If you’re looking to speed up your career progression, or simply to find more enjoyment in your work, there are some great online courses for Physiotherapists that can do just that!
Extra study may not sound so appealing after 13 years of school and 4-5 more years in uni. But keeping the brain ticking over (and growing) is how you’ll get the most out of your career as a Physio.
Expanding your knowledge doesn’t have to be about growing your Physio brain!
Some of the most beneficial educational experiences I’ve had were outside of the Physio spectrum of CPD.
In my early career, I attended a Podiatry conference in Sydney. I’ve done online courses for Physiotherapists and short non-Physio courses on nutrition, psychology and diabetes.
Outside of the healthcare courses, I’ve completed several sports coaching courses as well as some random courses on Ancient History and web development, just for interest’s sake.
The reason I’m going through all these different courses is not to pad out my resume or because I’m addicted to study (far from it).
The end result is that I can relate to practitioners outside of Physiotherapy. I can liaise with sports coaches and talk their language. And the Ancient History course…well, it’s great for the occasional wise quote.
So here are my recommendations for online courses for Physiotherapists to expand their minds, careers and skillset.
All of these online courses for Physiotherapists are free (except for one paid course as an example of what you can get for a few hundred dollars) and can be as quick as an hour or as long as a few months. Most are around one month if you study at a decent pace (they are self-paced so you can adjust your study to suit your work/life balance).
And always remember to log your Physiotherapy CPD hours – all these online courses for Physiotherapists should count towards your study requirements (if in doubt, check with your National registration body).
Healthcare-related online courses for Physiotherapists
Mental Health and Nutrition (University of Canterbury on edX, free course) – Learn what foods and nutrients should and should not be consumed to improve mental wellbeing and explore the fundamental role that nutrition plays in our mental health.
The Science of Training Young Athletes (University of Florida on Coursera, free course) – This course is packed full of practical sports science information that provide youth coaches and parents with the practical paediatric sports science insights to successfully retain young athletes and develop their sport potential while avoiding injury and overtraining.
Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (Wageningen on edX, free course) – Learn about Nutrition, Exercise and Sports and understand how nutrition can support exercise and sports performance.
Food, Nutrition and Health (Wageningen on edX, paid course for more comprehensive study) – You will learn how to analyze and interpret the information overload about nutrition and health to help build a healthier lifestyle for you and/or your patients.
Personal or career development courses
The Science of Well-Being (Yale on Coursera, free course) – In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits.
Building a professional resume (Canva & project network on Coursera, free course) – In this 1-hour long project-based course, you will learn how to Build a keyword-optimized Applicant Tracking System (ATS) friendly Professional Resume that is appealing, eye-catching and elegant.
(Note: here is our recommended structure for a Physio resume)
Preparation for job interviews (project network on Coursera, free course) – You’ll learn how to prepare for different types of job interviews, and how to answer some of the most common interview questions recruiters and hiring managers will most likely ask. You’ll also learn best practices to follow before and after the job interview, as well as to prepare strategic interview questions to ask the hiring manager after the end of the interview.
(Note: be sure to read our tips for Physiotherapy job interviews)
Learning how to learn (DTS on Coursera) – We’ll learn about how the brain uses two very different learning modes and how it encapsulates (“chunks”) information. We’ll also cover illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects.
Understanding the Australian Health Care System (University of Queensland on edX, free course) – Understand and navigate the complexities of Australia’s world-leading health care system by following patient journeys. Great course for Physios looking to move to and work in Australia.
Unconscious Bias in Medicine (Stanford on edX, free course) – This CME activity provides education on unconscious bias in the academic medicine workplace.
Courses for Physiotherapy practice owners/managers
Mental Health and Resilience for Healthcare Workers (University of Toronto on Coursera, free course) – This course will help institutions and individuals better manage the mental health challenges of being a healthcare worker.
Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education (University of Michigan on Coursera, free course) – This course provides those involved in educating members of the health professions an asynchronous, interdisciplinary, and interactive way to obtain, expand, and improve their teaching skills.
Courses for senior Physiotherapists educating or mentoring others
Learning how to learn (DTS on Coursera) – We’ll learn about how the brain uses two very different learning modes and how it encapsulates (“chunks”) information. We’ll also cover illusions of learning, memory techniques, dealing with procrastination, and best practices shown by research to be most effective in helping you master tough subjects.
Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education (University of Michigan on Coursera, free course) – This course provides those involved in educating members of the health professions an asynchronous, interdisciplinary, and interactive way to obtain, expand, and improve their teaching skills.