Where a physiotherapist can go next
12 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a physiotherapist already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Physiotherapists are autonomous health professionals who are responsible for developing, maintaining or restoring motor function and movement throughout the lifespan using evidence-based practice. They relieve pain and treat or prevent physical conditions associated with injury, disease or other impairments. Physiotherapists empower patients and their carers to manage the condition outside clinical settings. They work within their scope of practice and their professional Code of Conduct.
Also known as respiratory therapist, masseuse, rehabilitation therapist, occupational therapist, osteopath, physiotherapist manager, neurological physiotherapist, respiratory physiotherapist, chiropractor, physical therapist, occupational physiotherapist, eurythmy therapist.
Professionals 98 skills on file 12 career moves 3 above 60% overlap Closest: specialist chiropractor, 82%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 1 · Within reach
- healthcare assistant 65% covered · difficulty 45.1
- dental hygienist 62% covered · difficulty 50.7
- respiratory therapy technician 58% covered · difficulty 45.1
- homeopath 58% covered · difficulty 45.4
- dental technician 54% covered · difficulty 52.9
- chiropractic assistant 54% covered · difficulty 50.4
- specialist chiropractor 82% covered · difficulty 39.7
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A physiotherapist needs 90 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- orthopaedic manual physiotherapy health and welfare
- adjust physiotherapy interventions assisting and caring
- conduct physiotherapy assessment information skills
- develop physiotherapy services management skills
- develop strategic plans for physiotherapy services management skills
- engage in physiotherapy research information skills
- manage physiotherapy staff management skills
- provide physiotherapy diagnosis information skills
- provide self management support assisting and caring
- respiratory therapy health and welfare
Table 4 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a physiotherapist does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
Look up another occupation
Physiotherapist is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a physiotherapist’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.