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Studies & Degrees in Fitness

Fitness as a subject of study is about planning, leading and supervising exercise for other people. It ranges from short courses for gym instructors to university degrees in exercise science. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes fitness trainers and instructors as people who lead, instruct and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities; exercise physiologists, who hold a degree, develop fitness and exercise programmes to help people improve their health.

What students learn depends on the level. Short courses concentrate on exercise technique, safety and how to run a session. Degree programmes add the science behind it: according to the BLS, programmes in exercise science, kinesiology or physical education often include courses in nutrition, exercise techniques, biology and anatomy. London Metropolitan University describes its Sport and Exercise Science BSc as a course on how the body responds to exercise and how physical activity can support health, wellbeing and performance.

Qualifications and levels

  • Instructor certificates and short courses. In the United States, fitness trainers and instructors typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation, and most hold a certification in the area in which they specialise; personal trainers usually must be certified before they start working with clients. In the United Kingdom, the National Careers Service lists a recognised college qualification in gym instructing or fitness instructing, with no set entry requirements, an apprenticeship such as Leisure Team Member Level 2, or courses run by private training organisations. The professional body is the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity.
  • Vocational training in Spain. The official qualification is the Técnico Superior en Acondicionamiento Físico, a higher vocational training (FP) course of 2,000 hours. Its modules include fitness in a multi-purpose training room, conditioning in water and conditioning with music, and it includes a training period in a company. Applicants need the Bachillerato, an equivalent qualification or an entrance test. Holders can continue to a university degree, with possible recognition of modules.
  • Bachelor's degrees. SUNY Cortland offers a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and another in Strength and Conditioning for Human Performance, each of 120 credit hours; the second prepares students for industry certifications from bodies such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. The Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science of the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) in Australia takes three years full-time and is accredited at the level of Exercise Science with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).
  • Postgraduate study. The BLS notes that exercise physiologists typically need at least a bachelor's degree and that master's programmes are also available.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 12 active schools for fitness: 8 in the United States, 2 in the United Kingdom, 1 in Australia and 1 in Ireland. All of them teach in English. Most are universities, so the programmes in the directory are mainly degrees in exercise science, kinesiology or sport science, not short instructor courses.

International students should check the study mode before applying. At UniSC, for example, only the full-time option is open to students on a Student visa, and online programmes are not available to them. It is also worth asking which professional certifications or accreditations a programme leads to, because employers in many countries look at those first.

Careers

Graduates work as gym instructors, group fitness instructors, personal trainers and strength and conditioning coaches. Spain's official job profile for the vocational qualification lists roles such as personal trainer and instructor of aerobics, step, indoor cycling and aquatic fitness. Degree holders also move into roles such as exercise scientist, physical activity and health promotion officer or sports laboratory technician, which UniSC names as career outcomes of its degree.

In the United States, fitness trainers and instructors held about 388,400 jobs in 2025, according to the BLS. Fitness and recreational sports centres employed 55% of them and 15% were self-employed. Employment is projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 68,000 openings a year. Exercise physiologists are a much smaller group, with 21,200 jobs in 2025 and projected growth of 13% over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a degree to work as a fitness instructor?

Not usually. In the United States the typical entry requirement is a high school diploma plus a certification, according to the BLS, although employers may prefer personal trainers with an associate's or bachelor's degree.

What is the official fitness qualification in Spain?

The Técnico Superior en Acondicionamiento Físico, a higher vocational training course of 2,000 hours that includes a training period in a company.

How long does an exercise science degree take?

It depends on the country. The Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science at UniSC in Australia takes three years full-time; the Bachelor of Science programmes at SUNY Cortland in the United States require 120 credit hours.

Is fitness a growing field?

In the United States, yes: the BLS projects 7% growth in jobs for fitness trainers and instructors between 2025 and 2035, with about 68,000 openings a year.