Physiotherapist
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Career Description
Physiotherapists work with clients of all ages and with a wide range of health conditions. Whether it is pain management and rehabilitation from an acute injury like a sprained ankle, or management of chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, a physiotherapist can help. But physiotherapy is not limited to rehabilitation of injury and the effects of disease or disability. A physiotherapist also provides education and advice for health promotion, disease and injury prevention.
Physiotherapists work in a broad range of settings providing client and/or population health interventions as well as management, educational, research and consultation services. Physiotherapy can be accessed in the community at private clinics and through home care services. Physiotherapy services are often affiliated with retirement residences and child development centres as well as hospital settings, i.e. heart surgery or joint replacement, where a physiotherapist is an important member of the health care team.
Academic and Licensing Requirements
- Completion of a 4-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university
- Minimum grade point average of 3.3 or letter grade of B+ in the most recent 60 credit hours of an undergraduate degree
The following are prerequisite courses:
- Human Physiology (6 credit hours)
- Human Anatomy (3 credit hours)
- Physics (6 credit hours)
- Biology (3 credit hours)
- Psychology (6 credit hours)
- Statistics (3 credit hours)
- Languages and Humanities and/or Social Sciences (6 credit hours)
You must also hold:
- Passing grade on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- 40 hours of non-paid volunteer experience
- Completion of a Masters in Science in Physiotherapy
To work as a Physiotherapist in Nova Scotia, one must write and pass the Physiotherapy National Exam and register and obtain licensure through the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists.