Becoming a Physiotherapist starts with a specialized program in Physical Therapy from an accredited university, earning your Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT). Students will also have to pass a state licensure exam to practice professionally. The process can take several years, depending on which path you take.   
  
For some specialized Physical Therapy programs, applicants are required to earn a bachelor's degree prior to admission. While some schools do not emphasize the discipline studied initially, an additional requirement could arise at other schools, should the undergraduate degree be unrelated to the healthcare industry. Some programs may require that the prospective student engages in at least a few prerequisite courses related to the study of sciences and human health during the undergraduate years.  
  
Although there are a few programs that offer freshman entry, recruiting students directly from high school into a guaranteed admissions program is much more unlikely than one might think. Physiotherapists are increasingly required to attain a much higher level of education as they are essentially certified medical professionals. As such, schools are looking primarily at interests in sciences as their reasoning for offering admission to prospective students.  
  
Physiotherapists are generally in-demand careers and can be quite lucrative to those willing to put in the time. Besides obtaining both undergraduate and graduate degrees and writing a competency exam, one could theoretically start practicing in as little as six years.  
  
What can help you become a Physiotherapist

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and counseling skills:   

Physiotherapists will need to build a solid foundation of communication skills to help build a long-lasting and trusting relationship with their client base. Listening skills are one important way to start, as Physiotherapists must pay attention to their patients' needs. There will be times when patients cannot articulate the issues they are facing fully, and it is critical that, as medical professionals, Physiotherapists pay attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues. 
 

• Strong sense of empathy, compassion, and altruism:   

Physiotherapy deals with the health and wellbeing of their patients following an injury or other physical ailments. As a result, Physiotherapists need to demonstrate increased sensitivity to the individual needs of their patients. It will be highly beneficial on both sides, doctor and patient, for Physiotherapists to work on their ability to convey a caring attitude while assisting patients with long and short-term techniques to help with their health and wellbeing.  
   

• High levels of manual dexterity, motor coordination, and physical strength:   

It may not be as apparent to some, but Physiotherapists will need to work on their control and coordination, especially in terms of physical strength, to assist patients with low or limited mobility, lifting some patients when necessary. Depending on the treatment, hand-eye coordination and some massage skills will also come in handy. Some of which Physiotherapists will pick up during their studies.