1. Education

Exercise physiologists are university graduates from human movement, exercise science or similar courses. In addition to their tertiary studies, accreditation as an exercise physiologist also requires a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical experience working with apparently healthy individuals and people with health conditions, injuries or special requirements.

Personal trainers have completed vocational qualifications in fitness - the minimum requirement is a Certificate IV in Fitness with a specialization in personal training. These qualifications equip personal trainers to specifically provide fitness services to apparently healthy people and to work as part of an allied health team to provide fitness services to people with health conditions or special requirements.

2. Scope of Practice

Exercise physiologists are rehabilitation professionals that use exercise as a tool to prevent, maintain and improve the health and well-being of their clients. In particular, exercise physiologists work with medical doctors and other allied health professionals in the prevention, maintenance and improvement of cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological and other health disorders by developing exercise strategies specific for the needs of the individual. Exercise physiologists also work with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors and other physical therapists in the development of exercise solutions for musculoskeletal disorders or disorders affecting movement.

In general terms, personal trainers are trained to improve the fitness of their clients, and whilst personal trainers can also work with people with special needs, they are unable to develop exercise solutions for these individuals. Instead, a personal trainer must work in conjunction with another allied health professional, like an exercise physiologist, to develop the exercise solution. The personal trainer can then implement and monitor the exercise solution once it had been developed.

Neither exercise physiologists nor personal trainers are able to diagnose health conditions or injuries.

3. Registration

To practice as an accredited exercise physiologist, a registration with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) is required. This accreditation enables the exercise physiologist to provide MediCare and private health fund rebates to eligible clients, and allows the exercise physiologist to provide rehabilitation services for claims through workers compensation and personal injury insurance schemes.

Personal trainers are able to register with Fitness Australia or Kinect Australia as a fitness professional. Exercise physiologists are also able to register with these professional bodies in addition to ESSA if they wish.

Personal trainers are unable to provide MediCare rebates and are not currently recognised by WorkCover Queensland for workers compensation rehabilitation purposes. Some insurance companies may recognise personal trainers for injury rehabilitation (like rehabilitation following car accidents or personal injury claims). Some private health funds may provide rebates for personal training services when the personal trainer is registered with either Kinect Australia or Fitness Australia.