Physiotherapy is a very diverse allied health profession, with practitioners all over the world working in environments like hospitals, physiotherapy clinics, and traveling practices. There are a number of things to think about when selecting a physiotherapy school, ranging from the type of physiotherapy someone is interested in practicing to the cost of the program. Taking the time to evaluate the options at the start will help people organize their thoughts and goals.
One key issue with a physiotherapy school is what kinds of physiotherapy it offers. This field includes care of pediatric and geriatric patients, along with wound care, orthopedic physiotherapy, neurological physiotherapy, and cardiopulmonary physiotherapy, all of which focus on different kinds of patients and different systems of the body. Someone who wants to work with kids should select a school with a pediatric physiotherapy program, while someone interested in working with stroke patients needs to attend a physiotherapy school which offers training in neurological topics.
Another issue is accreditation. Students should make a point of selecting an accredited physiotherapy school which also has a good reputation among practicing people in the field. This will provide students with a high quality education and a degree which will be respected, increasing employability. Students may also want to seek out schools with faculty members they find interesting, along with schools which have small classes to provide focused education.
Getting practical experience is also important. A physiotherapy school may be attached to a clinic where students can work with real patients, and offer other opportunities for clinical work. Students who think that they may be interested in research may want to attend schools attached to universities with research departments, or physiotherapy schools where ongoing research is being conducted. If possible, it is very wise to visit the school to see how it feels, and to sit in on some classes to determine how teachers approach education and student relations.
Some concerns are more practical. Location can be important for people who are worried about relocating or who would prefer to live in a specific area. Cost of living in the area where the school is located is also something to think about, as is the cost of attending physiotherapy school. Rather than just looking at a single semester of tuition, students should think about the cost of the whole program, including books, supplies, and other fees. Students who would like a running start in the physiotherapy world may want to seek out a school which offers job placement services to students.
