Career change as a physiotherapist
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 2 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Field specialist advisor for medical technology
Also: Product specialist for rehabilitation and therapy devices
With on-the-job training
In a manufacturer's field service, you present products, train users and advise clinics, practices and medical supply stores.
- What you bring:
- You know how therapy devices, aids and training equipment are used in everyday work and what practices and clinics need.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers of medical, rehabilitation and training technology train physiotherapists on the job with product training. As a medical device consultant (Medizinprodukteberater), you need the legally required expertise (Sachkenntnis): your physiotherapy training as training in a medical profession, plus training on the specific products. A driving license and willingness to travel are expected.*Regulated by law (Medical Devices Law Implementation Act (MPDG) § 83).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,550gross per monthMedian salary
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Workplace health management consultant
Also: Ergonomics consultant
With on-the-job training
In workplace health management, you analyze workplaces, advise on ergonomics, plan health days and courses, and work with occupational safety and the HR department.
- What you bring:
- You know posture, strain and movement and know how back pain and overload arise.
- How to get there:
- Companies, health insurance funds and providers of health management services hire physiotherapists. Courses in workplace health management or ergonomics take a few weeks to a few months. You mostly work during office hours, with less physical strain.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light -
Head of therapy in a rehabilitation clinic
Also: Head of a physiotherapy practice
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As head of therapy, you plan staff and treatments, lead a team of therapists and ensure quality and cost-effectiveness.
- What you bring:
- You know treatment processes, documentation, billing and cooperation with doctors and payers.
- How to get there:
- Clinics and larger practices usually fill management positions with experienced therapists from their own staff. Courses on leadership, practice management and quality management take a few weeks. You then treat fewer patients and spend more time on organization.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically light€5,115gross per monthMedian salary
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Clerk for therapeutic remedies (Heilmittel) at a health insurance fund
Also: Customer advisor at a health insurance fund
With on-the-job training
At a health insurance fund, you review prescriptions and applications, advise insured people and service providers, and help develop contracts with therapy practices.
- What you bring:
- You know prescriptions for therapeutic remedies, treatment needs and billing from the practice's side.
- How to get there:
- Health insurance funds train therapists on the job in social law and software, often with internal courses over several months. You work in an office at predictable times, without physical strain.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office€3,964gross per monthMedian salary
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Manager of a health studio
Also: Manager of a sports facility
With on-the-job training
As manager of a health or fitness studio, you lead the trainer team, develop health programs and take care of customers, partnerships and cost-effectiveness.
- What you bring:
- You combine exercise, training and therapy and know what people with complaints need.
- How to get there:
- Health studios and rehabilitation sports providers often use physiotherapists for management tasks and train them on the job in sales and business management. Expect evening and weekend hours and targets for memberships.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsPhysically lightLots of contact with people€3,740gross per monthMedian salary
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Personal trainer
Also: Health trainer
With on-the-job training
As a personal trainer or health trainer, you look after customers during training in studios, in companies or as a self-employed trainer.
- What you bring:
- You can adapt training to complaints and resilience and know exercises for every body.
- How to get there:
- Your physiotherapy training is a strong foundation, and you can add licenses for fitness and health training in courses lasting a few weeks. If you are self-employed, you work without a health insurance accreditation (Kassenzulassung), and your customers pay privately.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€2,910gross per monthMedian salary
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Osteopath
Also: Osteopath in your own practice
With vocational training
As an osteopath, you examine and treat patients holistically with your hands, usually in your own practice or a shared practice.
- What you bring:
- You know anatomy, the musculoskeletal system and manual techniques precisely and want to treat more independently.
- How to get there:
- Osteopathy training for physiotherapists takes several years alongside work, and its scope and length depend on the school. To treat without a medical prescription, you also need the Heilpraktiker permit (Heilpraktikererlaubnis), which the public health office grants after an examination. Osteopathy is not a standard benefit of the health insurance funds, but some reimburse it as a voluntary benefit.*Regulated by law (Heilpraktiker Act (HeilprG) § 1).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€3,500gross per monthMedian salary
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Teacher at a physiotherapy school
Also: Specialist teacher for physiotherapy
With further training
At a vocational school for physiotherapy, you teach practical and theoretical subjects and support students during their practical placements.
- What you bring:
- You master treatment techniques and clinical assessment from years of practice and can demonstrate them well.
- How to get there:
- Alongside work experience, some schools expect a teaching qualification. Depending on the state and school, this means either further training as a teacher or a part-time degree in medical education (Medizinpädagogik). The reform of physiotherapy training may change the requirements, so ask the schools in your region.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours€5,140gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a physiotherapist without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Field specialist advisor for medical technology, Workplace health management consultant, Head of therapy in a rehabilitation clinic, Clerk for therapeutic remedies (Heilmittel) at a health insurance fund, Manager of a health studio and Personal trainer.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a physiotherapist?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Osteopath and Teacher at a physiotherapy school.
What promotion options do I have as a physiotherapist?
Promotions include, for example: Head of therapy in a rehabilitation clinic.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Field specialist advisor for medical technology (€5,550 gross per month), Teacher at a physiotherapy school (€5,140 gross per month) and Head of therapy in a rehabilitation clinic (€5,115 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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