Physiotherapy assistant
Physiotherapy assistants work with patients to manage their condition and improve movement.
Also known as: Physiotherapy support worker
- Starter salary£25,000 a year
- Experienced£31,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As a physiotherapy assistant, you would:
- talk to patients about their treatment plan
- show patients how to use mobility aids
- demonstrate and work through exercises with patients
- monitor progress and update records
- work closely with physiotherapists and other health professionals
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a health centre or at a client's home.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work well with others
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to be flexible and open to change
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- knowledge of psychology
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a physiotherapy assistant
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
College
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant subjects include:
- Level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services
- Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
- Level 3 National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science
Most health and social care courses include work placements, which is a good way for you to get practical experience.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
Apprenticeship
You can do a Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship or a Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Work
You could start as a healthcare assistant and learn on the job, then move into physiotherapy work through further training and promotion.
Volunteering
Volunteering in the NHS is a good way to get work experience in healthcare. This can be helpful when you apply for jobs or training.
You can also find opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Do it .
Direct application
You can apply directly for jobs if you've got relevant skills and experience from working in a healthcare or sports exercise setting. Some employers may ask for a qualification in healthcare and GCSE subjects like maths and English.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
- have a first aid certificate
Career path and progression
With experience and further qualifications, you could:
- become a senior physiotherapy support worker
- train to become an assistant practitioner
- take an accredited degree to qualify as a physiotherapist
Career tips
You would be expected to have an understanding of how the NHS values would apply in your work.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job rolePhysiotherapist
- Job roleOccupational therapy support worker
- Job roleMassage therapist
- Job roleHealthcare assistant
- Job roleRadiography assistant
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0