Exercise Physiologist

Assess, plan, or implement fitness programs that include exercise or physical activities such as those designed to improve cardiorespiratory function, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, or flexibility.

On the job, you would:

Develop exercise programs to improve participant strength, flexibility, endurance, or circulatory functioning, in accordance with exercise science standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing requirements.
Provide emergency or other appropriate medical care to participants with symptoms or signs of physical distress.
Demonstrate correct use of exercise equipment or performance of exercise routines.

Important Qualities

Compassion. Because exercise physiologists work with patients who may be in considerable pain or discomfort, they must be sympathetic while working with patients.

Decision-making skills. Exercise physiologists must make informed clinical decisions because those decisions could affect the health or livelihood of patients.

Detail oriented. Exercise physiologists must record detailed, accurate information about their patients’ conditions and about any progress the patients make. For example, they must ensure that patients are completing the appropriate stress tests or practicing the correct fitness regimen.

Interpersonal skills. Exercise physiologists must have strong interpersonal skills and manage difficult situations. They must communicate clearly with others, including physicians, patients, and patients’ families.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		93%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		92%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		89%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		83%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		83%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		81%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		80%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		76%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		73%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		72%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		71%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		71%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		69%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		68%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		68%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		59%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		89%	Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
		72%	Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		89%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		83%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		78%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		67%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		61%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		78%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		78%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		75%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		75%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		75%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		75%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		75%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		75%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		72%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		66%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		63%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		60%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		53%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		53%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
		53%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		64%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		59%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		57%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		57%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		57%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		57%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		57%	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
		55%	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
		55%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
		55%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		54%	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
		54%	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
		52%	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
		52%	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Test patient heart or lung functioning.

Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.

Demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use.

Teach exercise or fitness techniques.

Develop exercise or conditioning programs.

Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.

Analyze quantitative data to determine effectiveness of treatments or therapies.

Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.

Test patient heart or lung functioning.

Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.

Test biological specimens to gather information about patient conditions.

Prescribe treatments or therapies.

Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.

Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.

Teach health management classes.

Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health.

Maintain medical equipment or instruments.

Advise athletes, coaches, or trainers on exercise regimens, nutrition, or equipment use.

Evaluate employee performance.

Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.

Train caregivers or other non-medical personnel.

Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.

Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.

Present medical research reports.

Communicate health and wellness information to the public.

Treat medical emergencies.

Maintain medical equipment or instruments.

Teach health management classes.

Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		99%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		99%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		96%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		91%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		90%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		86%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		81%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		81%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		78%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		76%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		72%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		65%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		64%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		60%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		59%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		59%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		58%	Exposed to Disease or Infections - How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
		58%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		57%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		55%	Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
		54%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		91%	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
		85%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		85%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		81%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		78%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		78%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		78%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		76%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		75%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		74%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		73%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		72%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		71%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		67%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		67%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		66%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		66%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		63%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		63%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		61%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		61%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		60%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		59%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		59%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		56%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		54%	Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
		53%	Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
		52%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		52%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

What Exercise Physiologists Do

Exercise physiologists analyze a patient’s medical history to determine the best possible exercise and fitness regimen.

Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs that help patients recover from chronic diseases and improve cardiovascular function, body composition, and flexibility.

Duties

Exercise physiologists typically do the following:

Analyze a patient’s medical history to assess their risk during exercise and to determine the best possible exercise and fitness regimen for the patient
Perform fitness and stress tests with medical equipment and analyze the resulting patient data
Measure blood pressure, oxygen usage, heart rhythm, and other key patient health indicators
Develop exercise programs to improve patients’ health

Exercise physiologists work to improve overall patient health. Many of their patients suffer from health problems such as cardiovascular disease or pulmonary (lung) disease. Exercise physiologists provide health education and exercise plans to improve key health indicators.

Some physiologists work closely with primary care physicians, who may prescribe exercise regimens for their patients and refer them to exercise physiologists. The physiologists then work with patients to develop individualized treatment plans that will help the patients meet their health and fitness goals.

Exercise physiologists should not be confused with fitness trainers and instructors (including personal trainers) or athletic trainers.

Work Environment

Exercise physiologists held about 16,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of exercise physiologists were as follows:

Self-employed workers	59%
Hospitals; state, local, and private	26
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists	4
Offices of physicians	3
Government	2

Work Schedules

Most exercise physiologists work full time.

Getting Started

Education:

59%

Bachelor's Degree

32%

Master's Degree

How to Become an Exercise Physiologist

Exercise physiologists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree.

Exercise physiologists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Degree programs include science and health-related courses, such as biology, anatomy, kinesiology, and nutrition, as well as clinical work.

Education

Exercise physiologists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology, exercise science, kinesiology, or another healthcare and related field. Master’s degree programs also are available. Degree programs in exercise physiology, exercise science, and kinesiology are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). These programs usually include courses in science and health-related subjects, such as biology, anatomy, statistics, kinesiology, and nutrition, as well as clinical work.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Louisiana is the only state that requires exercise physiologists to be licensed, although some states have pending legislation to create licensure requirements.

Employers typically require exercise physiologists to have Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or Advanced Life Support (ACLS) certification, both of which include training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) offers the Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) certification, which physiologists can use to demonstrate their qualifications. To be eligible for certification, candidates must pass the ASEP exam and hold ASEP membership. In addition, candidates must have either a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology or a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and they must have completed specific coursework requirements. To maintain certification, candidates must complete continuing education courses every 5 years.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) also offers certifications for exercise physiologists: the Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C) and the Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) credentials for candidates with a bachelor’s degree, as well as the Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (RCEP) for candidates with a master’s or higher degree. All three ACSM credentials require CPR certification and passing an exam. Candidates for the CEP and the RCEP also must have at least 400 and 600 hours of supervised clinical experience, respectively. All three ACSM certifications require candidates to complete continuing education courses every 3 years, and keep their CPR certification up to date.

Job Outlook

Employment of exercise physiologists is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 1,200 openings for exercise physiologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

As the prevalence of chronic conditions grows, more exercise physiologists will be needed to help patients manage their symptoms and improve their overall health through personalized exercise programs. Some employment growth is expected in settings such as hospitals, in which exercise physiologists play a central role in rehabilitating patients with cardiac, pulmonary, or other conditions.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about exercise physiologists and certifications, visit

American Society of Exercise Physiologists

American College of Sports Medicine

Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences

Clinical Exercise Physiology Association

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of exercise physiologists.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Athletic Trainers	Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.	Master's degree	$53,840
Nuclear Medicine Technologists	Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs for imaging or treatment.	Associate's degree	$85,300
Occupational Therapists	Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.	Master's degree	$93,180
Physical Therapists	Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.	Doctoral or professional degree	$97,720
Recreational Therapists	Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based medical treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.	Bachelor's degree	$51,330
Respiratory Therapists	Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing—for example, because of a chronic condition such as asthma.	Associate's degree	$70,540
Chiropractors	Chiropractors evaluate and treat patients' neuromusculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.	Doctoral or professional degree	$75,380
Fitness Trainers and Instructors	Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities.	High school diploma or equivalent	$45,380

Exercise Physiologist

What they do: