Physiotherapy Observership: What You Need To Know

Physiotherapy observership is a great way to get the ‘real world’ experience. It is a good way to invest time in your future. Soon after completing the final year exam, many students will start looking for an observership.

Fortunately for me, I got an observership opportunity when I was in my fourth year. I am so glad I took it up! 

So first, why is physiotherapy observership important? 

Typically students start treating patients somewhere in their third year under the supervision of teachers. Patient exposure varies depending on the college you are enrolled in. Even though you get to treat enough patients in your college, you and everybody around you adapt to a similar treatment approach, often guided by your teachers. 

While there is nothing wrong with that, once you step outside of your college you meet different people with diverse backgrounds. You will soon be introduced to numerous treatment techniques, approaches, and treatment philosophies. This type of experience helps you to develop your own treatment philosophy and methods. 

Apart from that, when you start working in the real world, you will learn working as a team, team dynamics. You will also pick up on key soft skills. Additionally, you will get tons of practical experience which is far more valuable than theoretical knowledge. 

I gave my final year prelims after I started my observership. Since I was balancing between observership and college, I thought I didn’t get enough time to prepare for my exam. But to my surprise, I did well in both, theory as well as in practical exams. I remember I answered many questions based on what I saw and learned in my observership!

When is a good time to start the observership?

As I mentioned earlier, many students apply for observership after clearing their final year exam. If you are planning to take a gap year after your graduation, that is a perfect time to get diverse ‘real world’ working experience. 

If you want to pursue your higher education soon after your bachelor’s, you can start your observership as early as your fourth year. 

When you are doing observership while managing your college/internship, you need to be proactive when it comes to managing your time. Besides, make sure to commit to an observership for limited hours for a couple of days a week. It is always a good idea to start out slow and add more hours later if possible. 

Things to consider before applying for a physiotherapy observership 

– Why you want to do the observership 

If you have been reading my blogs for a while, you probably know what I am going to say first. Know your why! Think of the reasons why you want to do physiotherapy observership. Is it to gain diverse experience? Or are you figuring out what to do after your Bachelor’s? And want to get real-world experience before making the final decision. Or are you looking for an observership just because everyone around you is doing one?   

Based on your interests you can narrow down the physiotherapy clinics. Once you have the list ready, you can start applying 

– Where are you applying for an observership

Make sure to do some background research about the clinics you are planning to apply for. Who is the owner? What are their educational credentials? What type of treatment philosophy do they follow? 

Find out the credibility of your mentor before you apply. Additionally, inquire if you will receive the certificate at the end of the observership. Remember to get to know the type of cases the facility treats (eg- neuro vs MSK). This will give you an idea of the patient exposure you will get once you start your observership. 

– Travel time 

Please consider how much will travel to observership add to your daily commute. This is particularly important if you are doing your observership while you are in your final year. Remember you will have things to do outside of your observership. Such as studying, thesis work, research colleges, and universities abroad. 

Even a small addition of half-hour per day adds up to about 10-12 hours every month. You could be using that time more productively if you didn’t have to travel so much. If you travel that much, you will have very little energy left to do anything else. So, manage your time and energy well. 

– Finances 

Ask if the observership is paid. From what I know most of the observers aren’t paid. I was lucky enough to get paid when I started observership. Not to mention, I didn’t just stand and observe while I was there. I helped physiotherapists working there with their treatment plans. I gained a lot of experience while having little income on the side. I loved working there so much, I never left the place. After graduating I started working as a consultant physiotherapist at the same clinic. 

Unfortunately, I understand, this might not be the case for many. So here is what I think, if you are not getting paid for your time and effort, don’t invest more than 2 months. Get the experience you need, get the certificate, and get outta there! Move on to the next place and learn something new at the new clinic. 

A quick tip: From what I know, Qi Spine Clinic offers paid internships after you graduate. Look into that if you are interested.

Things to remeber when doing physiotherapy observership

– Don’t just observe

Although you call it an observership, don’t just stand and observe. Ask staff physiotherapists if they need any help. If you are at a busy clinic, I am sure they do. Although you can not treat patients independently until you graduate, you can always work with your seniors. 

You can help them administer modalities, print out a home exercise program, or perform basic manual therapy techniques under supervision. 

Do all of this even though you are not paid. Performing hands-on evaluations and treatments with your mentors will add tons to your practical knowledge and skills. And as I mentioned earlier, if you are not getting paid after 2 months of volunteer work, find a new clinic and start your observership there!

– Find out answers 

If you observe closely and with an open mind, you will have a lot of questions. As we discussed earlier, treatment philosophies vary between individual clinicians. You are likely to be exposed to new treatment techniques, exercises, and treatment philosophies in general. 

Once you see something new, look up for answers in research papers, books, and good old google. Be a curious learner, try to find out answers by yourself first. 

– Ask questions 

I sequenced this intentionally after ‘find out answers’. If you can’t figure it out by yourself or you are unsure, be sure to ask your questions. Remember that your mentors will be busy with patients. Please don’t interrupt them while they are treating patients. 

You can list down all the questions you get on a piece of paper or notes app on your phone. Once the workday is over you can go over your questions with them. 

– Do more than expected 

As it goes for all that you do, do more than expected. Help them clean up after patients leave or put the equipment away.  

If they have a social media handle, ask them if they can let you manage that. If they are not active on social media, see if they are willing to have a social media page for their clinic. If they are willing, offer to set it up for them. 

– Network 

Physiotherapy observership is an excellent opportunity to get to know the PTs who are senior to you. Be genuinely interested in finding out their career journey. Ask about the roles they took up so far. Join them on team lunches or dinners if possible. 

If the clinic has multiple locations, be sure to visit other locations at least once in your observership. Get to know their team at other locations. 

Once you leave, stay connected with everyone on social media. You may never know which opportunity will turn into your full-time job in the future. So don’t burn the bridges!

– Enjoy the journey

Remember to enjoy the journey! Bear in mind to start with the light schedule. Later if you realize you have more time and energy in hand, you can up additional hours. Do not overcommit in the beginning.

Don’t stress out over little things. If your first observership doesn’t turn into a job opportunity, so what? Find a new place, start there. No matter what, make certain that you have kept time for yourself and self-care during your week. 

I know finding a job and launching a career can be intimidating. Not knowing what to do next can make it worse. But there are so many physiotherapists in India who are doing good. So can you! I believe in you. If you stumble on your way, feel free to reach out to me. I am happy to help!