HOW TO HIRE · HEALTH & WELLBEING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a physiotherapist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A physiotherapist in Ireland costs €60–€150 per session, typically around €90. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
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THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a physiotherapist in five steps
- Are you on the CORU register for that profession, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — education and Advice — physiotherapists provide valuable education and advice on posture, ergonomics, and injury prevention.
- How does physiotherapist's experience change the price?Insurance and registration are built into a professional's price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the condition change the price?Problems hidden underneath are found once the work begins. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of treatment change the price?Work that spans two visits costs more than one long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Physiotherapy generally does not cover medical diagnoses, surgery, or prescription medications — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a physiotherapist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
the CORU register
CORU REGULATES BY PROTECTED TITLE, NOT BY WHAT SOMEBODY DOES. Where a title is protected, only a registrant may use it — the physiotherapists' register opened in 2016 and the title became protected once the grandparenting period closed. CORU's registers are open for dietitians, medical scientists, occupational therapists, optometrists and dispensing opticians, physiotherapists, podiatrists, radiographers and radiation therapists, social workers, speech and language therapists and social care workers. Search the name on Check the Register at coru.ie before you book, and if the registration number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there. Not restricted: the treatment itself, where the title is the thing protected — so ask what qualification, from whom, and check the register that does exist.
Search the CORU register for that profession for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. coru.ie →
Insurance
Expect professional indemnity insurance — ask for the insurer and the limit, because for a hands-on treatment it is the only real recourse. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
Identity
Providers on Locufy prove who they are with photo ID before they can be booked; the ID-checked badge shows who has done it, and the document itself is deleted once the check is made. For a physiotherapist coming into your home it is the cheapest check there is.
Look for the ID-checked badge on the card, before you message anyone.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — education and Advice — physiotherapists provide valuable education and advice on posture, ergonomics, and injury prevention.
A good answer: Insurance and registration are built into a professional's price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Problems hidden underneath are found once the work begins. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Work that spans two visits costs more than one long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Physiotherapy generally does not cover medical diagnoses, surgery, or prescription medications — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a physiotherapist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect professional indemnity insurance — ask for the insurer and the limit, because for a hands-on treatment it is the only real recourse — manual Therapy Techniques — manual therapy techniques, such as joint mobilization and soft tissue manipulation, are commonly employed by physiotherapists to alleviate pain and restore movement.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the physiotherapist starts, and an itemised invoice after — therapeutic Exercises — physiotherapists often prescribe specific therapeutic exercises aimed at improving strength, flexibility, and overall function.
Getting the quote right
- Physiotherapist's experience — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price.
- Complexity of the condition — problems hidden underneath are found once the work begins.
- Duration of treatment — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one.
- Specific techniques used — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the CORU register for that profession, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- They will not talk about it: physiotherapist's experience — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the condition — problems hidden underneath are found once the work begins
- They will not talk about it: duration of treatment — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one
- A price for the physiotherapist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
What a physiotherapist costs: €60–€150 per session
The figures are for the job, per session, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Sports physiotherapy and Post-surgery rehabilitation each carry their own band. Physiotherapist price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Physiotherapists near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstPhysiotherapist's experience — insurance and registration are built into a professional's price — that is what the physiotherapist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the condition — problems hidden underneath are found once the work begins — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of treatment — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSpecific techniques used — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the physiotherapist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, ask about their specialisations to find the best fit for your specific needs.
- Initial Assessment
- An initial assessment typically involves a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's condition, including a physical examination and a review of medical history.
- Therapeutic Exercises
- Physiotherapists often prescribe specific therapeutic exercises aimed at improving strength, flexibility, and overall function.
- Manual Therapy Techniques
- Manual therapy techniques, such as joint mobilization and soft tissue manipulation, are commonly employed by physiotherapists to alleviate pain and restore movement.
- Education and Advice
- Physiotherapists provide valuable education and advice on posture, ergonomics, and injury prevention.
- Sports Physiotherapy
- Specialised treatment for athletes to prevent and rehabilitate sports-related injuries.
- Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
- Focused rehabilitation to help patients regain strength and mobility after surgical procedures.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a physiotherapist: questions people ask
The cost of physiotherapy can vary based on factors such as the physiotherapist's experience, the complexity of the condition, and the duration of treatment. specialised treatments or longer sessions may also lead to higher fees.
A typical physiotherapy session usually lasts between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the treatment plan and the patient's needs. Initial assessments may take longer, often up to 90 minutes.
While general physiotherapists can treat a wide range of conditions, certain specialised areas, such as sports injuries or neurological rehabilitation, may require a physiotherapist with specific qualifications. It's advisable to check the physiotherapist's credentials for specialised care.
Many physiotherapy clinics offer same-day appointments or emergency services, particularly for acute injuries. However, availability may vary, and it's best to contact the clinic directly to confirm.
Physiotherapy generally does not cover medical diagnoses, surgery, or prescription medications. Additionally, services such as physiotherapy for non-rehabilitative purposes, like wellness or relaxation massages, may also fall outside the typical scope.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in health & wellbeing
Physiotherapists near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CORU — public protection FAQs: which registers are open
- CORU — the registration boards
- CORU — Physiotherapists Registration Board
- Citizens Information — registration of health and social care professionals
- Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 1 — exempt activities
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — PHYSIOTHERAPY (Medical and related services) — Exempt
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only