Do you need a degree to become a Sports Therapist?
There is still lots of confusion as to whether or not you need a degree in Sports Therapy either to work as a sports therapist, or to register with the HPC should statutory regulation come into force in the future.
The answer is, NO.
The most popular route into Sports Therapy is still the diploma, however, some of our own graduates have decided to progress to a Sports Therapy degree, and have found that by completing our Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Sports Therapy, they have reduced their degree programme by at least 2 years, and without having to do an access course, saving not only time, but university fees, and at the same time being able to practice as a Sports Therapist, and earn money.
Active Health Group and Sports Therapy Organisation are heavily involved in new standards in Sports Therapy, including the new National Occupational Standards, and regulation through the Department of Health backed Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council, which recognises all our graduates.
The minimum National Occupational Standards are set to change this year, and it looks likely that Level 4 will be the new practitioner level, and we will keep everyone updated with all changes.
If you need any advice on training, including University courses, we have good links with many associations and universities, so please feel free to email me.
Re: Do you need a degree to become a Sports Therapist?
The following is part of an email from the HPC policy office regarding HPC regulation (personal details left out for data protection purposes). Just to clarify a few issues:
Thank you for your email below regarding the application for statutory regulation by the Society of Sports Therapists.
Under our legislation, we are able to consider applications for regulation from aspirant groups. If an application meets our criteria, we are able to
recommend the regulation of the profession to the department of health. Any decision about whether the profession becomes regulated, and when, is then
a decision for government.
The application from the Society of Sports Therapists was considered at our Council meeting in March 2006 and again in May 2006. You can see the papers
that were presented here:
http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/council/councilmeetings_archive/index.asp?id=207
(meeting in March) and here:
http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/council/councilmeetings_archive/index.asp?id=208
(meeting in May).
HPC made a recommendation to the Department of Health that sports therapists should be regulated to ensure public protection. You can see the
recommendation in the minutes of the meeting in May 2006:
http://www.hpc-uk.org/assets/documents/100012E7council_meeting_20060706_enclosure01.pdf.
Once the recommendation is made however, the government then makes decisions about whether and when a profession becomes regulated.
In terms of timescales, the regulation of any new group is dictated by government resources and parliamentary time, and it can be a very lengthy
process. The government published a white paper 'Trust, Assurance and Safety: the Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century' last
year which outlined the priorities for statutory regulation. Sports Therapists were not included within the list of professions which were
priorities for statutory regulation. Therefore, I personally believe that it is unlikely that sports therapists will become statutorily regulated
within the next few years.
I hope that this answers your queries but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below.
