India’s New Physiotherapy Curriculum 2025: What you need to know

India has taken a major step toward transforming healthcare education by launching the Competency-Based Physiotherapy Curriculum 2025, governed by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India. This reform is not only timely but essential, as the demand for skilled physiotherapists continues to grow due to the rise in chronic illnesses, lifestyle diseases, ageing populations, and sports injuries.

This in-depth article is a complete guide to the new physiotherapy curriculum. It is designed to inform students, Healthcare Professionals, educators, and healthcare institutions about its structure, goals, innovations, and long-term benefits. We use simple language while incorporating essential technical details to help you understand what makes this curriculum a revolutionary step in Indian physiotherapy education.

What Is the NCAHP and Why Does It Matter

The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, passed in 2021, established NCAHP as a regulatory body for 56 allied healthcare professions in India, including physiotherapy. Its main goals are to:

Standardise physiotherapy education across India
Ensure uniform quality in professional training
Promote ethical and evidence-based practice
Encourage research and continuous professional development

With this background, the new curriculum is designed to produce competent physiotherapists who are ready for modern clinical, academic, and research challenges.

Key Features of the New Physiotherapy Curriculum

1. Competency-Based Education

One of the biggest changes is the shift from traditional theory-based learning to competency-based education. Instead of just “knowing” information, students must demonstrate what they can do with that knowledge in real-life settings.

Key Competencies Include:

Clinical assessment and diagnosis
Patient-centered care
Ethical decision-making
Communication with patients and healthcare teams
Research and evidence-based practice
Leadership and mentorship

India’s New Physiotherapy Curriculum 2025 poster

2. Five-Year Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) Program

The new curriculum extends the undergraduate program to five years, which includes a one-year internship.

Admission and Eligibility

To enter the BPT program under the new curriculum:

Students must complete 10+2 (with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology)
Minimum 50% marks
NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test) is required

Course Structure:

Years 1–4: Academic learning + clinical exposure
Year 5: Full-time supervised internship

This ensures a smoother transition from classroom to clinic.

Course Subjects:

1st Year:
- Human Anatomy (HA)
- Human Physiology (HP)
- Biochemistry (BC)
- Fundamentals of exercise Modalities (FoEM)
- Fundamentals of Electro Physical Agents (FoEA)
- Psychology & Sociology (PS)
- Fundamentals of Healthcare delivery System in India (FoHS)
- English (EG)
- Information Technology (IT)
- Clinic Orientation (COr)
2nd Year:
- Pathology & Microbiology (PM)
- Pharmacology (PC)
- Public Health & Health Promotion (PH)
- Emergency Care and Life Support Skills (ECLS)
- Exercise Therapy (ExT)
- Electrotherapy (ET)
- Biomechanics & Kinesiology (BK)
- Yoga and Systems of Medicine (YoG)
- Clinical Observation (COb)
3rd Year:
- General Medicine and Paediatrics (GMP)
- General Surgery (GS)
- Orthopaedics (OR)
- Physiotherapy in Adult and Pediatric Medical and Surgical Conditions (PTMS)
- Physiotherapy in Adult and Pediatric Orthopaedics Conditions (PTO)
- Research Methodology, Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Practice (RMB)
- Clinical Education (CEd)
4th Year:
- Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery (NPNS)
- Physiotherapy in Adult and Pediatric Neurological and Neurosurgical Conditions (PTN)
- Cardiothoracic diseases and surgeries (CTD)
- Physiotherapy in Adult and Pediatric Cardiothoracic Conditions and Surgical Conditions (PTCT)
- Sports Physiotherapy & Exercise Prescription (PTS)
- Ethics, Medico Legal aspects, Management & Administration (PTLM)
- Community Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation (CPTR)

Internship Guidelines:

The fifth year of the BPT course is dedicated entirely to a full-time rotatory internship, where students rotate through different clinical departments under expert supervision. This includes:

Eligibility and Registration

Internship starts only after passing all 4-year theory and practical exams.
Students must obtain provisional registration from the Council before joining.
Internship designation: “Physiotherapy Intern” or “B.P.T. Intern”.

Duration and Schedule

1-year full-time (12 months = minimum 2016 hours).
7 hours/day, 6 days/week.
Max 12 days leave allowed; excess leave must be compensated.

Rotatory Postings

Students are rotated through the following departments:

Department	Duration
Musculoskeletal / Ortho	45 days
Neurology	45 days
Community / Rural	2 months
Cardiology (ICU/NICU)	1 month
Pulmonology / TB / Medicine	1 month
Sports Physiotherapy	1 month
Obstetrics & Gynecology	1 month
Pediatrics	1 month
Surgery / Oncology	1 month
Burns & Plastic Surgery	1 month

Goals and Objectives

Develop independent patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment skills.
Improve communication with patients and healthcare teams.
Gain exposure to advanced procedures and research orientation.

Clinical Responsibilities

Work under supervision in OPD/IPD/ICU.
Maintain a daily logbook and present 12 case presentations during the internship.
Submit a supervised project report (case study/review/research).

Assessment Format

All assessments and progress must follow the SOAP format:
- Subjective
- Objective
- Analysis
- Plan.

Evaluation & Completion

No final university exam; evaluation based on:
- Attendance (10%)
- Logbook (30%)
- Project (60%).
HOD/Principal issues Certificate of Satisfactory Completion, required for the BPT degree.

Disciplinary & Leave Policies

Only 1 leave/month (apart from weekly off).
Internship extension or repetition in case of:
- Excessive leave
- Unsatisfactory performance
- Indiscipline or legal issues.

Role of the Institute & Hospital

Internship must occur in facilities with proper infrastructure, experienced staff, and council-registered physiotherapists.
Student: faculty ratio should not exceed 10:1.

These Internship guidelines provide clear recognition and support better patient trust, professional dignity, and international acceptance of qualifications.

Recognition of Title and Qualification

Under the new curriculum, physiotherapists in India are officially recognised as “Physiotherapists” with the prefix “Dr” and suffix “PT”. This title signifies their role as independent healthcare professionals.

A Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) is the entry-level qualification, awarded after a 5-year competency-based program.
With career advancement, professionals can pursue higher roles in clinical, academic, or research sectors.
The Commission has phased out diploma and PG diploma programs, encouraging only bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees.
Career progression is defined across clinical, academic, and research streams, helping professionals plan their growth.

3. Integrated Teaching Approach

The curriculum encourages horizontal and vertical integration, meaning:

Basic sciences (like anatomy and physiology) are taught alongside clinical subjects
Practical exposure begins early and increases over time

4. Foundation Course

In the first year, students undergo a foundation course that covers:

Basic clinical skills
Medical ethics
Communication
Computer literacy
Disaster management and public health basics

5. Modern Teaching Tools

The curriculum uses simulation labs, mannequins, case-based discussions, and task-based learning to improve hands-on skills.

6. Self-Directed Learning (SDL)

Students are encouraged to take control of their education through research, digital tools, and self-evaluation.

Curriculum Goals and Learning Outcomes

The curriculum is built around nine major learning goals:

Independent Clinical Practice:
- Using a patient/family-centred approach and best evidence, physiotherapists can do autonomous practice of Physiotherapy as first-hand practitioners.
- Prescribe & use relevant investigations, therapeutic interventions, assistive devices, home and workplace modifications, support systems, etc., as needed.
- Identify the indications for Physiotherapy for various diseases, disorders, and trauma and manage them appropriately with physiotherapeutic modalities.
- Assessment of patients & identifying the need for appropriate referral to other medical specialities.
- Incorporate strategies for certain emergency care, health promotion & disease prevention
Communication:
- Discuss the diagnosis with the patient and decide on appropriate treatment plans sensitively, in the best interests of the patient and society in general.
- Explain the proposed healthcare service – its nature, purpose, possible positive & adverse consequences, its limitations, & reasonable alternatives wherever they exist
- Develop efficient methods for all forms of written & verbal communication, including accurate and timely record keeping
Teamwork in Multidisciplinary Settings:
- Recognise, clearly articulate, understand & support shared goals in the team that reflect patient and family priorities.
- Possess distinct roles within the team.
- Develop mutual trust within the team to create strong norms of reciprocity & greater opportunities for shared achievement.
Ethics and Accountability:
- Apply the basic concepts of clinical ethics to actual cases & situations.
- Understanding & application of basic legal concepts to the practice of Physiotherapy.
- Demonstrate respect for each patient’s rights of autonomy, privacy, & confidentiality.
Commitment to Professional Excellence:
- Making the quality of being answerable for all actions and omissions to all, including service users, peers, employers, standard-setting/regulatory bodies or oneself.
- Demonstrate humanity in the course of everyday practice by having respect (and dignity), compassion, empathy, honour and integrity.
- Ensure that self-interest does not influence actions or omissions, & demonstrate regard for service-users and colleagues.
Leadership and Mentorship:
- Act as agents of change and be leaders in quality improvement and service development, so that they contribute and enhance people’s well-being and their healthcare experience.
- Work independently and collaboratively in teams.
- Take a leadership role to coordinate, delegate and supervise physiotherapeutic healthcare safely, manage risk & remain accountable for the care given; actively involve and respect others’ contributions to integrated person-centred care; yet work in an effective manner across professional and agency boundaries.
Social Responsibility:
- Establish and promote innovative practice patterns by providing evidence-based care and testing new models of practice that will translate the results of research into practice, and thus will meet individual and community needs more effectively.
- Advocate for the services and resources needed for optimal patient care
Scientific Thinking and Research:
- Acquire basic skills such as presentation skills, giving feedback, patient education & the design & dissemination of research knowledge, for their application to teaching encounters.
- Practice evidence-based treatment by applying principles of scientific methods.
Lifelong Learning:
- Apply newly gained knowledge or skills to patient care.
- Enhance their personal & professional growth and learning by constant introspection, mentor’s guidance and by utilising experiences.

Each goal has defined objectives to ensure students graduate with skills that meet global healthcare standards.

Career Pathways

The curriculum also outlines career progression in three major sectors:

1. Clinical Practice

Clinical Physiotherapist
Senior Physiotherapist
Chief Physiotherapist
Director of Physiotherapy Services

Designation	Direct recruitment	Promotion
Clinical Physiotherapist	Fresh BPT graduate	Fresh BPT graduate
Senior Clinical Physiotherapist	Three years of clinical experience	Three years of clinical experience
Superintendent Physiotherapist	Five years of clinical experience with MPT qualification is desirable	Five years’ experience in the post of senior physiotherapist MPT is desirable for promotion
Chief Physiotherapist	Eight years’ experience as Superintendent Physiotherapist. MPT IS Mandatory	Eight years’ experience as Superintendent Physiotherapist. MPT IS Mandatory
Director of Physiotherapy / Head of the Physiotherapy Department	Five years’ experience as Chief Physiotherapist. MPT IS Mandatory	Five years’ experience as Chief Physiotherapist. MPT IS Mandatory
Assistant Director General [A.D.G]	Five years of clinical experience as Director of PT. MPT IS Mandatory	2 years’ experience as Director PT. MPT IS Mandatory.

2. Academics

Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Professor
Dean or Principal

Designation	Direct recruitment	Promotion
Assistant Professor	Fresh MPT graduate	Fresh MPT graduate
Assistant Professor (Senior)	Three years of experience as an Assistant Professor, Ph.D., is desirable for promotion/ direct recruitment to Assistant Professor (Senior grade).	Three years of experience as an Assistant Professor, Ph.D., is desirable for promotion/ direct recruitment to Assistant Professor (Senior grade).
Associate Professor	Total Five years of experience as Assistant Professor (out of which minimum 2 yrs as Senior AP preferably) PhD is Mandatory.	Total Five years of experience as Assistant Professor (out of which minimum 2 yrs as Senior AP preferably) PhD is Mandatory.
Professor	Five years of experience as Associate Professor or Total of 13 years of teaching experience. Senior-most Professor will be the Principal/Dean. PhD is Mandatory.	Five years of experience as Associate Professor or Total of 13 years of teaching experience. Senior-most Professor will be the Principal/Dean. PhD is Mandatory.
Dean	Five years of experience as Professor PhD is Mandatory	Five years’ experience as Professor, Senior most Professor will be the Principal/Dean. PhD is Mandatory

3. Research

Scientist C to Scientist G
Research Head

Designation	Direct recruitment	Promotion
Scientist -C	MPT, PhD	MPT, PhD
Scientist D	Five years of research experience as Scientist C.	Five years of research experience as Scientist C.
Scientist E	Eight years of experience as Scientist D.	Eight years of experience as Scientist D.
Scientist F	Five years of experience as Scientist E.	Five years of experience as Scientist E.
Scientist G/ Research Head	Five years of experience as Scientist F.	Five years of experience as Scientist F. (Designation as per UGC / ICMR Norms) Scientist D

With each stage, specific qualifications and experience are defined, helping physiotherapists map out long-term career plans.

Assessment and Grading

Students will be assessed continuously using a variety of modern evaluation methods:

OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)
OSPE (Objective Structured Practical Examination)
CbD (Case-based Discussions)
DOPs (Direct Observation of Procedures)
Patient Feedback
Self and Peer Reviews

Grading System

Grades will be assigned using a credit-based system, following the National Credit Framework (NCrF).

1 credit = 15 hours of classroom teaching
1 credit = 30 hours of practicals
1 credit = 40–45 hours of clinical work

Importance of the Curriculum for India’s Healthcare

The new curriculum has been created to align with India’s vision for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening rural and urban healthcare systems. With better training, physiotherapists will:

Improve patient recovery outcomes
Reduce surgical interventions through conservative care
Lower healthcare costs by promoting physical rehabilitation
Offer services in both urban and rural settings

Role of Physiotherapists in the Healthcare System

Physiotherapists are now recognised as first-line healthcare providers under the ISCO code 2264 (as per the International Labour Organisation). Their responsibilities include:

Preventing and managing physical dysfunctions
Rehabilitating patients after surgeries or injuries
Helping people with disabilities regain independence
Supporting maternal care, sports injuries, and workplace ergonomics

Institutions and Teaching Requirements

Who Can Offer the Program?

Central or State Governments
Universities and Deemed Universities
Public and Private Colleges (with proper accreditation)

Faculty Requirements

Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy (MPT) minimum
Ph.D. is required for higher teaching positions
Mandatory Faculty Development Programs every 3 years

Future of Physiotherapy in India

The updated curriculum is a landmark achievement. It ensures Indian physiotherapists are well-prepared to meet both domestic and global healthcare challenges. Students will gain confidence, knowledge, and practical experience. Institutions will produce quality graduates. Patients will receive better care.

India’s physiotherapy profession is on a promising path, and this curriculum is the foundation for a healthier future.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a student looking to join the profession, a teacher shaping future therapists, or a clinic aiming to hire qualified staff, this new curriculum sets a gold standard. It emphasises clinical skills, ethical practice, continuous learning, and teamwork — everything a modern physiotherapist needs.

Stay updated with Physiolims.com for more insights, tools, and resources tailored to the evolving world of physiotherapy in India.

Resources: Curriculum Handbook of Physiotherapy