Other healthcare professionals

How to become a Physiotherapist

Official title: Physiotherapists

Also called: Geriatric physical therapist, Manipulative therapist, Orthopaedic physical therapist, Paediatric physical therapist, Physical therapist, Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists assess, plan and implement rehabilitative programmes that improve or restore human motor functions, maximize movement ability, relieve pain syndromes, and treat or prevent physical challenges associated with injuries, diseases and other impairments. They apply a broad range of physical therapies and techniques such as movement, ultrasound, heating, laser and other techniques.

Main tasks

Administering muscle, nerve, joint functional ability and other tests to identify and assess physical problems of patients
Establishing treatment goals with patients and designing treatment programmes to reduce physical pain, strengthen muscles, improve cardiothoracic, cardiovascular and respiratory functions, restore joint mobility and improve balance and coordination
Developing, implementing and monitoring programmes and treatments using the therapeutic properties of exercise, heat, cold, massage, manipulation, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, ultraviolet and infra-red light and ultrasound in the treatment of patients
Instructing patients and their families in procedures to be continued outside clinical settings
Recording information on patients’ health status and responses to treatment in medical records-keeping systems, and sharing information with other health professionals as required to ensure continuing and comprehensive care
Developing and implementing programmes for screening and prevention of common physical ailments and disorders
Supervising the work of physiotherapy assistants and others

Ways in

University: Allied Health degrees, Offered by 11 universities in Hong Kong
Licence or registration: Registering body: Allied Health Professions Council and its boards. Law: Allied Health Professions Ordinance (專職醫療業條例), Cap. 359. Summary by Peernovo; check the body's current rules.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: HK$48,000 a month
About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Physiotherapist?

Ways in include: Allied Health degrees.

Do you need a degree to become a Physiotherapist?

Usually. 88% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Physiotherapist?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026