Your Guide to Becoming an Exercise Physiologist

You’ll likely need a degree in sports science to become an exercise physiologist. During your degree course, you will learn about various topics, including physiology, biomechanics, and psychology. Also, it helps if the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) approves your degree course. 

If you’re considering this career, you might have already seen an exercise physiologist. Have you ever been injured? Suffered from a chronic disease? Those who have, especially athletes, might see an exercise physiologist to receive an exercise regimen specifically designed for them to improve their flexibility and cardiovascular health.

As an exercise physiologist, you'll have the rewarding satisfaction of helping athletes and others recover from injuries and improve their performance over time.

Discover more about what you need to know to become an exercise physiologist and the potential salary and job skills.

What is an exercise physiologist?

Exercise physiologists work with injured or sick patients to create custom treatment and exercise plans to help them recover and reach their health goals. You may work with athletes to improve their performance and well-being in this job. You will also rehabilitate individuals after chronic illnesses or conditions like disabilities.

The primary role of an exercise physiologist is to help improve overall health by assisting patients in working on their body composition, cardiovascular health, and flexibility. This role differs from that of personal trainers, physiotherapists, fitness centre managers, and sports therapists.

Salary and job outlook  

According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for an exercise physiologist is £27,730 [1]. Regarding job outlook, the NHS expects the number of clinical exercise services in the UK to increase, which will probably mean a greater demand for exercise physiologists. Additionally, while 174,600 people were working in sport and fitness at the end of 2023, Statista shows that after the first quarter of 2024, that number has already risen to 183,300, indicating growth in the industry [2]. 

Additionally, the demand for exercise physiologists will likely increase as healthcare professionals increasingly emphasise exercise as preventive care against chronic disease and a way to improve the overall quality of life.

Educational requirements 

Exercise physiologists need a bachelor’s degree in sports science or a related field to enter practice. Sport and exercise science degrees focus on physiology, biomechanics, and psychology, requiring a broad understanding.

You can also pursue a master's degree in sport and exercise physiology, which may help you expand your career options within the field because it can be competitive. However, it is only necessary for a few positions unless you plan to become a clinical exercise physiologist. 

Coursework 

You'll take biology, anatomy, kinesiology, and nutrition coursework as an aspiring exercise physiologist. More advanced coursework includes exercise metabolism, biomechanics, motor control, and mathematical models for sports movements.

Specific courses earn approval from the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), ensuring they meet the standards for a career in sports science. You can use the BASES course finder to locate undergraduate and postgraduate courses in sports science. Below are some of the modules you can expect to study while getting your degree: 

• Human Behaviour in Sport

• Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

• Fitness and Conditioning for Sport

• Introduction to Nutrition

• Human Physiology

• Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Physiology

• Physiology of Sport and Exercise Performance

Certifications and training 

You will typically receive on-the-job training—working with a colleague with more experience—and complete relevant courses and workshops. Many exercise physiologists seek BASES accreditation as sport and exercise scientists by completing the BASES Supervised Experience (SE) process, which typically involves earning a postgraduate degree or demonstrating equivalent knowledge. Below are some sports and exercise courses you can take that are endorsed by BASES: 

• Leeds Trinity University (Yorkshire)

• University of Hertfordshire (South East)

• Coventry University (West Midlands)

BASES specifically offers professional certification for BASES Certified Exercise Practitioners. This credential recognises exercise professionals with a sport and exercise science degree, validating their practical skills and knowledge for working in clinical exercise settings. To apply, you will need to meet the criteria below:

• BASES membership

• Undergraduate degree in sport and exercise science (BASES endorsed)

• Show practical skills by holding an advanced exercise instructor qualification in ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) or a recognised specialist exercise instructor qualification endorsed by CIMSPA (e.g., cancer, cardiac, diabetes, or stroke)

• Attend a safeguarding workshop for children and vulnerable adults if your work requires it

Exercise physiology vs exercise science

While exercise physiology and exercise science are similar areas of study that focus on improving health and wellness with exercise, the two have their fair share of differences. Exercise science generally focuses on how the human body moves. This broad topic includes strength, nutrition, and physical education. Exercise physiology focuses more on how physical activity affects organs and bodily systems and the body's response to that activity.

Skills needed to become an exercise physiologist

Patient care tends to be a vulnerable interaction, so this career requires specific skills such as a calm demeanour, the ability to communicate, sympathy, and attention to detail. As an exercise physiologist, you must effectively care for patients while considering their emotional well-being, so possessing technical and workplace skills is vital. 

Knowing how to assess and evaluate a patient’s condition is a crucial technical skill. It’s also essential to know about exercise programmes, rehabilitation, and cardiac life support. Exercise physiologists also spend a lot of time face-to-face with patients, so they must have communication skills, empathy, patience, problem-solving skills, and active listening.

Where they work

An exercise physiologist can work in various settings, including hospitals, physical therapy offices, fitness centres, college athletic offices, and sports team staff. You can also open up your own practice or work as a consultant. 

In medical or clinical settings, primary care providers may refer their patients to exercise physiologists to create exercise regimens to follow. These regimens can focus on anything from relieving torn ligament pain to improving blood pressure or losing weight.

Exercise physiologists develop programmes to help athletes reduce injury and minimise recovery time in athletic settings. Thus, a sports equipment company's designer might consult with and hire exercise physiologists to assist in developing safe, effective products.  

Exercise physiologists can also work as rehabilitation specialists, coaches, trainers, clinicians, directors, or programme coordinators.

Possible career pathways for exercise physiologists

Aside from working as a certified exercise physiologist, studying sports and exercise physiology can prepare you for many other careers. A bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science can be a precursor to a career in personal training, sports therapy, choreography, nutritionist studies, and much more.

• Personal training: As a personal trainer, you'll design individualised fitness programs and guide clients toward achieving their goals. As a personal trainer, you might make a median annual salary of £27,937 [3]

• Sports therapy: As a sports therapist, you'll respond to sports-related injuries and help patients rehabilitate to full fitness. Working as a sports therapist, you could make a median salary of £27,090 per year [4].

• Choreography: As a choreographer, you will design dance routines for live shows, events, TV, films, music videos, fashion shows, corporate functions, and even ice performances. Choreographers earn a median annual salary of £30,544 [5].

• Nutritionist studies: As a nutritionist, you will apply your food science expertise to guide individuals and groups in making healthier eating choices. Nutritionists make a median annual salary of £39,408 [6].

Build your exercise physiologist knowledge and skills on Coursera

Becoming an exercise physiologist offers a rewarding career focused on improving the health and performance of individuals. With the proper education, certifications, and skills, you can make a significant impact in rehabilitation, sports, and preventive healthcare.

To discover more about the science of exercise before committing to an exercise physiology bachelor's degree, you can find self-paced courses on Coursera that can help prepare you for a career in exercise physiology. Courses such as Introductory Human Physiology, offered by Duke University, and Science of Exercise, provided by the University of Colorado, are good places to start for a foundation in the concepts studied by exercise physiologists.