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Kinesiologists and exercise therapists

OaSIS code 31204.02

Kinesiologists and exercise therapists conduct fitness and human movement tests and assessments. They design and implement programs to maintain, rehabilitate or enhance movement and performance in the areas of sports, recreation, work and exercise.

Overview

Also known as

  • Certified kinesiologist
  • Kinesiologist

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Assess clients to determine their current and potential functioning level and to aid in the development of individualized recovery or rehabilitation programs
  • Design specialized therapy programs to maintain, rehabilitate or enhance movement, musculoskeletal functioning and performance in sports, work and recreation
  • Implement therapeutic programs by employing approaches and techniques such as exercise, sports or other movement therapy
  • Instruct clients on techniques to rehabilitate physical injuries or improve physical performance
  • Observe, record observations and analyze clients during treatment sessions, write progress reports and consult with other health professionals to evaluate and modify treatment plans as required
  • May advise clients regarding health promotion and injury prevention, management and treatment
  • May conduct research in respective field of specialization.

Additional information

  • There is no mobility between the different occupations in this unit group.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Physiotherapists (31202)
  • Recreation, sports and fitness policy researchers, consultants and program officers (41406)
  • Physical Rehabilitation therapists (32109.04)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

3 – Health occupations

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

31 – Professional occupations in health

Sub-major group

312 – Therapy and assessment professionals

Minor group

3120 – Therapy and assessment professionals

Unit group

31204 – Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment

Occupational profile

31204.02 – Kinesiologists and exercise therapists

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Assisting and Caring for Others
5 - Highest Level
Coaching and Developing Others
4 - High Level
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
4 - High Level
Analyzing Data or Information
3 - Moderate Level
Applying New Knowledge
3 - Moderate Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
5 - Physically touching or very close

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
2 - Less than half the time
Standing
Duration
3 - About half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
3 - About half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
4 - Highly important
Frequency
1 - Once a year or more but not every month

Workplaces/employers

  • Clinics
  • Education institutions
  • Extended care facilities
  • Hospitals
  • Industry
  • Nursing homes
  • Private practices
  • Recreational centres
  • Rehabilitation centres
  • Sports organizations

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Stamina
4 - High Level
Arm-Hand Steadiness
3 - Moderate Level
Body Flexibility
3 - Moderate Level
Categorization Flexibility
3 - Moderate Level
Deductive Reasoning
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Evaluation
4 - High Level
Instructing
4 - High Level
Learning and Teaching Strategies
4 - High Level
Monitoring
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Active Listening
4 - High Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Collaboration
5 - Extremely important
Concern for Others
5 - Extremely important
Independence
5 - Extremely important
Service Orientation
5 - Extremely important
Social Orientation
5 - Extremely important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: SIR

Social (S)

Social occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the interaction with others to inform, train, aid, develop, cure, or enlighten. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others, teaching, working or communicating with people.

Investigative (I)

Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and systematic or creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Realistic (R)

Realistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the explicit, ordered or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines and animals. Many of these occupations do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • Kinesiologists require a four-year bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, physical education or human kinetics.
  • Certification for kinesiologists is available through the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required for kinesiologists in Ontario.
  • Exercise physiologists usually require a four-year bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, exercise physiology, exercise sciences or human kinetics.
  • Certification for exercise physiologists is available through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.
  • Athletic therapists require a bachelor's degree in sport therapy or a degree in health sciences with a specialization in sports injury management.
  • Certification for athletic therapists is available through the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association.
  • Supervised practical training is usually required for occupations in this unit group.
  • Certification or membership with the appropriate national professional association or provincial counterpart may be required.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Physical Health
3 - Advanced Level
Recreation, Leisure and Fitness
3 - Advanced Level
Biology
2 - Intermediate Level
Languages
2 - Intermediate Level
Business Management
1 - Basic Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 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. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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