Document Type

Article

Publication Title

The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada

ISSN

1920-6216

Volume

15

Issue

2

DOI

10.14288/hfjc.v15i2.817

First Page

7

Last Page

14

Publication Date

6-30-2022

Abstract

Background: Kinesiologists are a growing group of health professionals in Canada who can enter practice after completing undergraduate kinesiology programs. Unlike other health professional programs such as physiotherapy that have well-established curricula and extensive national accreditation standards, kinesiology programs vary considerably between institutions. The resultant disparities in kinesiology graduates’ entry-level skillsets, competencies, and confidence levels contribute to their uncertainty regarding their role in healthcare and the public’s underutilization of kinesiology services. Conclusions: As former kinesiology students, and as current kinesiologists and allied health professionals, we offer our perspective on how undergraduate kinesiology programs could change to respond to the needs of their graduates. Specifically, we suggest an increased emphasis on practical skill development, providing students with kinesiologist mentors and teaching staff, offering kinesiologist specific career planning, and creating explicit streams of specialization. We hope our perspectives based on our own lived experience will better prepare kinesiology students for careers as kinesiologists.

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