What Is an Exercise Physiologist?

If you are passionate about health and wellness, you might consider pursuing a career as an exercise physiologist, a profession dedicated to improving individuals' fitness and overall well-being. But first, let’s explore what is an exercise physiologist and what does an exercise physiologist do?

An exercise physiologist is a health professional who works with individuals to help them recover from injuries, manage medical conditions or enhance their muscle strength or cardiovascular fitness. These professionals develop customized plans to help patients recover and achieve their health and fitness goals.

For example, when someone struggles with a chronic illness that limits their mobility, they may consider visiting an exercise physiologist to improve their health and mobility. People often visit professional exercise physiologists to receive help for serious ailments such as cardiovascular or lung disease or physical disabilities and injuries. If this career blending exercise and medicine sounds appealing, you might consider becoming an exercise physiologist.

In This Article: 

• Where Do Exercise Physiologists Work?
• How To Become an Exercise Physiologist
• Differences Between Exercise Physiologists and Personal Trainers
• Differences Between Exercise Physiologists and Athletic Trainers
• Become an Exercise Physiologist: Explore GCU Degree Options   

Exercise physiologists help their patients recover from injuries, disabilities and chronic diseases by generating exercise regimens tailored to their individual needs. They may also:¹

• Review patient medical histories 
• Assess endurance and exercise risk 
• Conduct fitness tests to elevate current levels 
• Analyze test results for strengths and weaknesses 
• Measure oxygen usage, blood pressure, heart rhythm and other health indicators 
• Create personalized exercise plans 
• Provide health education to promote wellness

An exercise physiologist can work with patients with a wide range of medical concerns. These might include patients with heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease or cancer, as well as patients recovering from a stroke, hip fractures or joint replacement surgery.

In short, exercise physiologists work to improve the overall health and well-being of their patients. In some cases, a primary care physician might prescribe an exercise regimen to a patient and refer them to an exercise physiologist to create an individual treatment plan.¹

Where Do Exercise Physiologists Work? 

An exercise physiologist can work in several different settings within the healthcare field. Some common work environments include:² 

• Public and private hospitals 
• Doctor’s offices 
• Government agencies (e.g., public health departments) 
• Rehabilitative therapy clinics (including offices of occupational and speech therapists) 
• Fitness centers 
• Schools 
• Self-employed

How To Become an Exercise Physiologist 

You typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the field of exercise physiology. You may consider earning a degree in exercise science, exercise physiology, kinesiology or another related field.³

You may also consider earning a graduate degree, such as a master's in a health-related discipline. Graduate education is not required to become an exercise physiologist, but it may be beneficial.³

In addition, some students may find it helpful to participate in internships or practicums. Internships allow for hands-on work experience that can supplement in-classroom education.³

Some states may require exercise physiologists to obtain professional licensure. Requirements can vary by state. It’s important to check the requirements for the state in which you plan to work before enrolling in a degree program.³

Additional Exercise Physiologist Education Requirements: Certifications 

Many employers require exercise physiologists to hold professional certifications. These may include:^3,4

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification 
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification 
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 
• Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) 
• Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) 
• Corrective Exercise Specialist (NASM-CES)

Skills and Traits of an Exercise Physiologist 

When thinking about how to become an exercise physiologist, it’s important not to overlook their skills and qualities. You can explore many hard and soft skills while working toward meeting the exercise physiologist education requirements, but you’ll likely have opportunities to continue refining these skills as you gain work experience.

Some traits that may be desirable for an exercise physiologist include compassion, attention to detail and confidence in decision-making and interpersonal skills. These professionals should be sympathetic to patients struggling with pain or other forms of discomfort.³

They must also communicate well with physicians, patients and their families. Effective communication is important for this career because retrieving detailed information about a patient's condition can help the exercise physiologist generate effective treatment plans.³

Differences Between Exercise Physiologists and Personal Trainers 

Exercise physiologists help patients with chronic diseases by providing them with an exercise regimen designed to improve their overall health. This may appear similar to the job descriptions of other careers, such as that of a personal trainer or athletic trainer. What sets an exercise physiologist apart from a personal trainer or athletic trainer?

Personal trainers create fitness regimens. The primary goal is to improve physical fitness rather than recover from a medical condition. Personal trainers may also provide nutritional advice and demonstrate exercises so their patients can understand the regimen.⁵

In short, the goals of a personal trainer are different from those of an exercise physiologist. Personal trainers help anyone reach their fitness goals, whereas exercise physiologists primarily help people struggling with an illness. Exercise physiologists also usually work in hospitals or other healthcare settings rather than in fitness centers, as is the case for many personal trainers⁵

Differences Between Exercise Physiologists and Athletic Trainers 

Athletic trainers are healthcare providers who work with people who participate in physical exercise and sports. They may:⁶

• Create programs to prevent injuries 
• Work with physicians to assess injuries, provide immediate care and rehabilitate injuries

Athletic trainers are required to hold a master’s degree and must generally be certified.³ Many work in hospitals, educational institutions, fitness centers and physician’s offices, whereas others may be self-employed.^2,6

In contrast to exercise physiologists, who predominantly focus on helping individuals with medical conditions recover through exercise, athletic trainers primarily work with people who are physically active. These include athletes, performing artists and military members.⁶

Become an Exercise Physiologist: Explore GCU Degree Options 

You can pursue a career as an exercise physiologist by earning a degree at Grand Canyon University. The College of Natural Sciences is pleased to offer the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy to students who are passionate about physical fitness and rehabilitation.