We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Become an Exercise Physiologist?

By Carol Francois
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 2,124
Share

There are four items necessary to become an exercise physiologist: post-secondary education, work related experience, observation skills, and communication skills. An exercise physiologist is a scientist who studies the impact on the body of exercise at varying degrees of intensity. The research in this field is relatively new, and exercise physiologists are most frequently found in universities and other research institutions.

The first step necessary to become an exercise physiologist is obtain admission to a university degree program in physiology. Either the Faculty of Arts & Science or Physical Health can coordinate these programs. There are a limited number of schools offering this degree, and the enrollment classes tend to be small.

In the undergraduate degree program, the courses focus on the study of movement, biomechanics, human anatomy, human biology, and communications. In order to gain admittance, candidates should have high school credits in biology, chemistry, physics, English, and physical health and education. People who want to become an exercise physiologist often have a high level of personal interest is the effect of exercise on the body.

A master's or doctorate is a standard requirement when looking for employment opportunities as an exercise physiologist. Admission to these programs is based on the marks earned in the bachelor's degree program and recommendations from course instructors. Select an area of specialization to study at the graduate level, based on research topics that are relevant and of interest to you.

Almost all programs to help you become an exercise physiologist at the graduate level include research opportunities, industry placements, and group projects. Invitations to these projects are based on academic standing and class participation. This field has many opportunities for growth, and quality candidates have multiple opportunities available to them.

An exercise physiologist spends a great deal of time studying movement, physical responses, chemical and biological changes, and the impact of decisions on the body. This type of work requires an ability to observe others for extended periods of time and maintain scientific objectivity. The role of psychology into exercise physiology is rather complex and independent observation and evaluation skills are necessary to separate personal emotions from a purely physical reaction to the exercise.

Communication skills are critical in this role, as the exercise physiologist is an important source of professional guidance and support to athletes and coaches. Written and oral communication skills greatly enhance the effectiveness of the process. People who have the greatest level of satisfaction in this career enjoy working with people, are detail oriented, and naturally curious.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-become-an-exercise-physiologist.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.