Career Paths

Your Kinesiology degree is the key to a wide range of career opportunities in health, wellness, fitness and education related fields. The Canadian Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAPHERD) has broken some of these options down into four major fields. Some of them require further training and education, but many of these are open to those with a Kinesiology undergraduate degree. The four main occupation groupings are: Kinesiology, Physical Education, Recreation and Leisure and Health Education.

Kinesiology Occupations

Fitness / Wellness:

• Personal Fitness and Lifestyle Consultant,
• Strength and Conditioning Specialist,
• Fitness/Health Club Director.
• Corporate Fitness Consultant
• Certified Fitness Consultant
• Personal Trainer

Rehabilitation

• Chiropractor
• Physiotherapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Athletic Therapist
• Special Population Adaptive Specialist
• Athletic Injury Trainer
• Functional Abilities Evaluator
• Work Site Analyst

Sport Sciences

• University Professor
• Kinesiologist
• Sports Psychologist
• Biomechanist
• Ergonomist/Equipment Designer
• Health & Physical Education Teacher
• Life Sciences Teacher
• Exercise Prescription Counsellor
• Massage Therapist

Medical

• Orthopedic Surgeon
• Medical Doctor/Specialist
• Sports Medicine Physician
• Chiropractor
• Soft-Tissue Specialist
• Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
• Paramedic

Physical Education Occupations

Teaching

• University / College Professor
• Principal / Vice Principal
• Educational Consultant
• Physical Education Teacher
• Outdoor Education Coordinator

Research

• University Professor / Researcher
• Sport Historian/Sociologist
• Sport Equipment Designer
• Adaptive Equipment Specialist

Coaching

• Professional Team Coach
• National Team Coach
• School/University Coach
• Community Club Coach
• Coaching Certification Program Instructor

Administration

• National Sport/ Active Living Organization
• Provincial Sport / Active Living Organization
• Marketing Agents
• Program Coordinators
• Athletic Directors
• Government Sport/Active Living Consultants

Self Employed

• Sports Journalist
• Sports Agent

 

Recreation and Leisure Occupations

Municipal Parks and Recreation

• Community Sports Administration Director
• Sport and Fitness Program Coordinator
• Programs for Individuals with Disabilities
• Seniors' Programs Coordinator
• Day Camps for Children Coordinator
• Swimming Pool, Rink, or Other Facility Manger
• Community Development Facilitator
• Special Event Coordinator

 

Provincial and Federal Governments

• Director
• Sport and Program Consultant
• Fitness/Wellness Consultant
• Facility Design Manger
• Tourism Promotion Coordinator
• National/Provincial Park Employee

 

Youth Service Agencies

(Non Profit Sector)

• YMCA/YWCA Youth Program Manager
• Recreation manager with Correction Agencies
• After-School Program Coordinator
• Scouts/Guides/Cadets Recreation Programmer
• Church-Sponsored Programs Coordinator
• Education Sponsored Programs Coordinator

Institutional Employment

• University/College Instructor/Researcher
• Senior Citizen Homes Recreation Manager
• Hospitals Therapeutic Recreation Manager
• Prisons Recreation Programs Worker
• Rehabilitation Centres Worker

 

Commercial Recreation

• Workplace Recreation Programs Manager
• Fitness Centre Management
• Sport Club Manager
• Hotel Recreation Manager
• Cruise Ship Recreation

 

Camping and Outdoor Education

• Camp Facility Administrator / Director
• Outward bound Schools Manager
• Ecotourism Manager
• Sports Instructor Adventure Tourism Manager
• Water Safety Instructor

 

Health Education Occupations

 

Teaching

• University Professor / Researcher
• College Instructor
• Junior High and High School Teacher

Volunteer / Community

• Specialist with Disease Specific Agencies
• Wellness programs with Special populations
• Smoking/Aids etc. Organizations Coordinator
• Fund-raising Organizations Coordinator
• Special Projects Coordinator
• Rehabilitation Programs
• Dietician/Nutritionist
• YMCA/YWCA
• Advocate / Activist
• Wellness Coordinator

Government Agencies

• Director
• Manager in Public Health Agencies
• Manager in Hospital Health Centre
• School Boards
• -Manager Level
• Workers Compensation - Manager Level
• Social Outreach Worker

Self-Employed

• Health Behaviour Consultant / Researcher
• Author - health related books and articles
• Health workshop presenter
• Software Developer