How Do I Go into Sports Physiotherapy?

Sports physiotherapy professionals are often in high demand in many parts of the world because they specialize in recognizing and treating various types of injuries resulting from sporting activities. If you are interested in getting into sports physiotherapy, it is a good idea to develop a passion for sports and pay close attention to various science courses while in high school. These will prepare you for the college-level coursework you will need to take once you graduate from high school. Life sciences such as biology are particularly useful courses to pay close attention to.

Once you graduate from high school, you will need to enroll in a college or university that offers a sports physiotherapy degree program. You will have several degree options, depending on what your career goals are. You can, for example, enroll in a sports physiotherapy associate's degree program that will generally take two years to complete. Once you complete the degree, you will be eligible for certain entry-level positions within the industry, but your advancement will be limited unless you eventually continue your education and get a bachelor's degree. You can also choose to earn a bachelor's degree right out of high school; this degree generally takes about four years to earn and will qualify you for many more jobs within the field.

In order to become a physiotherapist who works independently with patients, you will need to earn a master's degree and pass any certification exams required by local or federal governments in your region of the world. It is best to research the various requirements you will need to fulfill to enter the field of sports physiotherapy before you begin your college career. A master's degree will take at least two more years to complete after earning a bachelor's degree; you cannot earn a master's degree without first earning a bachelor's degree.

After graduating from college, you will need to write a professional resume that you can submit to potential employers. Do not be surprised if you are only offered entry-level positions right out of school; take this as an opportunity to learn more about the field and establish important contacts with other physiotherapy professionals. You may be required to undergo an apprenticeship or some sort of job training before you are ready to work independently in the sports physiotherapy field, though this is not always the case. If you only earned an associate's degree, it is likely you will need to work under the guidance and supervision of a more experienced physiotherapist at all times.