How to Become a Physiotherapist? Salaries and essential information

Do you wish to contribute to alleviating others’ pain? By becoming a physiotherapist, you can assist patients suffering from sprains, fractures, or post-surgery sequelae. Find on this job description the pathways to follow and useful information about this rewarding career.

The Role of a Physiotherapist

The physiotherapist, more commonly known as a physio, is a specialist in motor rehabilitation. They acquire the knowledge and many essential skills for their profession through physiotherapy training. As a result, they can intervene in various medical fields such as neurology, rheumatology, or traumatology.

The physio treats patients’ pains through massage and medical gymnastics. Using their hands or dedicated equipment, they can prevent, restore, or compensate for motor disorders or the alteration of a person’s functional abilities.

They can treat conditions such as torticollis, lower back pain, traumas due to accidents, and musculoskeletal problems related to aging. With a medical prescription, they can assist people suffering from psychomotor, respiratory, cardiovascular problems, etc.

Physiotherapists can also offer relaxation and fitness services in the sports field or for well-being purposes without a prescription.

Training and skills for becoming a physiotherapist

Training In France, to practice, one must hold a State Diploma in Physiotherapy, obtained after 4 years of study at an Institute of Training in Physiotherapy (IFMK).

To enter an IFMK as a learner, you must complete a first year at a university. You can choose to follow a Specific Health Access Pathway (PASS), a first year in Biology or in STAPS (Sciences and Techniques of Physical and Sports Activities), or pursue a Licence curriculum with a “health access” option.

Expected Qualities

To succeed as a physiotherapist, you must meet essential technical, ethical, and relational criteria, including:

• Good listening skills,
• Patience and attentiveness,
• Mental balance,
• Dynamism and good physical resistance,
• Scientific mindset, knowledge of medical practices and expectations.

Learning Facilitation, Skills Strengthening, Professional Development

To acquire and consolidate your theoretical and practical knowledge, you can follow learning programs. This is an engaging and rewarding online training that helps students and professionals to:

• Understand the key concepts of physiotherapy in an intuitive and interactive way;
• Strengthen your technique, improve your practical work, understand the use of physiotherapy equipment and products;
• Access educational and practical videos that help learners become the best physiotherapist possible.
• Prepare for tests and exams through quizzes and practical exercises.
• Stay at the forefront of the latest advancements in their field or gain other specializations as a professional.

Career Opportunities in Physiotherapy: Hospital, Clinic, Rehabilitation Center, Wellness Institute

To practice your profession, you must be registered with the council of the Order of Physiotherapists of your department. If you are graduated from another country, you must have your diploma recognized and submit an application for authorization to practice to the DREETS (Regional Directorate for the Economy, Employment, Labor, and Solidarity).

Three options are available to enter the professional world:

• Practice independently in a physiotherapy clinic;
• Work as an employee in the private sector (wellness institute, thalassotherapy center…);
• Join the public sector (hospitals, functional rehabilitation center of a public health establishment…).

Salary and Career Progression Salary

A physiotherapist’s salary can vary based on several factors, including geographic location.

Generally, an independent physio at the start of their career can earn a monthly income between €2,000 and €7,000 gross. With experience and specialization, their gross monthly income can exceed €4,000.

If they work in a public hospital function, they can earn more than €2,000 per month at the beginning and up to €3,500 at the end of their career.

Career Progression

In the public sector, you can achieve higher grades by passing internal competitions. For example, you could become a director of care, managing care resources within the establishment where you work.

To progress, you can also pursue additional training in chiropractic or osteopathy. Specializations (sports physio, pediatric physio, neurological physio, respiratory physio, etc.) also allow you to flourish professionally and earn more financially.