Physiotherapist job roles, responsibilities, descriptions, duties and salary

Date of posting: 02 Jul 21

What are the job roles and responsibilities of a Physiotherapist?

job roles and responsibilities of a Physiotherapist?

What Does a Physiotherapist Do?

Learn about the key requirements, duties, responsibilities, salaries and required skills that should be in a Physiotherapist job description.

Job designation: - Physiotherapist

A physiotherapist’s duty is to help people get therapy and assist those who are injured in recovering. They mostly engage with people who are senior citizens, accident victims or sports people/athletes who injured themselves during a sports event or a rigorous training session.

Duties and responsibilities of a Physiotherapist

A physiotherapist’s main job role is help people recovering from injuries, encouraging people to engage in pursuing any kind of physical activity ranging from rehabilitation exercises to high intensity exercises to body fats at normal level or keeping the body fit and fine. 

  • Rehabilitation of patients with minor to severe injuries which occurred during a certain period of time
  • Conduct reports and analysis of the patients’ health based on their present health condition
  • Development and restoration of body systems especially the muscular system, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system
  • Evaluation of the patients’ health based on their recent physical activities
  • Recommendation of new equipment to resume physical activities for health recovery
  • Conducting therapies on patients who require it immediately or at a later point of time
  • Helping people to recover from trauma and incidents that made them incapable of doing anything with even the slightest of physical force
  • Recovering servicemen or former military personnel to recover from injuries received during their service period
  • Assisting people with high-levels of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) to recover with patience and care.
  • Encouraging people to engage in doing exercises both of mind, body and spirit to keep them healthy and fine.

Places of employment for a Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists are usually required in places and organizations where there are a high number of physical activities and where there are chances that during these activities, those people are bound to get injured. They include senior citizens, children, athletes at district level, state level, national level, international level or world level, service personnel or regular people.

  • Hospitals and nursing homes (both private and governments)
  • Sports and Health facilities
  • Management therapist in business organizations
  • Research and Development institutes for governments or private firms
  • Academic research at colleges and universities
  • International sports such as the World Cups (any sport) or the Olympics 
  • Sports clubs and training grounds
  • Rehabilitation facilities

Work schedule of a Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists usually work for 40 hours a week from 9AM to 5PM. In certain areas where health issues are heavy, they might have to work on their weekends as well. If necessary, they work in their own chamber at their homes. 

Qualifications required to become a Physiotherapist

Certain qualifications are required to become a physiotherapist which could be an under-graduation degree, a post-graduation degree or if the person wants to be in a higher position, a PhD is often necessary. For various courses whether (under-graduate, post-graduate or PhD),the person has to give entrance exams at national level, state level or institution level to enrol in it. It is often mandatory to complete a 6 months internship at a reputed medical organization and clear an entrance exam to get registered as a physiotherapist by the IAP (Indian Association of Physiotherapist).

Under-graduate courses to become a Physiotherapist


  • BPT or Bachelors of Physiotherapy
  • B.Sc in Physiotherapy
  • Bachelors of Occupational Therapy
  • Bachelors of Veterinary Science or B.V.SC

Eligibility to pursue the course

  • Minimum 50% to 60% in class 12th science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as compulsory subjects
  • Merit-based entry for B. Sc courses
  • Entrance exams like CET and GGSIPU CET for BPT courses 

Entrance-exams to be taken to pursue the course

  • IPU CET (Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test)
  • BCECE (Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination)
  • IEM JEE (Institute of Engineering and Management Joint Entrance Examinations)
  • VEE (VELS Entrance Examination
  • LPUNEST (Lovely Professional University National Entrance and Scholarship Test)
  • NILD CET (National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities Common Entrance Test)
  • CPNET (Combined Paramedical, Pharmacy, and Nursing Entrance Test)
  • CET (Common Entrance Test)
  • AIMEE (Annamalai University All India Medical Entrance Examination)

Institutes which are offering these courses 

  • Christian Medical College, Vellore (Tamil Nadu)
  • Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
  • Chandigarh University, Chandigarh (Chandigarh)
  • Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi
  • Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (Karnataka)
  • Christian Medical College, Ludhiana (Punjab)
  • NIMS University (National Institute of Medical Sciences),Jaipur (Rajasthan) 

Post-graduate courses for a Physiotherapist

  • Master in Physiotherapy
  • M.Sc in Physiotherapy
  • Master in Physiotherapy (Neurology)

Eligibility to pursue the course

  • 50% marks in BPT graduation
  • Entrance exams like All India Post Graduate Physiotherapy Entrance Test, CET for Master degree courses in Physiotherapy and JIPMER All India Entrance Exam
  • Admissions based on graduation percentage and entrance exams
  • Internship or Apprenticeship for 6 months in a reputed hospital or clinic

Entrance-exams to be taken to pursue the course

  • National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET)
  • IPU CET (Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test)
  • LPUNEST (Lovely Professional University National Entrance and Scholarship Test)
  • All India Post Graduate Physiotherapy Entrance Test

Institutes which are offering these courses 

  • Christian Medical College, Vellore (Tamil Nadu)
  • Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
  • Chandigarh University, Chandigarh (Chandigarh)
  • Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi
  • Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (Karnataka)
  • Christian Medical College, Ludhiana (Punjab)
  • NIMS University (National Institute of Medical Sciences),Jaipur (Rajasthan)

Key/Technical skills

  • The tone of conviction in voice
  • Fluent in English, Hindi and other regional languages if required
  • Operating equipment carefully and professionally
  • Reasoning backed by scientific reason in every procedure
  • Confidence in every step
  • Ability to use MS-PowerPoint to make good presentations

Salary expectations a Physiotherapist

  • Average salary: - Rs. 3 lakhs per annum
  • Entry level salary (less than 1 years of work experience): - Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 3 lakhs
  • Experienced-level salary (5 to 20 years of work experience): - Rs. 3.6 lakhs to Rs. 6.6 lakhs or above

Process of getting the job of a Physiotherapist

There are numerous ways of getting a job as a Physiotherapist

  • Placement from medical colleges and other recognised institutions
  • Job searching on LinkedIn or Indeed for dietitian posts
  • Checking out any company’s profile and requirements for a Physiotherapist

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