Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline      


         ISSN 1099-5862   Vol 7 No 5  May 2004 
 

 

 
 
Editor-in-Chief:   Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MA, FASEP, EPC
 
 
Abra Cadabra: The Disappearing Act of Exercise Physiologists
Nicole Beachman
Board Certified Exercise Physiology
Department of Exercise Physiology
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, Minnesota

My year in graduate school began like any other year of higher education, except that my classmates were not comparing notes on prospective majors, but exchanging ideas of what they wanted to be when they “grew up”.  I heard professions like family practice physician, physician’s assistant, nurse, chiropractor, but not once did I hear someone say, “I want to be an exercise physiologist.”  That was disturbing to hear, since we were dropping $20,000 to get a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology.  It seemed that exercise physiology was just a stepping stone and not a profession.  Well that can’t be right . . . can it?

The Root of the Problem
This misconception can be traced back to the undergraduate programs in exercise physiology.  My undergraduate education did not prepare me for the dangers of the  “real world” or the disappointments and failures associated with it.  Was I the victim of “educational malpractice” or just some poor schmuck who was looking for a job at the wrong time?  According to job descriptions and employment listings, I was not qualified for anything related to exercise or health.  Even with a bachelor’s degree, I lacked this-that and the other thing.  I couldn’t even enter the military and be guaranteed a job in the exercise physiology field, without a master’s degree!

Why is this happening?  What can be done to resolve the issue?  The curriculum of exercise physiology lacks in one important area of study:  professionalization of exercise physiology. Dr. Jesse Pittsley makes an interesting point, “a course dedicated to professionalism is common in the academic phase of almost all professions [like] physical therapy, nursing, and education.”  Topics range from history of the profession, ethical conduct, legal issues, and employment opportunities [1]. I was under the impression that exercise physiology was an established career and it would be no problem to find a job and begin that career.  Malpractice insurance and professional organizations were unspoken in my undergraduate program.  It’s going to take more than band-aids to remedy this malady.

A Dose of Reality
Knowing maximum oxygen uptake and lactate threshold are great, but that material alone will do nothing to further the profession of exercise physiology in a positive way.  Promoting the profession begins at the undergraduate level. During the sophomore and junior year, courses on professionalism should be required. Students should learn of the history of exercise physiology, how the profession serves the public sector, and what employment opportunities are available after graduation.  It would have encouraged me to be better, had I known that a professional organization was there to support my efforts.  Students need to realize how vital it is to remain in the field of exercise physiology.  You can’t have a profession if there are no professionals in it.  The anxiety of failure can be neutralized and people will be less eager to enter other academic fields. 

The American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) is a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of the exercise physiology profession. ASEP was established to ensure that exercise physiologist are held to the same standards and professional respect as physical therapy, nursing, and occupational therapy.  There are currently seven state organizations of ASEP, with four or five more to be established between 2004-2005.  To elicit student participation, student chapters of the state organizations need to take root.  This should be more evident in ASEP accredited colleges/universities.  They can then attend the state meetings and be surrounded by passionate exercise physiologists who are currently “in the trenches.”  Networking will be possible (for later employment, recommendations, or internships), as well gaining a better appreciation for their chosen career.  Being an exercise physiologist will not seem like a “stepping stone” to get to something better, but a career to be proud of.  Students will understand their roles in being an advocate and promoter for exercise physiology.

Money, Money, Money
Because colleges and universities seem to feel that higher education is a product that students are paying for, it could mean that educators might be held liable for misleading the consumer (students) by not providing all that was paid for.  Thus, it is reasonable to expect that a student could come back to the institution six or twelve months later with a law suit in hand.  He could make the argument that the school did not adequately prepare him for what is beyond the academic walls.  His product does not live up to the promises the company claimed, so it is therefore defective.  It may sound ludicrous, but students expect employment after graduation.  “Employment for all exercise physiologists, regardless of degree status” [2] should be a main concern for faculty members to seriously consider. The question is then raised, “What are educators doing to encourage their students to pursue exercise physiology in the public sector?”  From what I’ve heard and experienced, not much.  Where do you put the blame?  Perhaps the students are at fault for not asking the “right” questions.  How about the educators for not being more proactive about the profession, or the institution for failing to realize that a problem exists?  I don’t know the answer.

One of the biggest reasons people pursue other career fields is the lack of financial stability in exercise physiology.  At the ASEP National Convention in April 2004,  a presenter mentioned the pay scale of exercise physiologists compared to other professions.  An exercise physiologist with a BA can make as much as $32,198 and a MA may expect to earn $36,441 annually.  Physician assistants are in the lead with $63,490, followed by physical therapists at $60,180; registered nurses, $49,840.  Massage therapists make about $33,720 with only one year or less of training [3].  No wonder so many graduates leave exercise physiology.  It hardly seems fair.  For this reason alone, we need an army of soldiers in the field to promote the advancement of exercise physiology.  Once we can get a solid, professional foundation formed, there is nothing that can’t be accomplished, which includes increasing the pay scale. 

Working as One
Educators fail to mention that if the field fails to unify its graduates, there will be a negative effect on the job market [4].  Unifying all exercise physiologist is the obvious secret weapon in combating a somewhat unorganized profession.  But, how do you get everyone on the same page?  Maybe the first step is to begin with the undergraduates.  As they become graduate students, doctoral students, and clinic directors, they will educate those that come after them and influence those around them.  Professionalism needs to be taught at the undergraduate level, but the education needs to continue with graduate and doctoral students.  Educating the public and other professions about what we are and what we do is important to ensure our survivability.  Boone [5] had this to say in his book:

“Working collectively is the key to a successful marketing of professionalism.  It would be disastrous to think that a few exercise physiologists could fix the history of problems.  Even should they assume such a task and even if they were capable of solving the problems, there is little community benefit without everyone involved”.
Change is not going to happen over night, but don’t be discouraged to be an exercise physiologist.  Believe in the profession, support the mission statement of ASEP.  If you will use exercise physiology as a stepping stone, then why bother being an exercise physiologist at all!  It’s like a person going to medical school, so they can become the CEO of a clothing company.  It really doesn’t make sense. Exercise physiology is on its way to becoming a prominent health care provider. Don’t kill it before it has had a chance to live!  “There is hope and with hope there are dreams where possibilities become reality [2].”
 

References
1. Pittsley, J. (2004). Are We Teaching Professionalism? Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 5(6): [Online]. http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/AreWeTeachingProfessionalism.html
2. Kaelin, M. (2000). Buliding a Future for All Exercise Physiologists. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 3(5): [Online].
http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/BuildingExercisePhysiology.html
3. Pittsley, J. (2001). Strategies to Teach Exercise Physiology Professionalism. Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline. 4(2): [Online].
http://www.asep.org/asep/asep/STRATEGIES.html
4. U.S. Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.state.bis.gov/oes/2002/oes_nat.htm
5. Boone, T. (2001). Professional Development of Exercise Physiology. The Edwin Mellen Press: NY, Canada, pg 55.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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