A career in physiotherapy

What is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession that works with people to identify and maximise their ability to move and function. Functional movement is a key part of what it means to be healthy. This means that physiotherapy plays a key role in enabling people to improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Physiotherapy is the best thing that ever happened to me" says physiotherapist Sammy Margo

What do other physios say about their chosen career?

A physiotherapy degree gives you eligibility for registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC) and qualified membership of the CSP, which brings chartered status if you qualify on a programme that holds CSP accreditation.

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

Further information

More on this website:

• support worker questions - there are also opportunities to work as a support worker within a physiotherapy team if you don't wish to study for a degree
• our list of all UK physio degree courses.

Flexible employment options

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.

What physios say

"Physiotherapy is the best thing that ever happened to me. After 20 years I still love going to work and remain passionate about my amazing profession."
Sammy Margo, media physiotherapist and private practitioner

"Physiotherapy a very rewarding job especially when you can make a difference to people's lives by abolishing their pain or symptoms, enhancing their quality of life and enabling them to manage their symptoms independently."   Ahmed Osman, senior musculoskeletal physiotherapist

"Every day is different. I enjoy the intellectual stimulation that all facets of being a physiotherapist bring."   Kirsten Lord, managing director and private practitioner

Further information

Want to find out more?

Keen to find out about entry requirements and funding your study programme?

See our list of career FAQs which address many commonly asked questions.