Exercise Science: Fitness Specialist
Certificate of Achievement
Program Details
The Fitness Specialist Certificate of Achievement will prepare students for careers in entry-level jobs in the fitness and health industry. This program provides applied knowledge and leadership skills necessary for students to become Personal Trainers and/or Group Fitness Instructors. In addition to acting as a primary hiring qualification for major fitness employers, the earning of this certificate may also serve as a means for current fitness professionals to earn wage increases and career advancement.
Exercise Science: Fitness Specialist Pathways
Pathways listed below are for the catalog year 2025-2026. Maps for previous years are available on each pathway page. What is a catalog year?
Featured Careers
Find your calling. Explore high-earning careers with entry-level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Athletic Trainers
Master's degree, Bachelor's degree
- Job growth: Rising
- Low salary: 45,380
- High salary: 84,100
- Average salary: 60250
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
Certificate after high school, High school diploma/GED
- Job growth: Rising
- Low salary: 27,580
- High salary: 82,050
- Average salary: 46180
Coaches & Scouts
Bachelor's degree, Master's degree
- Job growth: Rising
- Low salary: 27,490
- High salary: 93,980
- Average salary: 45920
All Careers in Exercise Science: Fitness Specialist (9)
| Physical Therapist Assistants | Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree | Rising | 65,510 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness & Wellness Coordinators | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Rising | 61,340 |
| Recreational Therapists | Bachelor's degree | Stable | 60,280 |
| Athletic Trainers | Master's degree, Bachelor's degree | Rising | 60,250 |
| Exercise Physiologists | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 58,160 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | Certificate after high school, High school diploma/GED | Rising | 46,180 |
| Coaches & Scouts | Bachelor's degree, Master's degree | Rising | 45,920 |
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | Master's degree, Certificate after high school | Stable | 45,590 |
| Sports Medicine Physicians | Doctoral degree, Post-doctoral training | Stable |
Program Pathways Mapper incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.