Exercise Professional Role Descriptions
Certified Athletic Therapist (CAT(C))
What they do • an expert on injury assessment and rehabilitation; assess physical functioning, provides care and rehabilitation for musculoskeletal injuries, develops treatment plans for reducing dysfunction resulting from injuries and pain, and help individuals safely return to activity
Who they serve • recreational to professional and elite athletes,
Where they can be found• sporting events, universities, colleges, private clinics, healthcare environments
Certification/College • The Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) oversees the certification of members in Canada.
Certified Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP)
What they do • performs assessments, prescribes conditioning exercise, as well as exercise supervision, counselling and healthy lifestyle education
Who they serve • healthy individuals and/or populations with medical conditions, functional limitations or disabilities associated with musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, metabolic, neuromuscular, and ageing conditions.
Where they can be found • hospitals, fitness centres, private clinics
Certification/College • The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology oversees certification for Exercise Physiologists in Canada.
Chiropractor
What they do • focused on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, with an emphasis on treatment through manual adjustment and/or manipulation of the spine.
Who they serve • everyone
Where they can be found • Private clinics
Certification/College •The College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO) is the governing body established by the provincial government to regulate chiropractors in Ontario. Every chiropractor practicing in Ontario must be a registered member of the College.
Exercise Specialist
What they do • develop and evaluate exercise programs for individuals to improve physical well-being based; educate individuals about healthy lifestyles and teach self-management skills to control health conditions and enhance quality of life
Who they serve • healthy populations as well as individuals and families who are challenged by musculoskeletal limitations and cardiovascular, pulmonary, neuromuscular and metabolic diseases
Where they can be found • fitness centres, rehabilitation centres and other healthcare facilities
Certification/College •
Fitness Instructor
What they do • lead groups in various formats of cardiovascular conditioning, muscle strength and endurance training, stretching and relaxation, or a calming cool-down; fitness classes for groups by demonstrating exercise routines and safe use of equipment; assess participants’ fitness levels and provide accommodations for safe movement as needed
Who they serve • everyone
Where they can be found • gyms, recreation centres and other healthcare facilities
Certification/College •
Health Promoter
What they do •plan and develop ways to help people improve and manage their health, strategically plan policies and programs for improving the health of everyone in the community
Who they serve • public health
Where they can be found • public health units
Certification/College •
Kinesiologist
What they do • assess individuals’ physical capability for movement, correct movement patterns to help prevent injury, and prescribe exercise as part of a rehabilitation plan to address pain, movement limitations and improve bone and muscle strength
Who they serve • individuals of varying needs, such as those with chronic conditions, disability, or athletes, may be served
Where they can be found • private clinics, healthcare settings, fitness centres or athletic departments
Certification/College • Kinesiology is a regulated health profession in Ontario. Registered Kinesiologists are Ontario's recognized experts in preventing and managing injury and chronic disease and helping to reach peak physical performance.
Nurse (RN/RPN/NP)
What they do • RNs can care for patients with more complex needs in unpredictable situations.
Registered Practical Nurses (RPN) work with patients with less complex needs, and patients with stable and predictable conditions.
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a RN with advanced university education who provides personalized, quality health care to patients.
Who they serve • individuals of varying needs
Where they can be found • hospitals, community health centres, clinics
Certification/College •
Occupational Therapist
What they do • An Occupational Therapist is a trained to understand not only the medical and physical limitations of a disability or injury, but also the psychosocial factors that affect the functioning of the whole person. They help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.
Who they serve • populations with a variety of medical conditions, injuries, functional limitations or disabilities
Where they can be found rehabilitation centres, clinics, and other healthcare environments
Certification/College • Occupational therapists must be registered with their provincial regulator in order to practice legally in Canada.
Occupational Therapist Assistants/Physiotherapy Assistants
What they do • work under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist or physiotherapist assisting them with treatment plans for individuals who have conditions that are physically or developmentally disabling; prepare materials and equipment used during treatment and may perform clerical or administrative duties as assigned.
Who they serve • populations with a variety of medical conditions, injuries, functional limitations or disabilities
Where they can be found • rehabilitation centres, clinics, and other healthcare environments
Certification/College •
Personal Support Worker
What they do• front-line care provider whose responsibilities focus on the provision of personal care and support that include activities of daily living with client populations
Who they serve
Where they can be found •institutional, community care and service settings.
Certification/College •
Personal Trainer
What they do • possess the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to design safe and effective fitness programs; instruct and assist people in reaching personal health and fitness goals.
Who they serve • everyone
Where they can be found • fitness centres, recreation centres, independent
Certification/College •
Physical Therapist
What they do • highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility - in many cases without expensive surgery and often reducing the need for long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects; devise treatment programs using a variety of techniques and prescribe exercise to help regain movement as well as reduce pain to restore functioning
Who they serve • populations with a variety of medical conditions, injuries, functional limitations or disabilities
Where they can be found • hospitals, private clinics, fitness centres, and other healthcare settings
Certification/College • The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario is the body that regulates physiotherapists in Ontario.
Recreation Therapist
What they do • plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.
Who they serve • populations with a variety of medical conditions, injuries, functional limitations or disabilities
Where they can be found • hospitals, community and retirement facilities
Certification/College • recreation therapy college programs
Yoga Instructor
What they do • trained to properly teach the poses used in yoga practice; may take a holistic approach that incorporates the mental, emotional and spiritual elements of the discipline into their teaching.
Who they serve • everyone
Where they can be found • yoga studios, recreation centres
Certification/College •