retraining as a physio???

[tostaky]

Im just thinking about it for now.
I want to quit my career as a business consultant, working part time is the best way to get sidelined... and i want something else anyway..

so I was thinking about becoming a physio because:

• i could choose the hours i want to work (after a few years)
• can be a physio anywhere (as opposed to current job where it is best to be in London)
• good for part-time working
• dont have a boss
• no office politics
• i guess the demand for physio is good and as the population ages it wont decrease

I also have A levels in biology, an interest in sports and in health and yoga

is that realistic? Im ok for the three years training

yes, or how about a chiropractor? there is a good mixed mode learning course at the mctimoney college in oxford, and its very rewarding!

oh my god physio is such a hard course. i lived with 5 physio students when i did my nurse training and to top it all you have to get massaged and strip off in class i couldnt do it im fat!!! ha ha. plus there are no jobs at the moment its a touch job market for physio. would you condider becoming a midwife? if i had my time back again id do teaching (litle ones only) would love to do it but dh would have a fit. i only qualified 6 years ago.

I would look into how much demand there is for private physios? Also the job situations is not amazing.

You would certainly have to start out in some sort of clinic/inpatient setting which would involve a boss and office politics etc.

Its very competitive to get in and I would imagine uni would be looking for recent study.

That said, if its what you want to do then go for it and good luck!!

Do some research into the difference between physio, osteopathy, chiropractics etc (and poss other 'alternative' therapies) and make sure you really want to be a Physio before you embark on the training.

It is a gruelling three year degree - you'll share lots of lectures with first and second year medical students - and then you'll need to do rotations in an NHS hospital (very competitive to get on to) and eventually specialise if you want to be taken seriously (and earn £££) in private practice.

There has also been a crisis in NHS pyhsio in recent years. Gov't said they needed loads more qualified pyhsios about five years ago and subsequently dished out loads of bursaries for degrees...then a couple of years later changed their minds and withdrew lots of the funding for jobs within the NHS, so there are a lot of jobless qualified Physios out there!

It's not all doom and gloom, just best to be realistic about it and know that you really want to do it before embarking on a career change.

Thanks for all your comments.
is it realistic to think i could work part-time on NHS rotations?
or to think i could set up my own practice after 2-3 years? (if of course finances are ok)

Would second MrsMattie - make sure you really want to be a physio before you go to all that effort.

You could potentially do pt NHS rotations, could be tricky though. Potentially you could set up a practice after 2-3 yrs. But realistically how good a physio will you be after 2years - unless you have undertaken a lot of additional training in that time.

There may not be office politics but you will have to deal with patients who are just as troublesome!!

Its a three year degree but you will be expected to demonstrate ongoing learning for the rest of your career and if you are going to be any good you will have to be really committed to this.

And yes you will have to strip down to bra and knickers/shorts as part of the course - puts a lot of people off.

Agree completely with MrsMattie - its a fulltime (9-5 most days) degree course with loads of self-study so make sure its what you really want to do and are interested in. Im a physio of 3 years working in rotations but there is a lot of on-call expected in the NHS so evenings and weekends are part of your contract for most band 5/6 posts. You can go private and set up on your own at any point post-qualification but most people have at least 5years musculoskeletal experience behind them, and this is usually what is required to join a private practice, plus other skills like acupuncture (approx £500 a course!) I don't want to seem like im putting a downer on your dreams but Id suggest you arrange to shadow some local physios to get a feel for what its all about, and this will also look great on your application form for the uni's as the course is still very competitive to get onto, despite the lack of jobs for new graduates in some areas. Best of luck thou and would be happy to give you advice!

Ps - the stripping to the underwear in class is true!

I've been qualified for 10 years and only now feel confident enough for private practise.

The course is tough unless you are one of those super-brainy types that can absorb information. I can't and struggled, but did better with the practical elements.

Good rotational jobs post qualification are hard to come by these days too and so it takes longer to get the experience you want (and need). Junior jobs are not usually part time though.

I agree with throwingnappiesattrucks, get some work experience with a few different practitioners of various therapies and see what feels right.

Saying all that, it is a great job, i love it and it can be very flexible and varied.

Doing my acupuncture training this weekend, my brain is fried. Chi? Meridians? Really?

ROFL at no office politics!