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Physiotherapy assistant

Also called therapy assistant, physiotherapist assistant, assistant physiotherapist

Physiotherapy assistants work under supervision, within defined contexts using agreed treatment protocols and procedures such as collecting client data and maintaining the equipment required in physiotherapy interventions. The overall responsibility is retained by the delegating professional.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects41 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Health associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,500 (Bulgaria) to €8,200 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Health associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree. 3 in 10 train through vocational routes.Health associate professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Physiotherapy technicians and assistants · ILO

What you'd do

Physiotherapy technicians and assistants · ILO
  • Administering manual treatments such as massage therapy or pressure point therapy
  • Administering electrical modality treatments, ultrasound and other physical therapies using specialized techniques and equipment
  • Instructing, motivating, safeguarding and assisting patients as they practice physical exercises, relaxation techniques and functional activities
  • Conferring with physiotherapists or other health care providers to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment
  • Monitoring and recording patients' progress during treatments, including measuring their range-of-joint motion and vital signs
  • Fitting patients for orthopaedic braces, prostheses and other physical supportive devices such as crutches, and instructing patients in the use of such devices
Empathise with the healthcare userCommunicate in healthcareManage healthcare users' dataComply with legislation related to health careComply with quality standards related to healthcare practice+ 36 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Physical Therapist Assistants"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as health associate professionals in the EU
6.04m6.64m7.71m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
921,000 new jobs 1,847,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Health associate professionals41
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of physiotherapy technicians and assistants, 3 a surplus.
Physiotherapy technicians and assistants · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,500 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,200 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in therapy and rehabilitation is the usual route.

Highest qualification of health associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 37%Vocational 49%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 8%
Fields that teach it
Therapy and rehabilitation · Medicine · Traditional and complementary medicine and therapy
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Health and welfare graduates in a matching job
81% in the EU

946 institutions in the EU offer health and welfare bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.17 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Monitoring and recording patients' progress during treatments, including measuring their range-of-joint motion and vital signs0.27
Conferring with physiotherapists or other health care providers to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment0.22
Instructing, motivating, safeguarding and assisting patients as they practice physical exercises, relaxation techniques and functional activities0.18
Fitting patients for orthopaedic braces, prostheses and other physical supportive devices such as crutches, and instructing patients in the use of such devices0.17
Administering electrical modality treatments, ultrasound and other physical therapies using specialized techniques and equipment0.10
Administering manual treatments such as massage therapy or pressure point therapy0.07

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for physiotherapy technicians and assistants. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).