Are you looking to pursue a career in the medical stream?
MBBS and BDS are the first choices of students and there in no wonder why many of the aspirants are not able to find slots in good colleges despite scoring high marks in class 12.
Physiotherapy is another popular medical stream apart from MBBS and BDS which has in fact a good career and salary scope if you pursue the education from a good college. The primary role of a physiotherapist involves looking after the muscular and physical health of individuals.
Even when not immensely popular just like the main medical streams, this is a promising field for medical stream aspirants with lots of options to choose from.
Having an idea about the different courses available, top colleges offering the Physiotherapy courses, fees, eligibility criteria, admission, career and salary scope can help you out to make a sensible decision. Let us have a look into more details.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a medical science branch that handles the treatment, cure and prevention of physical dysfunction in individuals. Unlike other modern medicine approaches, this medical stream mainly involves ancient sciences when rehabilitation of physically disabled individuals is done through physical practices.
The professional will have to handle the medical conditions without drugs but using heat, mechanical pressure, electricity, and mechanical forces. This requires a thorough awareness of the human anatomy and the complexities of muscles, bones, and nerves.
More importantly, the treatments are performed through non-surgical process to ease pain, rebuild functionality and enhance the motion of the disturbed part of an individual’s body. This branch of science makes the best use of data-based electrotherapy, shockwave mobility, kinesiology, and exercise instruction to cure persistent conditions of the bones and soft tissues.
Types of Physiotherapy Courses in India
An individual who is looking to pursue career in Physiotherapy have a lot of options to learn more about the subject and be competent for the profession. In India, there are mainly 3 types of Physiotherapy courses.
- Undergraduate Courses
- Certificate/ Diploma Courses
- Postgraduate Courses
Students who passed the class 12 can either opt for 4-year undergraduate courses or diploma courses of 2 to 3 years of duration. This type of courses mostly involves curriculum teaching regarding physical movement and steering it to prevent ailments and disability of movement.
However, those who are looking for an advanced learning in the field can earn a master’s degree (MPT) in the related subjects after graduation. This learning phase mostly prepares them to build exceptional skills and competencies in clinical areas. This enables them to work independently and contribute their service in challenging working environments.
Physiotherapy Courses After 12th
Those who are looking to pursue a career in Physiotherapy can consider the following courses once they pass out after class 12. The list includes both undergraduate and diploma courses.
| Course Name | Course Type | Duration | Average Fees |
| Diploma in Physiotherapy | Undergraduate Diploma | 2-3 years | 10,000 to 5 lakh rupees |
| Bachelor of Physio / Physical Therapy (BPT) | Undergraduate Degree | 4 years | 1 lakh to 5 lakh rupees |
| Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) | Undergraduate Degree | 3-5 years | Around 4 lakh rupees |
| Bachelor of Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc) | Undergraduate Degree | 5 years | 6,500 t0 2.24 lakh rupees |
| B.Sc in Physiotherapy | Undergraduate Degree | 3 years | 1 lakh to 5 lakh rupees |
Eligibility Criteria for Physiotherapy Diploma and Graduation Programmes
Students who are looking to take up a diploma or graduate programs in Physiotherapy must have qualified almost the same eligibility criteria which are listed below.
- He/she should pass the class 12 exams with a minimum of 50% marks
- For BPT courses, some colleges conduct entrance exams or consider the marks of common entrance tests like CET all India entrance test, GGSIPU or JIPMER, while some colleges just look at the plus two results
- Sc. in Physiotherapy courses are usually given admissions based on merit marks of class 12 only without any entrance exams.
- He/she must take the Science stream in class 12 with Physics, Biology, and Chemistry as the main subjects
- He/she should complete a minimum of 17 years age at the admission time
However, the exact requirements can vary from institute to institute. For example, even when most colleges demand only 50% marks in total plus two marks, certain colleges insist for an aggregate of 50% marks in the Science subjects.
General Admission Process to Courses
The exact admission processes usually vary from institutes and universities. However, refer the section below to check out the general instructions to consider for the admission process to Physiotherapy courses.
- The admission to most BPT programs is conducted based on the performance in common entrance tests or entrance tests organized by respective universities.
- Take note that the application process will be allowed for a specific time period and be sure to submit the forms with accurate details on or before the last date.
- Candidates are given option to download the admit cards online which should be carried to the exam venue on the given day.
- They must make sure that they fulfil all the specific eligibility requirements listed out in the respective websites before submitting the application failing which they will be denied admission even if they pass the test.
- Usually, they publish a selection list based on the merit marks of the exam and a separate list for quotas if any.
Popular Physiotherapy Entrance Exams in India
Most of the colleges fill up the seats of the courses by considering the marks of entrance exams. Here is a list of the most common entrance exams that are suggested for the students who are looking to take up higher education in Physiotherapy.
- National Eligibility cum entrance Test (NEET)
- JIPMER Paramedical
- AIIMS Paramedical
- Manipal Entrance Test (MET)
- IPU CET Paramedical
- Amity BPT
- BHU BPT
- Jamia Hamdard Paramedical
- BCECE Paramedical
- CMC Vellore Paramedical
- Jamia Millia Islamia Paramedical
Postgraduate Physiotherapy Courses
Students who are planning to take up advanced education in Physiotherapy can consider the following list of postgraduate courses. This includes masters, doctorate and diploma courses.
| Course Name | Course Type | Duration | Average Fees |
| Master of Science in Physiotherapy (M.Sc.) | Post-graduate Degree | 2 years | 35,000 to 2.5 lakh rupees |
| Master in Physiotherapy (MPT) | Post-graduate Degree | 2 years | 2 to 7 lakh rupees |
| Master of Physiotherapy (Neurology) | Post-graduate Degree | 2 years | 30,000 to 5 lakh rupees |
| Master of Physiotherapy in Sports Physiotherapy | Post-graduate Degree | 2 years | 2 to 7 lakh rupees |
| Doctor of Medicine in Physiotherapy (M.D.) | Post-graduate Degree | 3 years | 10 to 25 lakh rupees |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Physiotherapy (PhD) | Doctorate Degree | 2 years | 5,000 to 25 lakh rupees |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Physiotherapy (PGD) | Post-graduate Diploma | 1 year | 2.4 to 4.7 lakh rupees |
Eligibility Criteria for PG Physiotherapy Courses
Students who wish to enrol for advanced studies in Physiotherapy can have a look at the eligibility criteria for PG Physiotherapy Courses listed below.
- For MPT programmes, one should clear the respective entrance exams in addition to scoring 50% marks in BPT
- He/she should earn the BPT degree from an institution accepted by the Indian Association of Physiotherapists
- At least 6 months period as an intern in the field is recommended by most universities
- For doctoral programmes, one should score decent marks in post-graduation in addition to clearing interviews for fellowships and entrance exams.
Specialisations Offered in India
Those who wish to pursue a degree in Physiotherapy can opt for a specialization in the field to obtain more knowledge. Here are some of the commonly chosen specialisations by students pursuing Physiotherapy courses in India.
- Paediatric Physiotherapy
- Sports Physiotherapy
- Orthopaedic Physiotherapy
- Post-Operative Physiotherapy
- Community Physiotherapy
- Obstetrics Physiotherapy
- Neurology Physiotherapy
- Geriatric Physiotherapy
- Musculoskeletal Science
- General and Community based Rehabilitation
- Cardiovascular Physiotherapy
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiotherapy
Top Colleges offering Physiotherapy Courses in India
There are several colleges in India that offer a wide range of Physiotherapy courses. However, pursuing degree from a reputed college boosts the chances of passing out with good marks and thus enhancing the career and salary prospects.
Here is the list of some of the top colleges offering physiotherapy courses in the country.
- University of Engineering and Management Jaipur
- Madras Medical College (MMC), Chennai
- Lovely Professional University (LPU), Jalandhar
- All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Maharashtra
- Guru Kashi University (GKU), Bathinda
- Apollo Physiotherapy College, Hyderabad
- Indian Institute of Health Education & Research, Patna
- JSS College of Physiotherapy, Mysore
- OM Sterling Global University (OSGU), Hisar
- Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry
- SDM College of Physiotherapy, Dharwad
- Swami Vivekananda University (SVU), Kolkata
- Medical Trust Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin
- SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chennai
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh
Necessary Skillset for Physiotherapists
A good Physiotherapist is expected to have good clinical awareness and the know-how of all fundamental principles that are related to the clinical modalities. Unlike some other streams, he/she should be tolerant and ready to explain the ins and outs of the therapies before performing them. The key role of a Physiotherapy professional is restoring the confidence in patients and bringing them back to normal life. Here is the list of some other skill set that are required to stay successful in the field.
- Fluency in language (local language and English)
- Capability to run equipment wisely
- Empathy and confidence
- Capability to converse in a convincing tone
- Clarity of speech
- Knowledge of scientific rationale of procedures
- Persuasive and influential
- Excellent presentation skills
Career Scope After Physiotherapy Courses
With more and more people moving towards white collar jobs and corporate world, people are dealing with extreme stress levels daily. And the sedentary lifestyle has resulted in an increase in obese and unfit people who are more prone to injuries than ever before. This simply means that world is in high demand for more Physiotherapy professionals who can contribute to the physical and thus emotional wellbeing of people.
Here are the different job types and roles you can expect and explore once you decide to go for a career in Physiotherapy.
- Physiotherapist
- Sports Physio-Rehabilitator
- Private Practitioner
- Rehabilitation Specialist
- Customer Care Assistant
- Osteopathist
- Researcher
- Consultant
- Lecturer
- Therapy Manager
- Home care physiotherapist
A confident physiotherapist always prefers to start their own enterprise or clinic where they handle the physical well being of people. However, good physiotherapists are of great demand in a wide range of employment sectors, a few of which are listed here.
- Colleges and Universities
- Rehabilitation Centres
- Orthopaedic Departments
- Sports Clubs
- Health Institutions
- Gyms and Fitness Centres
- Schools for Physically Disabled and Mentally Retarded Children
- Pharma Industry
- Defence Medical Organisations
- Sports Training facilities
Some of the top recruiters who are looking to hire physiotherapist professionals include Apollo Hospitals, Hosmat hospital, Help Age India, Fortis Hospital and more. Moreover, they can also find immense career opportunities abroad in Australia, US, and the UK.
Salary Scope After Physiotherapy Courses.
Those who wish to pursue a career in Physiotherapy would be eager to know about the salary scope of the different roles they might handle in the sector. Here are some interesting details regarding the salary scale of a Physiotherapy professional.
- For a beginner in the field, the starting pay can lie somewhere between 15,000 rupees per month up to 5.5 lakh rupees per annum which varies with exact role type and industry.
- The reputation of your college, the marks scored in the exams as well as the type of internships all contribute to your role, the industry which will choose you and the payment scale.
- Just like all other professions, experience in the field can help you earn more as Senior Physiotherapists are earning around Rs. 70,000 per month.
- Those who take up a career in sports industry, especially in reputed clubs, centres, ministry of sports or national teams can earn a good pay unlike in normal clinics.
Final Thoughts
Are you looking to pursue a career in Physiotherapy? We hope this consolidated information regarding the types of courses, fee, eligibility and admission details and the career and salary prospects would help you in making an informed decision.
As we see, Physiotherapy is one among the lucrative career options for individuals who look forward to practice in the health sector. With numerous opportunities in both private and government sector, a student with a hard-earned degree can reap the benefits in a short time frame. Moreover, the feeling of satisfaction when you are the reason behind the well being of many patients will surely boost your positivity.