Physiotherapy vs Occupational Therapy: APS requirements, career differences and which to choose

Jun 26
4 min read

Updated: Jul 22

Which career is right for you?

You want to work in healthcare. You want to make a real difference in people's lives. And you've narrowed it down to two options: physiotherapy or occupational therapy. Both involve rehabilitation. Both require working closely with patients. And both are rewarding, in-demand careers in South Africa.

So how do you choose?

The answer isn't just about the subjects or the APS score, it's about who you are, how you think, and the kind of impact you want to have. This post will help you understand the real differences between these two careers, so you can make a decision that actually fits you.

What Does a Physiotherapist Actually Do?

Physiotherapists work with the physical body, specifically with movement, mobility, and pain. Their patients might be recovering from a sports injury, a stroke, a car accident, or a hip replacement. The goal is to restore physical function.

In South Africa, physiotherapists work in:

• Government and private hospitals

• Sports clinics and with professional sports teams

• Private practice (many physios run their own practices)

• Rehabilitation centers

• Schools and pediatric settings

A typical day might involve:

• Assessing a patient's range of movement and strength

• Designing and supervising an exercise programme

• Using techniques like dry needling, ultrasound therapy, or manual manipulation

• Tracking recovery progress and adjusting treatment plans

What Does an Occupational Therapist Actually Do?

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people regain the ability to perform the everyday tasks that matter to them, for example getting dressed, cooking, returning to work, or going back to school. The focus is on function and independence, not just physical recovery.

The word 'occupation' here doesn't mean your job. It means any meaningful activity, from a child learning to hold a pencil, to an elderly person recovering from a stroke and needing to relearn how to make tea.

In South Africa, OTs work in:

• Public and private hospitals

• Psychiatric and mental health settings

• Schools (supporting children with learning difficulties or developmental delays)

• Community rehabilitation programmes

• Private practice

A typical day might involve:

• Assessing a child's fine motor skills and sensory processing

• Helping a patient with a spinal cord injury adapt their home environment

• Working with a trauma survivor on returning to daily routines

• Collaborating with teachers, doctors, and social workers

The key differences at a glance

	Physiotherapy	Occupational Therapy
Main focus	Movement, mobility, physical recovery	Function, independence, daily activities
Patient contact	Hands-on, physical treatment	Holistic, activity-based intervention
Settings	Hospitals, sports clinics, private practice	Hospitals, schools, mental health, community
Degree	BSc Physiotherapy (4 years)	BSc Occupational Therapy (4 years)
Registered with	HPCSA	HPCSA
Private practice	Very common	Possible but less common initially

Which Personality Suits Each Career?

This is where it gets interesting and where most career guides stop short. Your personality matters just as much as your marks.

You might be better suited to Physiotherapy if you:

• Are energetic and hands-on, you like doing, not just talking

• Are interested in the body, movement, sport, or exercise science

• Prefer clear, measurable outcomes (the patient walks better, their pain decreases)

• Enjoy working at pace, physio sessions tend to be focused and time-bound

• Are interested in running your own practice one day

• Are comfortable with physical work, you will be on your feet and using your hands all day

You might be better suited to Occupational Therapy if you:

• Are a creative problem-solver , OT often requires thinking outside the box

• Are interested in the whole person: physical, emotional, social, and cognitive

• Enjoy variety, no two OT patients present the same challenge

• Are patient and comfortable with slow, incremental progress

• Are drawn to working with children, mental health, or community settings

• Are interested in how people's environments affect their ability to function

👉 Not sure which personality type you are?

A psychometric assessment can give you a clear picture of your strengths, interests, and working style and map them to the career that fits you best. This is exactly what career counselling is designed to do.

Career Prospects in South Africa

Both careers are in demand in South Africa, particularly in the public sector where there is a significant shortage of allied health professionals.

Physiotherapy

• Strong private sector demand, many physios build successful private practices

• Sports physiotherapy is a growing niche

• Community service year required after graduation (government placement)

• Can specialise further in areas like neurology, pediatrics, or orthopedics

Occupational Therapy

• High demand in public hospitals, schools, and community rehabilitation

• Growing need in mental health and paediatric settings

• Community service year required after graduation

• Increasing opportunities in workplace ergonomics and vocational rehabilitation

What APS do you need for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy?

Both physiotherapy and occupational therapy are competitive programmes and admission requirements vary by university. Each institution sets its own minimum APS, subject requirements and performance levels in key subjects such as Mathematics, Life Sciences, Physical Science and English. As with medicine, the published APS is the minimum. The realistic competitive score is consistently higher, particularly at universities in high demand. Some universities also consider NBT results as part of their selection process, so it is worth knowing which institutions require this and when you need to register.

For university by university admission requirements, realistic entry scores and subject prerequisites for both physiotherapy and occupational therapy, the full detail is in A Complete Guide to Health Sciences in South Africa.

So, Which One Should You Choose?

If you are drawn to sport, movement, the physical body, and want clear measurable results with your patients, Physiotherapy is likely the better fit.

If you are drawn to the whole person, enjoy creative problem-solving, want to work with a diverse range of patients (including children and mental health), and care deeply about independence and quality of life, Occupational Therapy may be your path.

And if you are genuinely unsure? That uncertainty is worth exploring properly, not just by Googling, but by understanding your own personality, interests, and strengths.

✅ Want to explore both careers in depth?

The Complete Guide to Health Sciences Careers in South Africa covers physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and 15 other health sciences careers, including full university requirements, APS scores, personality fit, day-in-the-life descriptions, and funding options.