What does a clinical exercise physiologist do?
Clinical exercise physiologists, or CEP, are health professionals who utilize scientific rationale for designing, enforcing, and supervising exercise programming. The physiologists set exercise programs for people with conditions, diseases, and/or physical issues. They analyze the fitness of their patients to improve or main their health. Their job includes the assessment of patients' needs and making sure that they are following the safe exercise practices set for them. In addition, CEP may work with patients who have been recovering from any medical emergency or those who need to regain their physical strength.
Clinical exercise physiologist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real clinical exercise physiologist resumes:
- Interpret ECG test results and work with the cardiologist to diagnose specific cardiac conditions.
- Perform pulmonary function testing, ECG's, and BP monitoring.
- Assist physicians with ACLS/BLS procedures, chest tube insertions and catheter angiogramsite management.
- Utilize the components of the nursing process and the applications of nursing diagnosis in the client setting.
- Assess new-starts, monitor vitals, adjust workload intensities, and interpret EKG responses to varying exercise intensities.
- Trouble shooting device issues and arrhythmia problems, aiding the physician in adjusting treatment plans tailor to patient specific needs.
- Conduct cardiopulmonary exercise testing ACLS certify
- Respond with initial diagnosis to person undergoing sudden life-threatening emergency.
- Assess physical performance requirements to aid in the development of individualize recovery or rehabilitation exercise programs.
- Provide inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation activity sessions, measuring, collecting, and recording accurate patient data.
- Perform one-on-one and group educational training for patients concerning lifestyle changes including nutrition, medications, and smoking/alcohol/drug cessation.
- Facilitate unique invasive and non-invasive cardiopulmonary exercise studies providing valuable diagnostic and prognostic information regarding patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.
- Coordinate cardiac rehab/wellness program classes including patient program orientation, individual program design, EKG interpretation, program progression and reassessment.
- Assist with cardiac echocardiogram stress testing procedures.
Clinical exercise physiologist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Clinical Exercise Physiologists are proficient in Patients, Rehabilitation, and Cardiac Rehabilitation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Detail oriented, and Compassion.
We break down the percentage of Clinical Exercise Physiologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 20%
Administer accurate individualized exercise prescription for patients referred to clinical exercise programs; especially Phase II and Phase III cardiac patients.
- Rehabilitation, 13%
Provided inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation activity sessions, measuring, collecting, and recording accurate patient data.
- Cardiac Rehabilitation, 8%
Perform as a cardiac rehabilitation exercise physiologist including exercise prescription, exercise administration, exercise heart monitoring, and educating cardiac patients
- Acls, 6%
Conduct cardiopulmonary exercise testing ACLS certified
- Patient Care, 5%
Communicate with referring physicians and program medical director for optimal patient care.
- EKG, 5%
Advanced skills: EKG interpretation and IV placement.
Common skills that a clinical exercise physiologist uses to do their job include "patients," "rehabilitation," and "cardiac rehabilitation." You can find details on the most important clinical exercise physiologist responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for a clinical exercise physiologist to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what clinical exercise physiologists do because "exercise physiologists must have strong interpersonal skills and manage difficult situations." Additionally, a clinical exercise physiologist resume shows how clinical exercise physiologists use interpersonal skills: "displayed excellent team work and interpersonal skills with regular collaboration with physical therapy, nursing, and physicians. "
Detail oriented. Many clinical exercise physiologist duties rely on detail oriented. "exercise physiologists must record detailed, accurate information about their patients’ conditions and about any progress the patients make," so a clinical exercise physiologist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways clinical exercise physiologist responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "oriented patients to phase ii and ii cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation program. "
Compassion. clinical exercise physiologists are also known for compassion, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to clinical exercise physiologist responsibilities, because "because exercise physiologists work with patients who may be in considerable pain or discomfort, they must be sympathetic while working with patients." A clinical exercise physiologist resume example shows how compassion is used in the workplace: "delivered safe, effective, and compassionate care to a diverse population of patients during cardiac testing and rehabilitation procedures. "
The three companies that hire the most clinical exercise physiologists are:
- PeaceHealth10 clinical exercise physiologists jobs
- LifeScan4 clinical exercise physiologists jobs
- Mercy Health4 clinical exercise physiologists jobs
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Compare different clinical exercise physiologists
Clinical exercise physiologist vs. Director of cardiac rehabilitation
A certified athletic trainer is a health and medical expert who specializes in providing health care assistance to athletes. They typically devise strategies to prevent injuries during training sessions and other activities, develop health care plans, and provide immediate care or first aid when injuries occur. There are also instances where they work together with physicians and other health care professionals, such as when diagnosing and treating injuries, developing rehabilitation structures, and administrating other health care services.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between clinical exercise physiologists and director of cardiac rehabilitation. For instance, clinical exercise physiologist responsibilities require skills such as "patients," "acls," "cardiac rehab," and "acsm." Whereas a director of cardiac rehabilitation is skilled in "icu," "collaborative relationships," "ep," and "research projects." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that directors of cardiac rehabilitation earn slightly differ from clinical exercise physiologists. In particular, directors of cardiac rehabilitation are 9.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a clinical exercise physiologist. Additionally, they're 3.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Clinical exercise physiologist vs. Coordinator cardiopulmonary services
An athletic trainer is a healthcare professional who works with physicians to improve a patient's quality of life. Their profession encompasses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of chronic medical conditions involving disabilities, functional limitations, and impairments. As an athletic trainer, you will typically do various tasks, including recognizing and evaluating injuries, providing emergency care or first aid, and developing and implementing rehabilitation programs. You are also responsible for planning and implementing programs to help prevent sports injuries among athletes.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that clinical exercise physiologist responsibilities requires skills like "patients," "rehabilitation," "cardiac rehabilitation," and "patient care." But a coordinator cardiopulmonary services might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "bls," "respiratory care," "critical care," and "nrp."
Coordinators cardiopulmonary services earn lower levels of education than clinical exercise physiologists in general. They're 26.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for clinical exercise physiologists in the next 3-5 years?
Clinton Brawner Ph.D.
Clinical Exercise Physiology Core Laboratory Edith and Benson Ford Heart & Vascular Institute, Henry Ford Hospital
Clinical exercise physiologist vs. Certified athletic trainer
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a clinical exercise physiologist is likely to be skilled in "cardiac rehabilitation," "ekg," "cardiac rehab," and "acsm," while a typical certified athletic trainer is skilled in "cpr," "injury prevention," "athletic events," and "resuscitation."
Certified athletic trainers typically earn lower educational levels compared to clinical exercise physiologists. Specifically, they're 14.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Clinical exercise physiologist vs. Athletic trainer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between clinical exercise physiologists and athletic trainers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a clinical exercise physiologist might have more use for skills like "ekg," "cardiac rehab," "acsm," and "blood pressure." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of athletic trainers require skills like "cpr," "student athletes," "athletic injuries," and "compassion. "
In general, athletic trainers hold lower degree levels compared to clinical exercise physiologists. Athletic trainers are 15.3% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of clinical exercise physiologist
Updated January 8, 2025
