Exercise Technicians: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of exercise technicians about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for exercise technicians to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of exercise technicians expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for exercise technicians.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Exercise Technicians?
Do exercise technicians need a degree? What kind of experience do exercise technicians typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for exercise technicians to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Exercise Technicians
Jobs Postings for Exercise Technicians By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 3,543 (57%)
- Master's degree: 1,742 (28%)
- No Education Listed: 684 (11%)
- High School or GED: 216 (3%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 77 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of exercise technicians. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 57% of positions. In 28% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 11% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Exercise Technicians
Jobs Postings for Exercise Technicians By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,097 (57%)
- 2-3 Years: 704 (37%)
- 4-6 Years: 97 (5%)
- 7-9 Years: 6 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 17 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for exercise technicians. In 57% of job postings for Exercise Technicians, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 37% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 5% of job postings for exercise technicians.
What Kind of Degree Do Exercise Technicians Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for exercise technicians, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 6 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective exercise technicians, and in 2023 a total of 53,854 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective exercise technicians.
Top Degree Programs for Exercise Technicians
Top 5 Degree Programs for Exercise Technicians (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | 32,323 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 12,748 |
| Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology. | 6,299 |
| Physical Fitness Technician. | 1,231 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other. | 1,147 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | 32,323 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General. | 12,748 |
| Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology. | 6,299 |
| Physical Fitness Technician. | 1,231 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other. | 1,147 |
| Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist. | 106 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Exercise Technicians
The B.S. Exercise Science major provides a clear path to a rewarding career helping individuals realize their health and fitness goals. You’ll learn to evaluate fitness levels, design results-oriented exercise programs and apply coaching methodologies to help your clients reach their full potential.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Certificates & Microcredentials for Exercise Technicians
Learn to help diagnose and test for cardiovascular issues in this online, comprehensive program that prepares you for the Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 2-3 months
- Cost: $2,000
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Skills Do Exercise Technicians Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by exercise technicians to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for exercise technicians, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Exercise Technicians
Based on 4,730 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Exercise Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiology | 3,531 | 75% |
| Exercise Science | 2,353 | 50% |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation | 1,690 | 36% |
| Exercise Prescription | 1,346 | 28% |
| Kinesiology | 1,312 | 28% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Exercise Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 1,393 | 29% |
| Management | 910 | 19% |
| Research | 559 | 12% |
| Customer Service | 548 | 12% |
| Teaching | 514 | 11% |
Based on 4,730 job postings related to exercise technicians, exercise physiology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 75% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for exercise science, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, exercise prescription, kinesiology and rehabilitation were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for exercise technicians, followed by management, research, customer service, teaching and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiology | 3,531 | 75% |
| Exercise Science | 2,353 | 50% |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation | 1,690 | 36% |
| Exercise Prescription | 1,346 | 28% |
| Kinesiology | 1,312 | 28% |
| Rehabilitation | 1,264 | 27% |
| Electrocardiography | 1,218 | 26% |
| Medical Prescription | 1,063 | 22% |
| Exercise Programs | 1,013 | 21% |
| Cardiac Stress Testing | 929 | 20% |
| Exercise Testing | 901 | 19% |
| Pulmonary Rehabilitation | 792 | 17% |
| Health Risk Assessments | 771 | 16% |
| Treatment Planning | 672 | 14% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 627 | 13% |
| Strength Training And Conditioning | 600 | 13% |
| Physiology | 559 | 12% |
| Blood Pressure | 519 | 11% |
| Cardiology | 497 | 11% |
| Physical Therapy | 488 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 1,393 | 29% |
| Management | 910 | 19% |
| Research | 559 | 12% |
| Customer Service | 548 | 12% |
| Teaching | 514 | 11% |
| Planning | 465 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 455 | 10% |
| Microsoft Excel | 422 | 9% |
| Leadership | 420 | 9% |
| Goal Setting | 398 | 8% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 393 | 8% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 391 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 384 | 8% |
| Operations | 382 | 8% |
| Scheduling | 377 | 8% |
| Writing | 335 | 7% |
| Professionalism | 319 | 7% |
| Computer Literacy | 317 | 7% |
| Critical Thinking | 291 | 6% |
| Presentations | 275 | 6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about exercise technicians? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for exercise technicians.
What do exercise technicians do?
How much do exercise technicians make?
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