Physiotherapy Course: Fees, Admission 2024, Syllabus, Exams, Top Colleges, Career Scope

No, Physiotherapists cannot be called doctors.

They examine, diagnose, and treat different physical disorders, injuries, or disablement conditions by using various physical techniques, exercises, and therapies.
While the physiotherapist is a mainstay in patient care and rehabilitation, he does not have a medical degree in himself, be it an MD or even an MBBS.
Instead, they have either a bachelor's or master's degree in physiotherapy from registered institutions. They apply specific therapies, working together with doctors and other health experts to improve mobility, manage pain, restore function, and maximize the potential of physical health.

Yes, you may go for Physiotherapy course.

Physiotherapists are required in each department of a hospital, be it ICU or geriatrics, and they can also choose to work independently or be part of a multidisciplinary team. You can also enjoy flexible working hours as a consultant, choosing the number of hours you work everyday. 

In India, the starting salary ranges from INR 5,000 to INR 30,000 per month. Generally, private hospitals provide remuneration ranging between INR 5,000 to INR 15,000 per month for a fresher. In a government hospital like AIIMS, you begin as a Junior Physiotherapist and earn approximately INR 30,000 per month. 

No, BPT is not equal to MBBS.

The main distinction between doctors and BPT graduates lies in their educational backgrounds and the scope of their practice. Doctors, such as medical doctors (MBBS) or doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), undergo extensive medical training encompassing anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, and other medical specialties. 

On the other hand, BPT graduates focus on the study of physiotherapy, developing expertise in assessing physical impairments, designing personalized treatment plans, and implementing therapeutic interventions. 

While BPT gaduates expertise in physical therapy is invaluable in helping individuals recover from injuries and improve their physical well-being, it is important to recognize that BPT graduates do not hold the qualifications or authority to be referred to as doctors. 

BPT course and BSc Nursing are two different educational pathways that lead to rewarding careers in the healthcare field. While BPT course focuses on physiotherapy and rehabilitation, BSc Nursing prepares individuals to become registered nurses. Both courses offer ample opportunities for professional growth and contribute to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities. 

Candidates can look at the table below to know the comparison between the two courses.

No, BSc is not a requirement for one to be enrolled for Physiotherapy.
Since this is an undergraduate program, no bachelor's degree is explicitly required. The basic eligibility for admission to the BPT course is passing Class 12 with a Science stream, securing at least 50%, and studied at least a PCB combination.

To become a Physiotherapist after completing Class 12, candidates will need to follow a specific educational path that typically involves pursuing a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) degree. Here's a step-by-step guide on what they can do:

Step 1. Choose the Science Stream

Step 2. Complete Class 12

Step 3. Research and Choose a College/University

Step 4. Apply for BPT Programs

Step 5. Complete the BPT 

Step 6. Get Degree

Step 7. Look for Internship

Yes, it is possible to pursue a Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology after completing a bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy. However, you may need to fulfil certain prerequisites or additional coursework in psychology to meet the requirements for the MSc program. 

It's advisable to research specific graduate programs and reach out to admissions offices for detailed information on their entry requirements for students with a background in physiotherapy.

The eligibility criteria or BPT is as follows:

• Students who have completed Class 12 with Science as their major subject are eligible to apply for a BPT course.
• The candidate should have pursued the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as their main subjects.
• A minimum aggregate score of 50% or equivalent at the Class 12 level is mandatory for admission.
• Some universities in India conduct an entrance test for admitting students to the BPT course. Candidates must make sure to pass the entrance exams.

Further, the minimum age for BPT is 17 years. The maximum age is divided by the basis of categories-

• For General - 25 years.
• For Other remaining - Up to 30 years.

No, you generally do not need to qualify for the NEET exam to get admission to a college for a Bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy (BPT). Most colleges and universities offering BPT programs have their entrance exams or admit students based on their 10+2 scores, particularly in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Some institutions might consider state-level entrance exams or have specific admission procedures. It’s important to check the specific requirements of the colleges you are interested in, as admission criteria can vary.

No, class 12th marks are not taken into consideration for CUET results. However, candidates must score minimum of 50% marks in aggregate to qualify for university admission process. Class 12th or board examination is an achievement test whereas, CUET is a selection test.

CUET UG provides a common platform and equal opprtunities to candidates across country. Candidates will be able to choose the subject for taking the CUET and each university will consider the subject scores of the candidate for admission to UG programmes. 

The CUET PG exam difficulty level is depicted in the range of moderate to high. CUET PG examination is conducted into various streams and master's subjects, therefore it is difficult to say the difficulty level of the examination subject wise. However, the difficulty level of the exam varies from subject to subject. 

The difficulty level of the exam also differs from subject to subject. As compared to the other national level entrance exam like IIT JAM, ISI Admission Test, GATE-B, IISER Entrance exam, JEST, NEST examination, the level of CUET PG examination is comparatively low-level. Candidates can expect the high difficulty level of the examination in comparison to State level entrance examinations like- GNDU, UPCATET, SHIATS, MCAER-CET, RUASAT, OUAT.

NTA conducts Common University Entrance Test or CUET for admission to UG courses of central, state, private or deemed universities. Untill 2022, each university had its distinct entrance exam or admission criteria for UG courses. To create fairness in admission process, CUET was introduced. It is common entrance exam for all central universities. Some of the important factors why CUET is important are:

• It gives equal opprtunities to candidates during the admission process. The pressure of immese weightage to 12th marks is reduced.
• Cutoffs will be based on CUET score/percentile ensuring fair mechanism for students.
• CUET puts an end to subjective bias. Candidates can appear for their domain subject exam and get admission on the basis of the score obtained in CUET.

No, CUET syllabus is not based on CBSE syllabus as claimed by Education Ministry in Rajya Sabha on August 02, 2023. The CUET exam is designed to assess the general understandig of the candidate in subjects he/she has opted for. CUET UG is on of the biggest UG entrance exam carnival conducted for admission in cebtral, state, private and deemed universities.

Candidates preparing for CUET UG exam must check the detailed CUET syllabus and CUET question paper to become familiar with the important topics and type of questions asked in the exam. 

The difficulty level of the CUET exam ranges from moderate to tough. Since the CUET UG exam is held for multiple subjects and slots, the difficulty level of the exam varies from subject to subject. Sometimes, the difficulty level may also vary for different slots. The difficulty level of exam is also relative and the same exam's level of difficulty may vary for different candidates. While for the well prepared candidates, the difficulty level will be low, for the underprepared students, the level of difficulty will be on the higher side. 

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) will be introduced for admission into UG/ PG programmes in Central and participating Universities for academic session 2025-26. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) will
provide a common platform and equal opportunities to candidates across the country, especially those from NorthEast and from rural and other remote areas and help to establish better connect with the Universities. 

The CUET PG 2025 examination will be conducted by the examination authority i.e., NTA (National Testing Agency) in the various CUET PG examination centres across the nation and also to short listed foreign countries. The Syllabus for the master's courses for which the examination will be conducted is set by the exam conducting authority, which is National Testing Agency here. The subject experts after taking all the probable suggestions from all the participating universities, will set the syllabus for the master's degree programmes on the basis of what students have studied in their under graduate courses.

All the chapters are important for NEET 2025. However, the most number of questions are asked from the following chapters of the syllabus of NEET.

Physics:

• Laws of Motion of System of Practices and Rigid Body
• Current Electricity Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
• Semiconductor Electronics
• Thermodynamics

Chemistry:

• Chemical Bonding
• p-block
• Coordination Compounds
• General Organic Chemistry
• Aromatic Compounds
• Mole Concepts
• Thermodynamics
• Equilibrium

Botany

• Genetics and Evolution
• Ecology and Environment
• Plant Physiology

Zoology

• Human Physiology
• Human Reproduction and Reproductive Health
• Animal Kingdom, Origin & Evolution.

Students must note that these are a handful of important topics for the NEET 2025 syllabus and they should not restrict their preparation to these topics only, and be prepared for all the other chapters and topics carrying a high weightage in the NEET question paper based on past years' exam analysis. 

The NEET syllabus is same as that of Class 11 and Class 12 CBSE Board exam syllabi. Hence, it is not that difficult or students need not study anything additional apart from their school or Board exam studies. However, the difficulty level of the exam depends on the question types, which is generally tricky in nature, which makes the difference in the difficulty level.

The best way to tackle the NEET syllabus is through revision and taking as many mock tests as possible. According to experts and previous years' NEET analysis, Physics section is the toughest followed by Chemistry and Biology. Moreover, toughness is subjective and it depends on the preparation level and aptitude of students.

NEET or National Eligibility cum Entrance Test is a paper-pencil based test (PBT) of 3 hours and 20 minutes duration. There are a total of 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), out of which 180 questions have to be attempted. The syllabus of the exam consists of Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects. The Biology subject is segregated between Zoology and Botany. On the other hand, Chemistry subject is segragated into Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry. Each subject will be divided into two sections, Section A and Section B.

Section A carries 35 questions and Section B carries 15 questions. While all 35 questions can be attempted in Section A, in Section B, 10 questions out of 15 have to be attempted. Each question carries four answer options and the correct option has to be marked on the OMR sheet. According to the marking scheme, each correct question carries 4 marks and there is a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer. No marks will be awarded or deducted for unattempted or extra attempted questions. The following table brings the structure of the NEET exam.

NEET PG pattern comprises details about exam mode, medium, total number of questions, allotted time, and marking scheme. NBE conducts NEET PG exam in computer-based mode. The medium of the exam is English only. Candidates don't have option to select any other language in NEET PG exam.

A total of 200 multiple choice questions are asked and candidates get 3.5 hours to answer them. According to the marking scheme, for every right answer, 4 marks are awarded while for wrong response -1 mark is deducted. No mark will be awarded/deduced for unanswered question.

As such no section is easy in NEET PG syllabus. Some candidates may find clinical section easy while others may perceive para clinical as difficult. In reality, all the three sections clinical pre and para clinical are equally difficult and candidates have to devote good amount of time to prepare in and out of every subjects. It must be noted, a good number of questions are clinical based, so this section holds huge importance.

Some topics of pre and para clinical are utmost important as lots of questions are from them. Point is candidates should prepare all three sections in such manner so that 90 percent questions can be answered easily. Last year, clinical section was difficult in comparision to other two sections.

The ease of studying a Physiotherapy course depends on individual tastes, learning styles, dedication, and effort that candidates are ready to pay to their studies. Much as any other field, Physiotherapy comes along with its challenges and complexities, but opportunities presented are rewarding for one interested in healthcare, human anatomy, and rehabilitation.
Ultimately, how easy or difficult a Physiotherapy course may be varies from person to person.

The graduates from government colleges have better accesses to the job sectors in public sector institutions like government hospitals and clinics, while the private college graduates find opportunities in the private hospitals, private clinics, sports facilities, and the rehabilitation centers.
Particularly for freshers from government colleges, the starting salary could be a bit higher; in government healthcare institutions, pay scales are mostly standardized. Physiotherapists from private colleges may get lower salaries at the beginning but may have a wider scope of earning greatly through private practice or specialization.
This means that graduation from a government college may have some added advantages regarding job security and starting salary, but at the end of the day, it's the personal skill, experience, and dedication to professional development that makes one successful in Physiotherapy—not the type of college.

The main difference between a degree and a Diploma in physiotherapy has something to do with the level of education and area of practice.
A degree in Physiotherapy generally means a university or college undergraduate or graduate degree course. All undergraduate courses are roughly 3 to 4 years in duration. The degree course envisions an all-rounded education in physiotherapy, comprising elements of theory, practical skills, clinical practice in the form of clinical placements, and research.
A Diploma in Physiotherapy, on the other hand, is rather shorter and more focused than a degree. Such programs are usually short, running for 1 to 2 years. Students pursuing Diploma in Physiotherapy courses achieve practical skills with functional training for entry-level jobs in physiotherapy settings. Whereas Diploma holders may do basic physiotherapy tasks under supervision, their scope in practice and career prospects remain limited as compared to degree holders.

There are several reputed institutions in India that offer good courses in Physiotherapy. However, it's important to note that the best course can vary depending on your specific interests and career goals. 

BPT is the most well-regarded Physiotherapy course in India. 

BPT full form is Bachelor of Physiotherapy. It is an undergraduate degree program that focuses on educating students in the field of Physiotherapy, which involves the treatment of physical conditions and disabilities through various therapeutic techniques, exercises, and modalities. BPT programs are designed to provide students with a strong foundation in medical and health sciences, as well as practical skills required for assessing, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and other physical disorders.

The Indian Army definitely has openings for physiotherapists. Physiotherapists play a tremendously important role in the physical rehabilitation of soldiers, thus helping them recover from injuries and ensuring an improved level of fitness with less possibility of recurring injuries. They attend servicemen/women in almost every capacity within the healthcare system of the Army. You could contact the recruitment office of the Indian Army or view their official website for vacancy details and the eligibility criteria necessary to join the Indian Army as a physiotherapist.

The work of a physiotherapist (also known as a physical therapist in some regions) involves assessing, diagnosing, and treating individuals with physical impairments, disabilities, injuries, or conditions that affect their mobility, function, and overall quality of life. Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques and interventions to help their patients regain or improve their physical abilities and manage pain. 

Physiotherapists work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, rehabilitation centres, sports facilities, and community health centres. Their ultimate goal is to improve their patients' physical function, alleviate pain, enhance mobility, and enhance their overall quality of life.

The salary of a BPT course in India can vary depending on various factors such as location, employer, years of experience, and skills. 

Here's a rough estimate of the annual salary range at different levels:

• Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): INR 1.5 - INR 3 LPA
• Mid-Level (2-5 years of experience): INR 3 - 6 LPA
• Experienced (5-10 years of experience): INR 6 - 12 LPA
• Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): INR 12 LPA and above

The salary of a physiotherapist is influenced by various factors, including the level of education, specialization, experience, location, and the type of healthcare setting they work in. Generally, higher education and specialized training can lead to better-earning potential. Here are a few examples of Physiotherapy courses which offer good salaries:

Physiotherapists are not nurses, although both professions are vital within the healthcare system and may collaborate in patient care.

A physiotherapist specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of physical conditions, injuries, or disabilities. They use various physical therapies, exercises, and techniques to help patients regain mobility, reduce pain, and improve overall physical function.

Nurses provide holistic care to patients, encompassing various aspects of health, including physical, emotional, and psychological needs. They assist in patient care, administer medications, monitor vital signs, and provide direct patient support under the direction of physicians.

Yes, it is possible to pursue a master's degree in physiotherapy after completing a diploma program. However, the specific requirements for admission to a master's program may vary depending on the institution and country. 

Overall, while a Diploma in Physiotherapy can serve as a foundation for further education and career advancement, individuals interested in pursuing a master's degree should carefully research the admission requirements of the programs they are interested in and consider any additional steps necessary to meet those requirements.

Choosing the best country for studying or practicing physiotherapy abroad depends on several factors, including the quality of education, opportunities for clinical practice, recognition of qualifications, language, cost of living, and career prospects. 

The popular countries for MSc courses are Canada,  Canada,  UK,  Canada,  Australia,  Ireland and New Zealand.

The BSc Physiotherapy will lean towards scientific input in physiotherapy, along with other foundational Science courses.
On the other hand, BPT stands for a professional course on Physiotherapy mainly.

Thus, the former may be having more practical-oriented training and clinical exposure in various physiotherapy techniques compared to the latter.
Now, which one to pursue depends on the individual and what matters more to the individual, their career goals, and the programs available. Consider factors like curriculum, training opportunities, certification, and your academic and professional interests in making your choice.

Physiotherapy deals with the rehabilitation of patients through physical therapy techniques. Physiotherapy courses were developed for assessing, diagnosis, and treating patients with physical impairments and disabilities.
On the other hand, there are courses in Paramedical fields, which could be termed as a group of health professions constituting the support system to the medical profession in looking after the patients. They call for specialised skills and training in keeping with the specific nature of the particular paramedical roles.
Ultimately, one will have to reach a decision based on interests, career goals, market demand, and strengths.

Yes, in India, physiotherapists who hold a Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) or equivalent doctoral degree from a recognized institution are allowed to use the "Dr." title as a prefix to their name. However, there might be specific guidelines and regulations set by the respective state's physiotherapy council or regulatory authority.

It's important to note that while physiotherapists with doctorate degrees are legally allowed to use the "Dr." title, they should also make it clear that they are physiotherapy doctors to avoid any confusion with medical doctors (MBBS or MD physicians).