How to become a Physiotherapist

Also called: Physical Therapist

Assesses, diagnoses, treats and prevents disorders in human movement caused by injury or disease.

Main tasks

• Administers muscle, nerve, joint and functional ability tests to identify and assess patients' afflictions
• Treats patients to reduce pain, improve circulation, strengthen muscles, improve cardiothoracic, cardiovascular and respiratory functions, restore joint mobility, and improve balance and coordination
• Treats patients using the therapeutic properties of exercise, heat, cold, massage, manipulation, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, ultraviolet and infra-red light, and ultrasound
• Reviews, monitors, assesses and evaluates programs and treatments
• Consults with other Health Professionals about patients' conditions, needs and progress
• Educates patients on their physical health conditions, and provides them with structured management plans
• Advises patients, families and guardians about procedures to be practised at home
• Maintains records of patients' treatments, responses and progress
• Develops and implements screening and preventative health promotion programs

Ways in

• University: Allied Health degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Diploma of Remedial Massage (HLT52021)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $98,176 a year
• About 47,000 people work in this job group now, and about 63,500 are projected by 2035. (+35.1%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Chiropractor
• Exercise Physiologist
• Exercise and Sports Scientist
• Occupational Therapist
• Podiatrist
• Speech Pathologist

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Physiotherapist?

Ways in include: Allied Health degrees; Diploma of Remedial Massage.

How much does a Physiotherapist earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $98,176 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Physiotherapist a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 35% by 2035, from about 47,000 to about 63,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Physiotherapist?

Usually. 97% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Physiotherapist?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04