How Do I Start a Kinesiology Career?

Before you consider starting your kinesiology career, you will need to decide what your ultimate career goals are. You will need to earn a college degree in kinesiology, which is a significant investment of time and money, so before enrolling in a program, it helps to have an idea of what field you want to enter upon graduation. A kinesiology career may focus on teaching or coaching, or it may focus more on rehabilitation or occupational therapy. As a kinesiologist, you may be qualified to become a professional athlete, a coach, a fitness instructor, or with more schooling, a chiropractor.

First and foremost, you will need to graduate from high school after earning good grades in sciences and communication coursework. This will help you get accepted to a good college program that will prepare you for a kinesiology career. Once you are accepted to a program, expect to spend up to four years working on your bachelor's degree. This degree will prepare you for most jobs in the various kinesiology career fields, though you may need additional schooling for more advanced careers such as chiropractic care. Your coursework will focus on sports history and athletics, movement, sports psychology, and even some sciences such as biology and basic physics.

Once you graduate from the college program, you will have to begin searching for jobs within the kinesiology field. You may choose to become an educator or coach, in which case schools are good places to look for kinesiology career opportunities. Keep in mind that you may have to earn a teaching certificate in order to coach or teach at some schools, which means you will have to undergo additional schooling. You can take education coursework while in college to help expedite the process of getting certified to teach. Athletic directors are often needed at schools as well to coordinate various sports programs within the school.

You may also consider entering kinesiology career fields that are more directly related to sports. You can, for example, become a physical trainer or a coach for a sports tam with some additional education. You may even have the skills to become a professional athlete yourself, though these careers are exceptionally competitive and difficult to obtain. Sports trainers work with athletes to help prevent injuries or rehabilitate from injuries should they occur. This is a rewarding career that will keep you in the field of sports, even if you are not a professional athlete or coach.