Physiotherapist

As a Physiotherapist you assess, diagnose and treat people experiencing pain, movement difficulties or physical impairments caused by injury, illness or disability. You design and deliver personalised treatment programmes using techniques such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, electrotherapy and hydrotherapy. Your patients range from children with developmental conditions to older adults recovering from surgery, as well as athletes returning from sports injuries. You work closely with doctors, occupational therapists, nurses and other allied health professionals in hospitals, community health centres, private clinics and sports settings. You also educate patients and their families on how to manage conditions independently and prevent future problems.

Entry to physiotherapy in Ireland requires a Level 8 Honours Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physiotherapy, offered at institutions such as UCD, TCD, University of Limerick, RCSI and University of Galway. Leaving Certificate subjects that strengthen your application include Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths, typically at Higher Level, as competition for CAO places is keen and points requirements are among the highest across health science programmes. There is no direct PLC or apprenticeship route into physiotherapy, though a relevant QQI Level 5 or 6 healthcare course may support mature or alternative entry applications to some institutions. Some graduates pursue a Level 9 Master's or Postgraduate Diploma to specialise in areas such as sports physiotherapy, neurology or cardiorespiratory care. All practising physiotherapists in Ireland must be registered with CORU (Health and Social Care Professionals Council) under the Physiotherapists Registration Board before they can practise legally.