What exactly is exercise physiology? It is the study of responses and adaptations to physical exercise conditions. It is important to also note that many exercise physiologists also study effects of exercise on pathology and how exercise can reduce or reverse the progress of certain diseases. Becoming an exercise physiologist in the United States is fairly easy because all you need to do is attend a four year college and earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise science.
Early Preparation
But like all other careers it is important that you start preparation for it as early as possible and while still in high school. It is recommended that you take advanced placement biology classes which are said to be extremely useful for students aiming to pursue studies in exercise physiology. Chemistry and statistics are other subjects that are pretty useful for anybody intending to pursue a career as an exercise physiologist.
Undergraduate Education
To become a certified exercise physiologist, you will be looking for either an Exercise Science or Exercise Physiology major. Both of these college degrees are acceptable for this career.
Internship
An internship with a local hospital or health facility is also vital to help you gain experience on the job which will be vital for when you finally graduate and start looking for a job.
Certification
You will also be required to pass the Exercise Physiologist Certified exam from the American Society of Exercise Physiologists. You will need to study to be able to pass this exam which will allow you to be a certified exercise physiologist.
Optional Graduate Degree
If you want to increase your chances of landing a good job in the fiercely competitive job market of today, it is advisable to further your education and earn a master’s degree.
Advantages of Being an Exercise Physiologist
The advantage of a opting for a career as an exercise physiologist is the fact that when compared with many other careers you need a very short time of education to qualify for this profession. A basic four year college degree is virtually all that is required.
This also means that it will not cost you much because all you need to pay for is a four year college degree. And what’s more this is an area where it is fairly easy to get a scholarship meaning that you will end up paying very little or nothing even for that college education.
One of the major advantages with going into this profession is the fact that you can work in so many different interesting settings. You can be in health promotion or fitness development programs. You can get a job in colleges and universities as well as clinical rehabilitation and sport and athletic programs. This means that you could easily end up as a strength coach for college, university and professional sports programs. Or you can end up in the exciting position of being a researcher in companies manufacturing physiological equipment. Alternatively you could an instructor in some health and fitness club. There is really no shortage of exciting employment opportunities.