Physiotherapists (NOC 3142)

What They Do Physiotherapists perform some or all of the following duties: May provide consulting or education services. Physiotherapists practice in a variety of clinical areas such as neurology, orthopedics, and cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary disorders, which may include obstetrics, pediatrics, rheumatology, oncology, sports injuries, geriatrics, and the treatment of patients with burns or in the field of ergonomics. Assess patients' physical abilities through evaluative procedures such as functional ability tests Establish treatment goals with patients based on physical diagnoses Plan and implement programs of physiotherapy including therapeutic exercise, manipulations, massage, education, the use of electro-therapeutic and other mechanical equipment and hydro-therapy Evaluate effectiveness of treatment plans and modify accordingly Communicate with referring physician and other healthcare professionals regarding patients' problems, needs and progress Maintain clinical and statistical records and confer with other health care professionals Develop and implement health promotion programs for patients, staff and the community May conduct research in physiotherapy May teach at university level.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Health care and social assistance 100% Physiotherapists work for/in: Hospitals and clinics Industry/sport organizations Rehabilitation centres, extended care facilities, and community health organizations Private practice Universities Government Associations The unionization rate (61%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Therapy and Assessment Professionals are found in British Columbia and Quebec while the lowest concentrations are inPrince Edward Island and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Optometrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals (NOC 312) Therapy and Assessment Professionals (NOC 314)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Keeping constantly updated in your specialty Improving interpersonal skills Learning business management Finding out about telemedicine

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need You must have a professional master's degree in physiotherapy and a period of supervised practical training. To practise, you must be registered or licensed with the regulatory board in the province/territory where you'll work. You may also need to complete the Physiotherapy National Exam administered by the Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulatory Boards. With experience and additional training, you may move up the ranks to become a manager such as director of physiotherapy, open your own private practice or teach at university. Most recent entrants have an undergraduate university degree.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Physical Education (U240) Rehabilitation Medicine (U590) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Multidisciplinary teamwork Proposal writing Business and financial management Committee work Interpersonal skills Program development		Useful High School Subjects Physics Biology Math English
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated GOOD because: Employement grew at an above-average rate. Hourly wages ($25.89) are above the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to average. The unemployment rate (2%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Good   2009   Good

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be GOOD because: The employment growth rate will likely be above average because of ongoing trends--a growing and aging population (in particular, more Canadians with disabilities) that requires more health care, new technologies that create new treatments, and changes in the way governments provide health care. Although the retirement rate will likely be below average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely exceed the number of job openings. This will not be significant enough to have an impact on the work prospects.

Preparing for the Competition You're more likely to find work opportunities in private practice than in government facilities such as hospitals.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $21.41 $11.74 25-54 $26.23 $19.76 55+ $24.10 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $25.89 $18.07		Hourly wages ($25.89) are above the national average ($18.07). These earnings are close to the average for occupations in the health sector and close to the average for all professional occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Close to the average
The unemployment rate (2%) is close to the 2004 average (7%). This rate is close to the average for professionnal occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 2% 10% 1992 1% 11% 1993 1% 11% 1994 1% 10% 1995 1% 10% 1996 2% 10% 1997 1% 9% 1998 1% 8% 1999 1% 8% 2000 1% 7% 2001 1% 7% 2002 1% 8% 2003 1% 8% 2004 2% 7%

% of Part-time work is above average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 74% 81% Part-time 26% 19%		There were 19,100 workers employed in these occupations in 2004. The percentage of part-time workers (26%) is above the 2004 average (19%) and has dropped since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Above average
The percentage of self-employed workers (26%) is above the 2004 average of 15% and has dropped since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 26% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 6% 10% 25-54 86% 72% 55+ 7% 12%		The younger-than-average age (38) of worker will likely result in a below-average retirement rate to 2009.
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Above average
The percentage of women (88%) is above the 2004 average of 48% and has dropped since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 88% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31