of physiotherapy courses require 3 years of full-time study, including clinical placements (4 years in Scotland).
• Part time programmes: there are a number of part time physiotherapy courses in the UK with the same entry requirements and learning outcomes as full time courses. Some of these programmes have been set up primarily for physiotherapy support workers wishing to become chartered physiotherapists....

Please note that entry requirements will vary from university to university so make sure you check directly with individual universities before applying.

England, Wales and NI

School leavers are normally required to have three A2 level subjects at a minimum of Grade C (one should be biological science) and four A1 levels at Grade B including a biological science. Students should also hold a minimum of five GCSEs at grade C and above taken at...

Gaining work experience is helpful but can be difficult to organise in physiotherapy because of current training pressures on relevant departments. However, work experience in any aspect of healthcare will be useful to you.

This is because admissions tutors are looking for evidence that you can communicate well with all ages and sections of the community, and can also cope with bodily fluids, illness and disability. Have a look into work experience and try:

• your local...

Each physiotherapy programme has its own individual entry requirements.

Applicants are advised to visit the individual university websites for specific entry requirements and a prospectus. Alternatively you can contact the university's admissions office.

For contact details please refer to our list of UK qualifying programmes.

All physiotherapy programmes in the UK have to be approved by the HCPC. These are the minimum threshold requirements for practising as a physiotherapist. All of the programmes are also accredited by the CSP, which ensures that graduates are fit to practise and allows you, upon graduation, to become a chartered physiotherapist by applying for full CSP membership.

Studying a physiotherapy qualifying programme entitles you to apply for student membership. You may have to pay the...