How Do I Go into Clinical Physiology?

Getting into clinical physiology requires a number of years of study at the university level. Students must complete a degree in this field and, depending on the student's specialization, further study, testing, or licensing. Once the student has completed the educational requirements, getting a job in this field is somewhat competitive and may require letters of recommendation and experience in a related position, often as an assistant or volunteer.

Preparing for a career in clinical physiology begins at the secondary school level. Students will need to take science courses, especially in general biology, anatomy, and physiology, in order to prepare for the more rigorous coursework that they will encounter at the university level. Admission into a university will also require a high grade point average and high scores on entrance exams. Though clinical physiology programs are common, getting into a well-respected university is important in order to be competitive in the marketplace.

Many universities have prerequisites for admitting students into a clinical physiology program. Students should check with the school to make sure that they have taken the required courses and that their performance in these courses is adequate. Once these courses have been passed, a student can apply to the clinical physiology program.

Once a student has been accepted to a clinical physiology program, the next step in getting into this field is taking and passing all the required courses. At this point, a student may also choose an area to specialize in, such as physical therapy, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, or athletic training. Preparation for one of these specialities can be done by taking courses specific to these disciplines.

While an undergraduate degree may prepare students for certain jobs in the field of clinical physiology, many require additional testing or further study at the graduate level. For careers in clinical physiology that require additional study, students will need to apply to graduate programs. This application process differs from university to university and often requires that a student have strong grades from college courses, high scores on entry exams, letters of recommendation and possibly some experience in the field.

Other jobs in clinical physiology may require that a student pass certain licensing exams. The requirements differ between countries, so a person attempting to get into this field will need to contact the appropriate licensing board for information. Many licenses require a student to pass a test, and some may require a certain number of hours of experience.