How to become an exercise physiologist in Australia
Exercise Physiologists assess, plan and implement exercise programs for preventing and managing chronic diseases and injuries, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, cancer and arthritis, and assist in restoring optimal physical function, and health and wellness.
Pay and growth are for the wider other natural and physical science professionals group, which is as fine as the data goes. The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the other natural and physical science professionals group are projected to grow 24.7% between May 2025 and May 2035, faster than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Assists and improves the function of muscles through physical activity and exercise programs.
- Administers a variety of tests to identify and assess physical problems and ailments of patients.
- Plans and discusses effective management of patients' disabilities, weight, injury or fitness.
- Designs, reviews, monitors, assesses and evaluates fitness/treatment programmes.
- Records detailed patient medical histories, exercise undertaken and the patients' responses and progress under exercise programs.
- Refers patients to specialists and liaises with other health professionals in relation to patients' problems, needs and progress.
How to get there
What it usually takes. A bachelor degree or higher. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the other natural and physical science professionals group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 97% a degree or higher, 1% a diploma, 0% a Certificate III or IV.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria35 matches
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Exercise and Sport Science - Advanced (Honours) · Deakin, Geelong Waurn Ponds75.40 Exercise and Sport Science · Deakin, Melbourne Burwood70.05 Sport and Exercise Science (Bachelor) · La Trobe, Melbourne65.45 Exercise and Sports Science · ACU, Melbourne64.45 Exercise and Sport Science · Swinburne, Hawthorn61.30 Exercise and Sport Science (Degree) · VU, Footscray Park60.45 Biomedical and Exercise Science (Degree) · VU, Footscray Park57.30 Exercise and Sport Science (Regional and Remote) · Deakin, Geelong Waurn Ponds57.00Diplomas and other ways in
Diploma in Exercise Science · ACU, Melbourne50.45Showing 10 of 35 matches. Search every course.
NSW and ACT57 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (Exercise Therapy) · UTS98.05 Bachelor of Exercise Science and Rehabilitation · Wollongong92.90 Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise Physiology) · Sydney87.80 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science · UTS85.20 Bachelor of Exercise Science and Psychological Science · Southern Cross84.60 Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) · Sydney82.00 Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science · Macquarie80.10 Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology · Notre Dame75.35Diplomas and other ways in
Diploma of Medical and Health Sciences/Bachelor of Exercise Science · Wollongong36.05 Diploma in Exercise and Sport Science · Newcastle50.05 Diploma in Exercise Science · ACU52.45 Diploma of Health (Exercise Science and Psychological Science) · Southern Cross56.95Showing 12 of 57 matches. Search every course.
Queensland43 matches
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours) · UQ, St Lucia85.00 Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences (Honours) · UQ, St Lucia83.00 Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology · Griffith, Gold Coast81.55 Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology · UniSC, Moreton Bay76.00 Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology · QUT, Kelvin Grove76.00 Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology · Southern Cross, Gold Coast73.00 Bachelor of Exercise Science and Psychological Science · Southern Cross, Gold Coast73.00 Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours) · UniSQ, External71.00Diplomas and other ways in
Diploma in Exercise Science · ACU, Brisbane51.75 Diploma of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Exercise Science · Griffith, Gold Coast61.10Showing 12 of 43 matches. Search every course.
Western Australia17 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Master of Public Health · UWA, Perth80.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences · UWA, Perth77.05 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Master of Applied Human Performance Science · UWA, Perth75.30 Bachelor of Science (Exercise Science and Rehabilitation) · ECU, Joondalup72.65 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology · UWA, Perth71.00 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (combined degree) · Murdoch, Perth70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, Master of High Performance Sport (combined degree) · Murdoch, Perth70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science · Notre Dame, Fremantle68.50Showing 8 of 17 matches. Search every course.
Matched on course names, 152 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Graduate outcomes, national
Undergraduates surveyed about four to six months after finishing, in 2025, across all providers. Full-time work is among those available for it. All graduates: 75.4% and $77,000. These are national figures for the study area, not for this course or uni, and a first-year salary says little about later pay. Source: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Realistic, Investigative, Social.
From O*NET ratings for "Exercise Physiologists", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a good match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
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Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
Graduate outcomes: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025, National Report Tables (Social Research Centre, for the Australian Government).
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.