Careers in Physical Education
An interest in athletics, exercise, or sports can lead to a variety of different careers within the sports and exercise industries. You might choose to pursue a career in coaching at the high school, college, or even professional level. Other career options include fitness trainers, recreation workers, physical education instructors, physical therapists, sports medicine, human kinetics, sports nutritionists, and even sport psychologists. Explore your many options as you choose a career in the sports or exercise industry.
The foundation for many of these sports and exercise careers is the study of kinesiology. Kinesiology encompasses the study of physical activity and how it affects health and the quality of life. A student studying kinesiology can prepare to enter careers such as coaching, fitness training, physical education instruction, sports medicine, physical therapy, corporate fitness instruction, and sports management. Even without a degree in kinesiology, it’s possible to pursue careers in the sports and exercise fields, however. For example, it’s possible to enroll in a fitness trainer certification program to become a certified fitness trainer, working with clients privately or in fitness centers.
The field of physical therapy offers many different opportunities as well. Physical therapists have the ability to partner with patients as they work to improve health or increase mobility. Physical therapists may utilize exercise machines in a clinical setting during therapy sessions with patients. Physical therapists can also help patients avoid conventional treatments such as pain medication and surgery by utilizing other therapeutic options such as therapy with exercise machines.
Sports medicine is a broad field of study that involves a medical practice specializing in preventing, diagnosing, and treating athletic injuries. A physician specializing in sports medicine could work as a team doctor on a college or professional sports team. Olympic or professional athletes also need physicians specializing in sports medicine. Exercise science is connected with the practice of sports medicine because exercise science involves understanding physical movement and how the human body responds and adapts to it.
Explore the following resources with information about various careers in the realm of physical education and fitness:
Choosing a Career in Sport, Fitness, and Exercise: Explore possible careers in sports, such as coaching, or sports medicine, such as sport psychology, as presented by the American Kinesiology Association.
Find Your Dream Personal Training Job and Benefit From Your Fitness Trainer Certification: With a fitness trainer certification, a professional can work in a corporate setting, in a resort, or as an independent contractor.
Still Strong, Still Growing: Job Prospects for Fitness Professionals: The American College of Sports Medicine presents information about the job prospects within the fitness industry.
Physical Therapist (PT) Careers Overview: The American Physical Therapy Association provides an overview of the physical therapist career, including responsibilities, practice settings, and conditions treated.
Physical Therapist Overview: A physical therapist helps patients by relieving pain, restoring mobility, helping to improve balance and coordination, promoting fitness, and helping to restore function.
What is Sports Psychology? A sports psychology career focuses on helping athletes improve their mindset to enable them to improve their sports performance.
Hot Careers: Sport Psychology: A sport psychologist often turns a personal passion for sports into a career of helping athletes improve performance, deal with pressures, and enhance mental skills.
Professionalization of Exercise Physiology: The American Society of Exercise Physiologists presents information about the exercise physiologist career, including salary and and the licensing process.
Becoming a Physical Education Teacher: Learn about the education and experience necessary to become a physical education instructor.
Career Path: Sports Nutrition: A sports dietician works to educate and counsel people about nutrition in conjunction with activity and exercise.
How to Become a Sports Nutritionist: Learn about being a sports nutritionist, which involves counseling athletes about nutrition and diet to achieve athletic goals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is physical education and why is it important?
The term "physical education" covers a wide array of fields ranging from the teaching of school children to training professional athletes. As physical education involves learning about the health and wellbeing of the human body, it's important for all people to have some basic understanding.
What jobs can you get with a physical education?
Jobs within this field include public and private school teachers, coaches, parks workers, physical trainers, and health care professionals.
What are the highest paying jobs in physical education?
Coaching sports at the professional level.
How much does a physical education teacher make?
Pay rates for teachers vary regionally but across the board physical education teachers earn between $34,000 and $67,000 per year.
What education is needed to become a physical therapist?
Depending on what level of work one wants to do, the training could be anywhere from an associate's degree to a doctoral degree.