Do I need a degree to start in therapies (allied health)?

Not always — many families have assistant or support roles you can enter without a degree, then train up. The career map shows where the entry points are.

How long does it take to progress?

Typical national timescales are shown on each route in the career map — they're averages, not guarantees.

Is this official NHS careers advice?

No — CareRoute is an independent planning tool using NHS-style data. Always check official NHS, NMC/HCPC and trust sources before making decisions.

Career family

Therapies (allied health)

Physio, occupational therapy, speech & language, dietetics, podiatry.

Browse therapies (allied health) roles Career map

Therapies (allied health) — NHS professional portrait

Roles in family

Salary range

£25,760–£39,043

Demand

Steady

Progression

Band 3–5

Study path

Vocational entry → registered training → specialisation

Entry → senior

~4 yrs

NHS workforce data

Therapies (allied health) today, by the numbers

Salary range

£25,760–£39,043

Band 3–5

Fastest growing

+2.3%

Dietitian (YoY)

Most common next step

Advanced Clinical Practitioner

~4 yrs typically

NHS-wide vacancy

~6.7%

national rate (not per-region)

Workforce growth by role · year-on-year

Dietitian

+2.3%

Occupational Therapist

+2.1%

Speech & Language Therapist

+0.9%

Physiotherapist

+0.2%

Therapy Assistant

+0.1%

Podiatrist

-3.6%

Indicative figures from NHS HCHS workforce statistics (2026) and Agenda for Change 2026/27 — for guidance only; verify against official NHS sources. Vacancy is the NHS-wide rate, not family-specific.

Career map

Climb the ladder

Tap a role to see its pay, the study it needs, and where it leads next.

Therapy Assistant
Band 3
Salary
£25,760–£27,476
Time here
1–2 years from HCA
Study needed
Level 3 in a relevant area (often on the job)
Leads to
Assistant PractitionerPhysiotherapistOccupational TherapistSpeech & Language Therapist
Role details

Therapy Assistant

Band 3

Salary: £25,760–£27,476
Time here: 1–2 years from HCA
Study needed: Level 3 in a relevant area (often on the job)

Leads to

Assistant PractitionerPhysiotherapistOccupational TherapistSpeech & Language Therapist

Role details

Find your fit

What draws you in?

Pick what matters most and we'll point you to a role in this family to start exploring.

Compare

Roles at a glance

Role	Band	Salary	Study	Demand
Therapy Assistant	Band 3	£25,760–£27,476	Low	Steady
Physiotherapist	Band 5	£32,073–£39,043	High	Steady
Occupational Therapist	Band 5	£32,073–£39,043	High	Growing
Speech & Language Therapist	Band 5	£32,073–£39,043	High	Steady
Dietitian	Band 5	£32,073–£39,043	High	Growing
Podiatrist	Band 5	£32,073–£39,043	High	Growing

Pay

What each role pays

Band entry to top-of-band after progression — indicative 2026/27 Agenda for Change basic pay.

Therapy AssistantBand 3 · £25,760–£27,476

PhysiotherapistBand 5 · £32,073–£39,043

Occupational TherapistBand 5 · £32,073–£39,043

Speech & Language TherapistBand 5 · £32,073–£39,043

DietitianBand 5 · £32,073–£39,043

PodiatristBand 5 · £32,073–£39,043

Band entryTop of band

Qualifications

Your study path

01
Vocational entry
02
registered training
03
specialisation

Ask the advisor anything

A practical coach grounded in real NHS-style role data — honest about pay, study and competition.

How do I get into therapies (allied health) with no experience?Which therapies (allied health) role pays best long term?What qualifications do I need for therapies (allied health)?Is therapies (allied health) a good career for the next 10 years?

Latest intelligence

Guides & updates

We're writing in-depth therapies (allied health) guides — pay, entry routes and progression. In the meantime, explore the roles and career map above.

FAQ

Questions, answered straight

It's indicative, based on the 2026/27 Agenda for Change bands — great for planning and comparison, but verify specifics against official NHS sources before deciding.

Explore roles