Diploma in Physiotherapy

DPT (Diploma in Physiotherapy)

Diploma in Physiotherapy is a job oriented medical/paramedical course. It is a 2 years long Diploma certificate program. 12th standard students are eligible to pursue this course after completing board examination. In this article, you will be reading about Diploma in Physiotherapy course details, eligibility criteria, admission process, further studies, career prospects and job profiles.

This Diploma course is also known by the short name of DPT. Eligibility criteria may vary from one institute to another. Details have been specified in the ‘eligibility criteria’ section of this article. This article will clear questions asked by 12th standard students, such as- ‘Can I do Physiotherapy directly after 12th?’, ‘Is Physiotherapy a good option after 12th?’ and ‘What are career prospects associated with the field of Physiotherapy

Introduction

Physiotherapy is also known as Physical Therapy and by the short name of PT. This discipline focuses on physical medicine and rehabilitation. As the name suggests, this discipline uses physical motion, force and activities to correct impairments or deformities and thus helps rehabilitate the patient.Massages, physical exercise and movements are used to correct deformities, injuries or diseases in patients. Usually physiotherapy is used to take care of rehabilitation process of patients.

Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist is a trained professional who is capable of undertaking the above mentioned activities in supervised or independent setup. Physiotherapists play a crucial role in the healthcare sector. They are very useful in rehabilitation of patients suffering from deformities, recovering from surgeries or injury. They are also helpful in aiding the rehabilitation of old aged people, who tend to suffer from musculoskeletal problems.

Course Details

Diploma in Physiotherapy is a 2 years long Diploma certificate course. The course covers theoretical studies as well as hands on practice sessions. This course falls under the categories of ‘medical course’ as well as ‘paramedical course’.Other than DPT course, 12th standard passed students also have access to various certificate courses related to the field of Physiotherapy (CPT). But DPT is the best course available and the quality of such certificate courses is often questionable.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria may vary from one institute to another. Many institutes do have 10+2 pass (Science stream) as the minimum educational qualification required. However, there are institutes present in India, accepting 12th passed students too! If you are interested in securing admission right after 12th, you must enquire at the institute and known more about their eligibility criteria and admission policy. Make sure that the institute is recognized by the appropriate authority.

Admission Process

Most institutes have the ‘direct admission’ process. Students have to approach the institute and fill up the registration form (if they are eligible for admission). Deserving students will be allotted seats, based on marks scored by them in 12th board examination.

Syllabus

To get a better idea about the course structure, let us take a look at some of the important subjects present in DPT program. Note: Only important subjects have been mentioned (not all the subjects).

Basics of Physiotherapy

Physiology and Anatomy

First Aid and Nursing

Biomechanics

Electrotherapy

Pathology

Clinical Observation

Exercise Therapy

Sports Science and Medicine

Orthopaedics

Rehabilitation Science

Applications of Physiotherapy

Medical Ethics

Along with classroom theory classes, adequate importance is also given to practical sessions.

Further Studies And Courses

Even though DPT is a job oriented course, it is not as valuable as the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) course. The good news is that DPT Diploma holders are eligible to pursue BPT course. They may gain admission in BPT course through the lateral entry. This Diploma to Degree switch will help one gain a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy! After that, one may go for Master of Physiotherapy course, PG Diploma in Physiotherapy course and even go for advanced PhD studies.

It is also possible to study PG management courses (like MBA) after completing the Bachelor’s program.

Career Prospects And Job Opportunities

Healthcare sector is growing at a rapid pace. This growth has been generating numerous job opportunities for medical as well as paramedical professionals. Demand for qualified physiotherapists has been increasing across various parts of the world.

Thanks to our changing lifestyle, cases of musculoskeletal problems has been on the rise in recent times. Such problems can be usually solved by the intervention of a physiotherapist. Most of such cases are referred to physiotherapists.

A physiotherapist in India may find job in Government or Private sector. Self employment is another good option available in front of them! Other places where one may find a job include- Gyms, Health centres, NGOs, Sports clubs, Sports franchises etc.

Some of the common job profiles available are

Rehabilitation Specialist

Consultant

Physiotherapist

Sports Physiotherapist

Community Physiotherapist

Private Practitioner

Common places/areas where one may find a job include

Government Hospitals

Private Hospitals

Community Health Centres

Sports Clubs

Gyms and Fitness Centres

NGOs

Salary

Salary depends on a number of factors. Prominent factors include profile of the employer, grades attained by the employee, skills possessed by the employee and quality of institute from which one has pursued the course. Generally, starting salary is around 30-40K Rupees per month. With experience, salary will increase. Abroad, the pay scale is much better than it is in India. In case of a Government sector job, salary will depend on the pay band and grade of the employee.