career change - retraining as a physio?
Greetings all,
I'm a 29 y/o British English Lit graduate employed as bid writer - I pull together sales proposals to help companies win new business. I'm now considering retraining to become a Physiotherapist. Various reasons why - drive for a hands on 'doing' role, really enjoy interacting with and helping people, love of hospitals (weird, I know), big interest in physiology, dislike of desk-bound typing job, and (likely!) indirect influence from my parents (nurse and paramedic).
At this late stage in life this is a big step - coming out of the 9-5 reliable salary, going back to University. Right now I've a bit of work to do gaining work experience, science A levels (really loving A level biology so far!), and importantly -working out my finances, and understanding how my Physiotherapy career and wages could progress after graduation - to gauge if my ambition is financially feasible. While I'm not in debt (I didn't take a student loan first time around - just worked a lot) I don't have savings. Money isn't my prime motivation but I have to be realistic and take this into account. So, I'm at the research stage and would really appreciate your thoughts. Specific questions:
1) Salaries for band 5-6 NHS employed physios hover around £28-35k, but private sector/locum work seems a bit higher. What are the better paying roles, within or without the NHS, or perhaps in other English speaking countries?
2) Locum work - hourly wage - seems well paid, but less reliable. How long do typical contracts last? Do people make a career from locum work alone - do they tend to move around the UK to wherever the work is?
3) In your experience, which areas (e.g. musculoskeletal, neurological) have the best prospects? Are there any highly specialist areas that command higher salary?
4) I absolutely adore the great outdoors and am a keen rock climber and mountaineer. Any ideas on if it's possible to combine physio ambitions with this interest? Though University admission staff have warned me that any mention of sport in my application will count against me I'd be really interested to hear other opinions.
p.s. yes I know the title says 'physic' - damn tiredness zzzzz
Re: career change - retraining as a physio?
Hey!! As per my opinion, due to high demand of gp locums they are paid very handsomely and some are even being paid bonuses for going out and visiting patients rather than dealing with them over the phone. There are many locum agencies which helps to find you the work that you are looking for. It is good that you adore outdoors ,the more flexible you are on travel and earnings the more work you will be offered as gp locum.
