How To Become A Sports Physiotherapist In Canada?

Candidates who have a knack for sports find sports physiotherapy intriguing. In brief, a person who undergoes specialized training in the field becomes a sports physiotherapist.

There are many more strings attached to how you can become a sports physiotherapist in Canada. We will review all of them in this article.

A basic duty which a sports physiotherapist performs includes assisting a player to perform to his or her full capacity.

Becoming A Sports Physiotherapist In Canada

You can become a sports physiotherapist in Canada, a sports physiotherapist in Calgary to be more specific, by fulfilling the below-mentioned criteria.

Earn Diploma

Earning a high school diploma is a great way to get into the best university. This further helps you to become a sports physiotherapist. Your journey, therefore, begins from this step. Earning a GED is an alternative that you can look into.

While in high school, opt for subjects that are related to the field of sports physiotherapy. Some of the subjects which are recommended by experts include biology and physical education. These subjects keep you on track and impart the necessary knowledge.

Study hard to secure good grades in your high school. This is a key to getting into the best university for sports physiotherapy.

Earn Bachelor

After the diploma, it is time to get your bachelor’s degree from a reputed institution. You can alternatively opt for a college diploma. While you are pursuing your bachelor’s degree, you can complete an athletic therapy program through a college that is associated with CATA, short for the Canadian Athletic Therapist’s Association.

A bachelor’s program in physiotherapy is normally for 3-5 years. You would go through a disciplined course of theoretical and practical sessions. A theoretical session will offer you the knowledge and a practical session will give you live training.

Once completed, you would qualify for the next step that is to get a certificate in sports physiotherapy.

Get Certificate

One of the mandatory requirements of the Canadian Athletic Therapist’s Association is for a candidate to take up a certification course in first aid and basic life support. This is an additional certificate that you must choose while pursuing your education.

A certification course in first aid and basic life support is generally an intensive training session with a duration of 2 days. The duration can vary based on the instructor and the number of daily hours that are offered by the instructor.

You are issued a three-year certificate after you pass the evaluation exam. The certificate must be kept active to retain your status as a professional sports physiotherapist in Canada.

Related All You Need to Understand About Sports Physiotherapy

Fill Application

After earning a certificate in first aid and basic life support, you would be required to become a member of the Canadian Athletic Therapist’s Association. You can enroll while pursuing your school or additional training in the field of sports physiotherapy in Canada.

It is mandatory for everyone to be a member of the Canadian Athletic Therapist’s Association for at least 18 months. Therefore, fill the application during your school days to become a member of the Canadian Athletic Therapist’s Association.

The completion of 18 months opens a new door for you to take up the next step and get one more step closer to becoming a sports physiotherapist in Canada.

Pass NCE

NCE stands for National Certification Examination. To take up the exam, you must have been a member of the Canadian Athletic Therapist’s Association for at least 18 months. This is where filling an application during your school time becomes important. It saves you time in the future to immediately take the National Certification Examination.

The cost for the National Certification Examination averages $673.75. You can take it up two times a year to complete it within two years of graduation.

Candidates are required to attempt 200 multiple-choice questions. You can prepare for the exam by reading the National Certification Handbook.

Remain Updated

If you have made it this far you deserve a pat on your back, or probably a party at your favorite place.

There is still a lot to be done to ensure that you remain on the list. To start with, you must keep yourself updated with what is happening in your industry. This includes being aware of a new practice or exercise machine that can help your patients to heal better.

Next, read recent research papers. The Canadian Athletic Therapist’s Association has made it compulsory for all professionals to secure 21 continuing education credits every three years. You must also keep your first aid and basic life support certificate active every three years.

Three Skills Needed To Become A Sports Physiotherapist In Canada

The three skills that you must have to become a sports physiotherapist in Canada are discussed below.

Decision-Making

You must be able to make a quick and precise decision. This is related to knowing what the best treatment for a patient would be under different circumstances. Assess different patients to come up with a customized treatment plan.

Interpersonal

This refers to being able to connect with a patient. You offer better treatment when a patient is more comfortable and relaxed around you. Having great interpersonal skills helps you to understand your patient better.

Physical Fitness

A sports physiotherapist in Canada is expected to be physically fit himself or herself. The job involves a lot of running, standing, and lifting. All this can be done only if you are fit. Additionally, only a fit physiotherapist can motivate a patient to remain fit.

Average Salary And Working Conditions Of A Sports Physiotherapist In Canada

As a professional sports physiotherapist in Canada, you can expect to receive a remuneration of $27.79 on an hourly basis. In terms of an annual figure, you can earn an average amount of $56,948.

The final amount varies based on where you are employed and what type of employment you opt for. For instance, you can earn more as a self-employed sports physiotherapist than sitting at a clinic.

Working conditions vary depending on what type of employment you have chosen as a sports physiotherapist in Canada. You may have players visiting your clinic or you may be required to visit the field. Such situations can rarely be defined as comforting as the profession deals with handling the injuries of a player.

Final Words

You can also specialize in sports physiotherapy in Calgary by choosing the type of employment. Four different types are research, clinician, industrial, and sports.

Also Read How Can You Start a Physical Therapy Clinic in Canada?