Exercise Physiologist vs Physical Therapist

An exercise physiologist is a medical professional that focuses on using exercise and physical fitness to help a patient improve the symptoms of a chronic condition, while a physical therapist is a medical professional who helps patients recover from injuries or surgeries with the goal of reacclimating their bodies to normal usage.

How long does it take to become an exercise physiologist?

It usually takes four years of work experience to become an exercise physiologist. Most exercise physiologists have completed a four-year bachelor's of science in exercise science, exercise physiology, or kinesiology and gained four years of work experience in their field.

What is an exercise physiologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Clinton Brawner Ph.D.,

Grayson Lipford Ph.D.

An exercise physiologist studies the effects of exercise on the body. They use their knowledge of physiology, anatomy, and nutrition to help people improve their physical performance and overall health. Exercise physiologists work with clients to develop safe and effective training programs that match their fitness goals. They also conduct assessments, monitor progress, and provide guidance on techniques. Additionally, exercise physiologists may work in research settings to study the effects of exercise on different populations or conditions.

What general advice would you give to an exercise physiologist?

Clinton Brawner Ph.D.

Clinical Exercise Physiology Core Laboratory Edith and Benson Ford Heart & Vascular Institute, Henry Ford Hospital

Hopefully, the individual is graduating from a program that had a clinical exercise physiology focus and culminated in a hands-on clinical internship, not just an observation. They should plan to take the Clinical Exercise Physiology certification offered by the American College of Sports Medicine certification. Clinical exercise internships should be treated as a first work experience and should be featured on the resume. Employment opportunities for clinical exercise physiologists (CEPs) vary by regions across the U.S. and between institutions, so employment opportunities will vary. Over the next 10 years, opportunities for CEPs may improve due to an increased focus on prevention and efforts to increase utilization of cardiac rehabilitation link. However, outside of cardiac rehabilitation and clinical exercise testing, the lack of reimbursement for CEP-led services is a barrier today; however, efforts are underway to address this. The new graduate may have to initially settle for a position that they feel is below their training or not their "dream job." The benefits of working in a less desired position that is in a clinical environment outweigh not working in a clinical environment. Similarly, working in a non-clinical exercise position is better than not working in the field (e.g., exercise) at all. Finally, the new graduate should develop a plan to stay up-to-date in the field by becoming a member of one or two professional organizations, registering to receive the electronic table of contents from a few professional journals, and look for continuing education opportunities, such as webinars and conferences.

ScoreExercise PhysiologistUS Average

Salary

3.9

Avg. Salary $49,399

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.8

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 5.30%

Black or African American 11.85%

Hispanic or Latino 16.41%

Unknown 4.77%

White 61.01%

Gender

female 54.51%

male 45.49%

Age - 36

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36

Stress level

6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an exercise physiologist?

Pros

Variety of work settings, including hospitals, clinics, and fitness centers
Growing demand for exercise physiologists
Ability to work with individuals of all ages and fitness levels
Flexibility in scheduling
Opportunity to work independently or as part of a team

Cons

Requires a significant amount of education and training
May require long hours on your feet
Can be emotionally draining when working with patients with chronic conditions or injuries
Limited job opportunities in certain geographical areas
Can be stressful when dealing with insurance companies and billing practices

Key steps to become an exercise physiologist

Explore exercise physiologist education requirements

Most common exercise physiologist degrees

Bachelor's

74.4 %

Master's

20.1 %

Associate

3.4 %

Start to develop specific exercise physiologist skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	22.32%
Rehabilitation	12.83%
Cardiac Rehabilitation	6.12%
Acls	5.85%
Patient Care	5.62%

Complete relevant exercise physiologist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New exercise physiologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an exercise physiologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real exercise physiologist resumes.

Research exercise physiologist duties and responsibilities

Manage overall time off processing and reporting as it relates to FMLA and disability programs.
Evaluate acutely-ill cardiac patients after cardiovascular events/procedures for their physician-ordered cardiac rehabilitation.
Keep current certifications in BLS and ACLS as well as attending advance ECG courses.
Deliver key contributions to development of written materials bolstering diabetes prevention program for patients and other MTF s/practitioners.

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