Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an exercise physiologist and personal trainer?

An Accredited Exercise Physiologist has completed a minimum of a 4 year degree and has completed at least 300 clinical hours work with at risk populations.  Exercise physiologists have been specifically educated in developing and prescribing exercise for both normal, athletic and clinical patients.  An accredited exercise physiologist's service is also entitled to Medicare and private health fund rebates.

A ‘qualified’ Personal Trainer often has completed a TAFE or RTO course in which they are ‘taught’ how to train the normal population e.g. people with no serious medical conditions or injuries.  Unfortunately most personal training courses take no longer than 6 months to complete.  As such it has meant the Personal Training industry on the whole is poorly skilled and undereducated.

What is the difference between an exercise physiologist and strength & conditioning coach?

As mentioned above, an Accredited Exercise Physiologist has completed a minimum of a 4 year degree and has completed at least 300 clinical hours work with at risk populations.  Exercise physiologists have been specifically educated in developing and prescribing exercise for both normal, athletic and clinical patients.  An accredited exercise physiologist's service is also entitled to Medicare and private health fund rebates.

Strength & Conditioning Coaches, like personal trainers, are not required to have the same amount of formal education as exercise physiologists.  Strength & Conditioning Coaches are qualified to supervise and direct the training of certain levels of athletes and normal populations.

At Coyne Conditioning, clients have the advantage of our staff being both Accredited Exercise Physiologists with the Australian Association of Sport & Exercise Science and also qualified Strength & Conditioning Coaches with the Australian Strength & Conditioning Association and Poliquin Performance.