Courses After Physiotherapy (BPT)

When I talk to students during my one-on-one consultations, oftentimes they are confused about pursuing different courses after physiotherapy. Many of them do not know all of the options. Honestly, I understand that. I have been there.

Though, you don’t have to feel this way. I am here to tell you that there are literally endless possibilities. For the context of this article, let’s stick to the courses you can take in India. This article has listed about 20+ courses after physiotherapy that you can pursue in India.

Categories of courses after physiotherapy

For the sake of this article, I categorized courses into 4 main categories.

• Master of physiotherapy
• Degree in management
• Specialized certification courses
• Postgraduate diplomas

#1 Master’s of physiotherapy 

Let’s explore the most common one. Many new graduates choose this route. Your final year and internship is the best time to judge where your interests lie. I wrote an article that if you should pursue a master’s after physiotherapy, check it out. 

You will need to take an entrance exam. Depending on your score, you can decide which college & specialization to choose. Most universities offer master’s courses for the span of 2 years.

Currently, in India, you can specialize in:

• Musculoskeletal physiotherapy
• Neurological physiotherapy
• Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy
• Sports physiotherapy
• Community-based rehabilitation
• Women’s health physiotherapy.

Some of the good universities that I know to pursue a master’s are Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. Additionally, there are Manipal University, and Guru Nanak Dev University for a master’s in sports physiotherapy. 

Relevant Spotlights: 

• Telerehabilitator, PT Storyteller| Sara Ansari     
• Consultant Physiotherapist & Scientific Lead at Fitterfly | Madhura Bhagat
• Official Physiotherapist Of Para Athletes For 2020 Paralympics | Dr. Abhishek Wagh (PT)

#2 Management degree 

After 4 years of physiotherapy college, some of the students realize that physiotherapy is not for them. They find PT subjects uninteresting, hard or boring. In that case, it makes sense for them to switch to a non-clinical career early on before sabotaging some of their valuable years. 

If that is your case, you can opt for a degree in management. Almost all the MBA programs require you to clear an entrance exam. Additionally, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement. Work experience may be mandatory for some MBA programs. 

You can pursue the following management courses if you want to go non-clinical:

• General MBA
• MBA in Hospital and health management 
• MBA in sports management 
• Master in public health (MPH) 
• Master’s in health administration (MHA) 

Your job role and work profile will vary vastly depending on your degree. Nevertheless, no matter which course you choose, you will need to be good at statistics and math in general. So, if you were happy to leave math behind after your 12th, this may not be an option for you. 

Some of the colleges you can explore are IIHMR University for MBA in Hospital and health management. Tata Institute of social sciences for master’s in public health and master’s in health administration. Symbiosis Institute of sports sciences for MBA in sports management. 

Relevant Spotlights:

• Assistant Manager at Aditya Birla Health Insurance | Dr. Nisha Ranade (PT).
• Asia Pacific benefits design and strategy leader at IBM | Harshal Ruikar.

#3 Specialized certification courses after physiotherapy

Another great alternative for courses after physiotherapy is pursuing different certifications. I am not talking about webinars that you come across on Instagram almost every single day. 

I am talking about obtaining internationally recognized certifications after physiotherapy from credible institutes. Yes, I know these are expensive. But, if you want to pursue a career in that particular niche, these certifications are absolutely worth it.

Here are some of the certifications you may want to go after: 

• Certified MDT ( Mechanical diagnosis and therapy).
• Certified NDT (Neurodevelopmental technique). 
• CSCS ( Certified strength and conditioning specialist). 
• Herman & Wallace PRPC ( Pelvic rehabilitation practitioner certification). 

Instead of pursuing a master’s, some physiotherapists opt for obtaining these certifications. Over a period of time, with your experience and education, you can establish yourself as an expert in your niche. 

Check out my entire blog post on internationally recognized certifications after physiotherapy.

Relevant Spotlights: 

• Strength and Conditioning Academy, India, Co-Founder and Director | Dr. Apurva Mathankar (MPT, CSCS).
• Neuro Pediatric Physiotherapist | Sanket Khadilkar.
• Qi spine clinic, Clinical director | Dr. Garima Anandani (PT).

#4 Post-graduate diplomas

There are several post-graduate diplomas you can pursue to support your career. Most of these courses are for a year. Often these courses are light on your pocket. So, you may not want to sign yourself up for a full-fledged MBA. You can explore some of these. Many institutes offer part-time programs for working professionals. 

A lot of times students have reservations when going nonclinical. As a PT we can do a lot more than patient care. If you are unsure about leaving patient care, you may opt to pursue these courses after physiotherapy. That way you can build your non-clinical career on the side before completely switching gears. You may decide to stay clinical later. However, the knowledge you acquire during these courses will be valuable for your PT practice. 

• PGDM (Post graduate diploma in management) 
• PGDCR (Post graduate diploma in clinical research) 
• PGDEMA (Post graduate diploma in education management and administration)
• PGPSM ( Postgraduate program in sports management) 

Some of the colleges you can look for are Welinger’s Institute and Symbiosis Institute for PGDM. Indian institute for clinical research for PGDCR. And, Indira Gandhi National Open University for PGDEMA. The PGDEMA is more suitable for professors or PTs building a career in academics. International institute of sports management, Mumbai for PGPSM. 

Relevant Spotlights:

• Msk and Sports Physiotherapist | Dr, Yuvraj Singh

Are these the only courses after physiotherapy?

Absolutely not. As I said earlier, possibilities are endless. We just explored some of the courses you can pursue in India. 

I am ready to launch my career, where can I find more help? 

Well, I am here to help you every step of the way. From helping you choose the right course for you, planning out your next action steps, and exploring all the possible options. Sign up for my one-on-one consultations for more guidance!