Degree Course Type 

Diploma

Entry Level Qualification 

Class 10+2

Degree Course Duration 

2 Year

Course Fields 

Medical

Degree Course Entrance Exam 

CUET PG, IPU CET UG, NEET UG, NEET PG, KCET, GPAT

Average Course Fee 

50000 - 150000

Average Salary Offered 

300000 - 1500000

Course Details 

Diploma in Physiotherapy is a course which teaches technical skills to students related to human body rehabilitation. There are no separate courses under a Diploma in Physiotherapy. It is a complete course in itself. Here are some of the Diploma in Physiotherapy subjects that are taught during the duration of the course - Physiology, Anatomy, Microbiology, Pathology, First aid and Nursing, Clinical Observation, etc. 

List of Popular Diploma in Physiotherapy Specialisations

With a Diploma in Physiotherapy, students get an opportunity to be introduced to the world of physiotherapy. After the completion of a Diploma in Physiotherapy, there is a scope of studying a Bachelor in Physiotherapy or BPT (4 years of course duration followed by 6 months of internship), and Master of Physiotherapy or MPT (2 years of the course duration). Only after reaching this stage in one’s career, a student can opt for specialisations such as:

1. Paediatric Physiotherapy

2. Obstetrics Physiotherapy

3. Sports Physiotherapy

4. Orthopaedic Physiotherapy

5. Neurology Physiotherapy

6. Geriatrics Physiotherapy

7. Post Operative Physiotherapy

8. Cardiovascular Physiotherapy

Course Highlights 

Major highlights of the course are as follows:​​​​​​​

About Course 

A Diploma in Physiotherapy is a professional course in the paramedical field that candidates can pursue if they want to work with and treat patients who have physical disabilities or have been injured. The course duration is 2 years and it teaches different rehabilitation techniques to candidates that must be applied to patients so that they can return to a normal lifestyle. 

Candidates can pursue a Diploma in Physiotherapy after completing their 10+2 with a minimum of 50% aggregate score from a recognised board with the science stream. Some colleges and institutions offer admission to DPT courses on the basis of merit or through marks scored at entrance examinations. Some of the top entrance examinations for pursuing a Diploma in Physiotherapy are IPU CET, BCECE, etc. Madras Medical College, Christian Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, and King George’s Medical University are some colleges in India where students can acquire a Diploma in Physiotherapy. 

The curriculum for the Diploma in Physiotherapy has been designed in such a way that students can acquire scientific knowledge, understand how to solve problems, and develop technical and communication skills. The average course fee for a Diploma in Physiotherapy ranges from INR 10,000 to INR 5,00,000 and it depends on the institution in which one is enrolled. 

After completing a Diploma in Physiotherapy, students can find job opportunities in different health institutions, defence medical organisations, the pharmaceutical industry, and orthopaedic departments. On average, students who complete a Diploma in Physiotherapy usually earn anywhere from INR 2 LPA to INR 5 LPA in the initial years of their career.

Why Choose Course And Required Skills 

Many employers are on the lookout for specialists and physiotherapy in itself is a big and important part of medicine and public health. Moreover, the skills learned after studying Diploma in Physiotherapy are transferable skills and the scope of further education (undergraduate to PhD level) is also available. When considering a Diploma in Physiotherapy, here are some points to remember why choosing a Diploma in Physiotherapy is important and worthwhile:

1. Physiotherapy is helpful for many people: Once someone studies a Diploma in Physiotherapy and becomes a physiotherapist, there are ample opportunities for a challenging, yet satisfying and rewarding career. Physiotherapists have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of patients and improve their health by restoring normal functional movements.

2. There is a huge requirement for physiotherapists in society: Society considers physiotherapists to be valuable members of society and they are well respected by everyone. With the help of physiotherapy, people who are suffering from chronic pain and sports injuries or are facing any challenges in mobility can find a way back to life with the help of the services offered by a physiotherapist. 

3. Diploma in Physiotherapy is a practical course: Students can find ample opportunities to work in the healthcare sector and also become self-employed after completing a Diploma in Physiotherapy. 

4. A severe shortage of physiotherapists in India: As per WHO’s mandate, there must be at least 1 physiotherapist for every 10,000 people and in India, the number of qualified individuals is nowhere close to this number. Hence, with this huge gap in the number of professionals, there’s a scope for building a promising career in physiotherapy. 

5. Good compensation: With a Diploma in Physiotherapy, candidates will be hired by hospitals, different nursing homes and care centres. On average, the income of a physiotherapist is INR 3-4 LPA in India. The chances of better compensation can also be derived from entrepreneurship where they own a physiotherapy clinic. Charges in such clinics can range from anywhere between INR 200 to INR 1000 for every session.

Eligibility  

For gaining admission into various Diploma in Physiotherapy programmes, students need to meet certain criteria in general and some that are specified by institutions and universities offering the course. While the admission criteria for different colleges vary, here are the general eligibility criteria that candidates should possess in order to study for a Diploma in Physiotherapy:

1. Must be at least 17 years of age

2. Must completed their 10+2 exam from a recognised board with at least 50% aggregate marks

3. Must have Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Mathematics as core subjects in 10+2 exams.

4. Score good marks in entrance exams wherever required.

Entrance Exams Details 

For studying Diploma in Physiotherapy, there are many entrance exams that one can appear and get admission in the program:

1. IPU CET: IPU CET or Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test is accepted by all Indraprastha University affiliated colleges that offer DPT, BPT and MPT courses.

2. LPUNEST: LPUNEST is a National Entrance and Scholarship Test conducted by Lovely Professional University for those candidates who require scholarships in order to study different courses. This exam is conducted online.

3. BCECE: Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination or BCECE is a state-level exam which is conducted by Bihar University. 

4. CPNET: CPNET is conducted by the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences. This is a state-level entrance exam for Combined Paramedical, Pharmacy and Nursing Entrance exam and it is conducted in offline mode.

Degree Course Syllabus 

The course duration for a Diploma in Physiotherapy is two years. Here is a tabular format of the Diploma in Physiotherapy syllabus pdf and subjects:

Diploma in Physiotherapy First Year Subjects:

Diploma in Physiotherapy Second Year Subjects:

Top Colleges 

Here is a list of colleges offering Diploma in Physiotherapy courses in India:

1. King George’s Medical University

2. Medical College Kolkata

3. Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences

4. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College

5. Aligarh Muslim University

6. Indian Institute of Health Education and Research, Patna

7. Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh

8. Nilratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkata

9. Hind Institute of Medical Sciences

10. Regional College of Paramedical Health Science, Guwahati

11. Composite Regional Centre, Srinagar

12. Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura

13. Jayoti Vidyapeeth Women’s University, Jaipur

14. Himalayan University, Itanagar

15. Eram Unani Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow

16. YBN University, Ranchi

17. CMJ University, Shillong

18. Shobhit University, Gangoh

19. Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad

20. National Institute of Health Education and Research, Patna

21. ADTU Guwahati, Assam DownTown University

22. Patna Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Science, Patna

23. Gopal Narayan Singh University, Rohtas

24. Srinivas College of Physiotherapy and Research Centre, Mangalore

25. SCPM College of Nursing and Paramedical Science, Gonda

Top Colleges for Diploma in Physiotherapy Abroad

There are many colleges and universities abroad offering various courses in physiotherapy. Here is a comprehensive list of popular colleges and universities across the globe offering physiotherapy programmes to international students:

1. University of Washington

2. Harvard University

3. University of Michigan

4. University of Pittsburgh

5. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

6. University of Toronto

7. University of Sydney

8. Johns Hopkins University 

9. University of Queensland

10. Stanford University 

11. University of California

Course Fees 

While Diploma in Physiotherapy fee differs from one institution to another, here is a list of some of the top colleges in India offering Diploma in Physiotherapy along with their average course fees:

Top Recruiters And Salary 

One can bag lucrative packages at top-tier companies after completing their diploma in physiotherapy course studies. Here are some of the best organizations one needs to look out for.

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The salary of a candidate with a diploma in physiotherapy is greatly determined by a number of factors such as college/ institute/ university from where one has acquired the degree, skills possessed by the candidate, and years of experience. However, on average, a physiotherapist has the scope of earning anywhere between INR 3-7 LPA during the first few years of his or her career. With further specialisation and experience, the per annum income can go up to INR 15,00,000. 

Course Scope And Career Options 

After completing a Diploma in Physiotherapy, there are immense job opportunities in the field of physical therapy in India. For example, one can operate at community health centres, mental health care centres, rehabilitation facilities, various nursing and private care centres, hospitals, and sports clinics, 

There are also options of opting for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in physiotherapy after completing a Diploma in Physiotherapy. Apart from these options, candidates can also choose Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and MSc in Occupational Therapy as a further course of education. 

Various other career options for a Diploma in Physiotherapy include:

Physiotherapist: A physiotherapist’s job is to help and promote movement and exercise with the help of manual treatment, education and counselling for those who have suffered from any trauma or have been suffering from illnesses and disability.  Physiotherapists are also instrumental in keeping people of all ages healthy by helping them manage pain and prevent diseases. 

Sports Physiotherapist: When people suffer from injuries due to the practice of any sport or during any exercise session, a sports physiotherapist comes into play. It is the job of the sports physiotherapist to offer assistance due to such injuries and also provide recommendations for playing safely. Athletes in general benefit greatly from the assistance provided by a sports physiotherapist.

Occupational Therapist: An occupational therapist is a skilled healthcare professional whose responsibility is to provide help to patients who are suffering from temporary or permanent disabilities. With the help of an occupational therapist, such patients can perform day to day tasks independently or with/without the help of assistive technology. Occupational therapists are also recruited by hospitals and different healthcare settings where they work with patients suffering from various chronic illnesses like diabetes or people who have undergone surgical procedures such as organ transplants.

Admission Process 

Admission to a Diploma in Physiotherapy course varies from one institution to another. However, there are some general guidelines that interested students can follow when preparing for Diploma in Physiotherapy admission:

1. In order to get admission to a Diploma in Physiotherapy programme, a student must complete his or her 10+2 exam from a recognised board.

2. It is also compulsory to have Physics, Chemistry, Biology and/or Mathematics as compulsory subjects in their 10+2 exam.

3. An aggregate of 50% marks must be obtained in the class 12 exam. 

4. Some colleges also require students to appear for various entrance examinations such as IPU CET, BCECE, LPUNEST, and CPNET. Marks obtained in such examinations are also considered during admission to various colleges offering a Diploma in Physiotherapy course.

5. Registration dates are announced by institutions ahead of the days of submission of the application form. Basic details such as date of birth, name, age, and educational qualification along with valid email ID and phone numbers are required.

6. Some other important documents required are class 12th mark sheets that need to be scanned and uploaded to the respective institute portals. 

7. An application fee must be submitted by candidates after filling out the application form and uploading all scanned documents. 

8. The last step in the admission process involves counselling and appearing for admission to the respective colleges and institutions for studying a Diploma in Physiotherapy.