What is a wellness internship and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Amy Smalarz Ph.D.

A wellness internship allows interns to gain experience in the field of wellness by working alongside professionals. They learn about aspects such as nutrition, fitness, mental health, and stress management. A wellness intern may assist with creating programs, conducting research, and providing guidance to clients. The internship provides hands-on experience and exposure to different areas of the wellness field, allowing individuals to develop an understanding of the industry and potentially leading to future career opportunities.

What's a day at work look like for a wellness internship?

Amy Smalarz Ph.D.

Assistant Teaching Professor, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Pre-Health Advisor, University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Our recent graduates are so diverse in the where they are going to work - that it's hard to describe what a 'typical' day will look like. One thing I can say is that our Public Health students are uniquely qualified and positioned to be their Department or Organization's go-to Public Health resource - and in this pandemic (and aftermath) - this will be invaluable.

ScoreWellness InternshipUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $41,701

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.3

Growth rate 19%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 4.31%

Black or African American 10.50%

Hispanic or Latino 13.99%

Unknown 3.99%

White 66.50%

Gender

female 68.72%

male 31.28%

Age - 47

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 - 47

Stress level

5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.7

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a wellness internship?

Pros

Enhance interpersonal and communication skills
Chance to learn about new wellness trends and techniques
Opportunity to shadow experienced professionals
Possibility to earn academic credit for internship experience
Chance to explore potential career paths in wellness

Cons

Unpaid or low-paid internships may lead to financial strain
May require long hours or irregular schedules
High competition for desirable internships
May not align with career goals or interests
Can be stressful if workload is overwhelming or expectations are unclear

Key steps to become a wellness internship

Explore wellness internship education requirements

Most common wellness internship degrees

Bachelor's

82.9 %

Master's

8.2 %

Associate

5.1 %

Start to develop specific wellness internship skills

Skills	Percentages
Wellness Programs	12.17%
Rehabilitation	11.90%
Fitness Programs	6.59%
Incentive Programs	6.04%
Health Education	5.05%

Research wellness internship duties and responsibilities

Manage overall time off processing and reporting as it relates to FMLA and disability programs.
Assist with the coordination and facilitation of diabetes prevention programs, including one on one wellness coaching.
Collect intake information with new patients, participate in health assessments, create brochures for alternative treatments for diabetes
Educate patients about healthy lifestyle behaviors -Developed anaerobic and aerobic exercise routines derive from a doctor's physical examination of patients

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