Becoming an Exercise Physiologist
An Exercise Physiologist has multiple tasks to perform whether it’s studying the body’s response to exercise or providing treatment to patients based on this analysis. The treatments offered by the Exercise Physiologists mostly include improvement of health and fitness, rehabilitation of heart and other chronic ailments and counseling of athletes and sportspersons. They also study the stress level among the people and help them recover from that.
Educational Requirements:
- Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree: It is must for the aspiring Exercise Physiologists to complete the bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology, as per the guidelines of American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP). It will help them to prepare for ASEP certification program in future. In the degree program, you will get a chance to study topics such as athletic training, nutrition, exercise science, physiology, kinesiology, physics of movement and psychology.
- Get a Master’s Degree: After completing a bachelor’s degree, it is advisable to go for a master’s degree and gain specific knowledge in the subject. The master’s program will also help the students gain more hands-on experience during the internship period.
- Certification: The American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) conducts the certification exam, which comprises of a written test and a hands-on component. The certification will help the professionals to advance further in their career.
Job Responsibilities:
- Provide tips and advice on various forms of exercise required for people with chronic diseases
- Give proper suggestion on lifestyle
- Study and monitor various physical functions of athletes, including body composition, pulmonary systems, nutrition levels, metabolism and muscle mass
- Provide scientific support for performance enhancement
- Keep a tab on all industry developments
- Develop training programs, monitor the progress and make necessary changes and adjustments whenever needed.
Salary & Job Outlook: Exercise Physiologists generally get employment in health care facilities, athletic training centers, sports governing bodies, colleges, universities, fitness centers, rehabilitation clinics, hospitals and gyms. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary level of an Exercise Physiologist is around $47,610 per year. Some professional earn up to $70,000 per year.