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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider training as a physiotherapist

25 replies

CareerConfusion16 · 05/12/2025 12:58

I’m in a bit of a career rut.

Long story short I qualified as a solicitor in the summer and promptly quit because I hated the entire job and the law. I have been working in a hospital as admin for a while now and I love it, I enjoy even being a small part of helping people out.

However I’m yearning for more. I don’t want to be a doctor or nurse (I hate blood 🤣) but still feel like something clinical may be a way forward for me. Am I being stupid to think that this is an option for me? I’d need to study biology a level privately before I could do it, which would push me to 28 before I could start training.

Am I stupid? Should I just accept that I had my shot at a career and I need to get over it and accept that I’m destined to do some form of admin for life? I feel so confused and a tad unsatisfied but don’t want to look into options until I know exactly what I’m thinking.

OP posts:
Original poster
CareerConfusion16 · 05/12/2025 13:08

Any help? I feel so lost

OP posts:
Mulledmead · 05/12/2025 13:09

I would say at 28, go for it. You have your whole working life ahead of you and you don't want to be doing something you hate.
Some physios deal with acutely unwell patients (respiratory issues and ITU) so there are times when training you may be exposed to bodily fluids...
There has been some job issues recently, so perhaps look at vacancies, go and have a chat with the physios at your hospital and see if you can arrange some shadowing.
Also consider other allied health; OT, speech and language therapy etc.; there are tonnes of different roles out there. Some have apprenticeship routes now and there may be some that don't require a level biology and you could continue to earn money whilst you train.

Elisheva · 05/12/2025 13:12

28? You’re so young! I did a degree and changed careers when I was 38. I’m now 48 and about to start a PGCE. Life is for living. Never settle.

TangoWhiskeyAlphaTango123 · 05/12/2025 13:12

Heavens no you will only be 28 a whole career ahead of you. I work in the NHS (Nurse) I would say just try and be sure it is 100% what you want to do before embarking on it.

Kirbert2 · 05/12/2025 13:15

Mulledmead · 05/12/2025 13:09

I would say at 28, go for it. You have your whole working life ahead of you and you don't want to be doing something you hate.
Some physios deal with acutely unwell patients (respiratory issues and ITU) so there are times when training you may be exposed to bodily fluids...
There has been some job issues recently, so perhaps look at vacancies, go and have a chat with the physios at your hospital and see if you can arrange some shadowing.
Also consider other allied health; OT, speech and language therapy etc.; there are tonnes of different roles out there. Some have apprenticeship routes now and there may be some that don't require a level biology and you could continue to earn money whilst you train.

I was going to say.

My son had a stint in intensive care (he's fine now) last year and he actually had daily physio because he was on a ventilator and needed assistance with coughing, suctioning etc to lower the risks of chest infections and pneumonia because he wasn't able to cough for himself.

It definitely involved bodily fluid at times.

HangryBrickShark · 05/12/2025 13:17

What about animal physio, Equine or canine?

Original poster
CareerConfusion16 · 05/12/2025 13:17

By blood etc I mean I wouldn’t be able to take bloods, so surgery etc - it terrifies me 😂 but things like that I’d be okay with.

I’m just not sure whether I’m being silly and I’m not cut out for that sort of thing

OP posts:
MissedItByThisMuch · 05/12/2025 13:19

Do it! You’re only in your 20s, you’ve got a long career ahead to be in a job you’ve just settled for. As PPs have said, make sure physio’s for you, maybe have a look at other allied health roles as well, then go for it!

UpMyself · 05/12/2025 13:21

I’m in a bit of a career rut.
Long story short I qualified as a solicitor in the summer and promptly quit because I hated the entire job and the law.
I have been working in a hospital as admin for a while now and I love it, I enjoy even being a small part of helping people out.

I'd be looking at investigating careers where you can use the qualifications you already have.
Training to be a physio takes about 4 years.
What if you change your mind about that?

Bemoreme21 · 05/12/2025 13:21

What about becoming an orthoptist/optometrist? No bodily fluids involved.

Original poster
CareerConfusion16 · 05/12/2025 13:23

UpMyself · 05/12/2025 13:21

I’m in a bit of a career rut.
Long story short I qualified as a solicitor in the summer and promptly quit because I hated the entire job and the law.
I have been working in a hospital as admin for a while now and I love it, I enjoy even being a small part of helping people out.

I'd be looking at investigating careers where you can use the qualifications you already have.
Training to be a physio takes about 4 years.
What if you change your mind about that?

It’s a really long story with law. I was on a pathway I was never really sure about, never really liked, and continued on because of a lot of family issues meaning I never really felt like I could speak up.

OP posts:
Lottapianos · 05/12/2025 13:24

'I work in the NHS (Nurse) I would say just try and be sure it is 100% what you want to do before embarking on it.'

I'm an ex NHS clinician and I agree with this. You will need to do some work shadowing anyway if you intend to apply for a physiotherapy degree program. I would arrange this ASAP, in both hospital and community settings. You will find out so much about what the job actually involves day to day, and you can make an informed decision about whether the job might be right for you

You're certainly not too old at 28!

skybluestars · 05/12/2025 13:26

If you like the hospital environment you’re on to a winner already.

ICU physios deal with bloody sputum, cough assistant, ventilators etc. ward based physios will be mobilising people and having to clean up urine and faeces as they go. It’s a great AHP role but not for the queasy or faint hearted? Outpatient physios deal would be less but your initial rotations would cover all of it. Shadow some physios first.

There are lots of AHP jobs which are in the hospital but less ‘medical’ in terms of adjuncts to the job. Have a browse but def don’t think you’re too old!

Kirbert2 · 05/12/2025 13:29

CareerConfusion16 · 05/12/2025 13:17

By blood etc I mean I wouldn’t be able to take bloods, so surgery etc - it terrifies me 😂 but things like that I’d be okay with.

I’m just not sure whether I’m being silly and I’m not cut out for that sort of thing

Maybe a community physio would suit you more than a hospital physio?

My son's community physio does his exercises with him, sometimes she'll do hydrotherapy sessions with him, she arranges for orthotics to measure him and get him new AFOs when he's grown out of them etc

She does home visits, school visits etc

CarefulN0w · 05/12/2025 13:32

Why not see if there are any physio assistant posts available (you might want to consider occupational therapy too)? It wouldn’t be particularly well paid and would give you a chance to see if you like it before committing to studying.

As for your age, I think Victoria Starmer swapped a legal career for occupational therapy.

bibliomania · 05/12/2025 13:37

Go for it! My brother qualified as an OT at nearly 50 and loves it. No body fluids involved.

UpMyself · 05/12/2025 13:39

@CareerConfusion16 , from law and your current role you will have amassed a set of transferrable skills. There are careers out there where you could use these to carve out a good and rewarding career that you would find rewarding.

What did you enjoy in your law career?
What do you enjoy in your current role?

What don't/didn't enjoy?

What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?

wizzywig · 05/12/2025 13:39

You obviously have £££ if you can get through law training and be considering a career change. Go for it.

Original poster
CareerConfusion16 · 05/12/2025 13:43

UpMyself · 05/12/2025 13:39

@CareerConfusion16 , from law and your current role you will have amassed a set of transferrable skills. There are careers out there where you could use these to carve out a good and rewarding career that you would find rewarding.

What did you enjoy in your law career?
What do you enjoy in your current role?

What don't/didn't enjoy?

What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?

I liked the people contact and usng my brain. Hated everything else

OP posts:
UpMyself · 05/12/2025 13:47

There will be many hospital careers that do not need a medical-related qualification, and that will involve meeting people and using your brain.

I made a career change at your age but it was a sideways move and and MSc.

LeftBoobGoneRogue · 05/12/2025 13:52

@CareerConfusion16you could call or email the admissions dept of a few universities which offer physio courses and ask them what qualifications they accept. Did you study any science or PE at A level?

Oioiqueen · 05/12/2025 13:54

Honestly I'd do the A-Level see if you are happy studying again and enjoy it. If you don't enjoy the biology now then you wouldn't at degree level. Whilst doing the A-Level you can use some A/L to do shadowing in the hospital. Worse case scenario you change your mind and you've spent some time learning some biology.

Speckledy · 05/12/2025 14:07

You're definitely not too old to retrain as a physio or into another practical role working with patients if that's what you want. People have given you good advice about that.

But I would also suggest unpacking your thinking around "accept that I’m destined to do some form of admin for life?" a little as well and if you like the hospital environment look more closely at what some of the non-clinical staff outside your team do before you write it all off as unfulfilling admin. There's a whole range of careers I didn't even know existed in my mid-20s and I spent way longer than I should have vaguely regretting not having a "named" job like a solicitor or a doctor or a physio rather than making the most of the skills I do have.

Original poster
CareerConfusion16 · 05/12/2025 14:07

Oioiqueen · 05/12/2025 13:54

Honestly I'd do the A-Level see if you are happy studying again and enjoy it. If you don't enjoy the biology now then you wouldn't at degree level. Whilst doing the A-Level you can use some A/L to do shadowing in the hospital. Worse case scenario you change your mind and you've spent some time learning some biology.

I loveeeee studying. If I could study all the time and get paid for it, I would 😂 if I won the euromillions I’d spend my life just studying in a really fancy house

OP posts:
Original poster
CareerConfusion16 · 05/12/2025 14:10

Speckledy · 05/12/2025 14:07

You're definitely not too old to retrain as a physio or into another practical role working with patients if that's what you want. People have given you good advice about that.

But I would also suggest unpacking your thinking around "accept that I’m destined to do some form of admin for life?" a little as well and if you like the hospital environment look more closely at what some of the non-clinical staff outside your team do before you write it all off as unfulfilling admin. There's a whole range of careers I didn't even know existed in my mid-20s and I spent way longer than I should have vaguely regretting not having a "named" job like a solicitor or a doctor or a physio rather than making the most of the skills I do have.

I think that’s part of it. I just don’t have a named career

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