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How to Become a Physiologist: Essential Skills, Courses, and Career Guide

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Introduction

If you’re wondering how to become a Physiologist, the first step is understanding what physiology entails. The scientific study of normal functions in living organisms is referred to as physiology. It is a sub-discipline of biology that studies how organisms live, work, and function. It also investigates how all parts of an organism’s body, such as biological, physical, and chemical, are interconnected and essential to the organism’s existence. Physiologists utilize this information to research ways to treat illnesses and cope with the pressures our bodies face in various settings. This knowledge is crucial for those considering how to become a Physiologist.

Physiology courses teach students how to connect with patients and diagnose physiological diseases quickly. In the field of physiology, there are various employment and career opportunities. Physiology is one of the fastest-growing fields in the world, and it is ranked as one of the best careers globally. If you’re considering how to become a Physiologist, this field could be an excellent fit for you.

You can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehab centers, and as a personal trainer. Other choices include physiologists, scientists, personal trainers, fitness instructors, and sports physiologists. Individuals are allowed to work as physiologists in their clinics. So, if you’re thinking about how to become a Physiologist, these are some factors to consider.

Skills Required

Eligibility and Courses

Stream	Graduation	Post-graduation	Ph.D.
Candidates must have completed and passed a recognized class 12 examination to begin.	Candidates must now have a bachelor’s degree in Physiology, such as a B.Sc.	Candidates might also pursue a postgraduate degree to get further expertise in the subject.	Candidates can pursue a Ph.D. in Physiology if they want.
The candidate should try to maintain at least 50-60% to get admission into the college.	Individuals should attempt to keep a strong GPA to get into a good PG college or placement.	The individual must maintain a high GPA to get accepted into a good Ph.D. college or placement.	The individual should seek to maintain a good GPA to land a job.
The candidate should study science or biology in 12th grade.	They have the option of enrolling in a B.Sc. Physiology courses. They will then be able to apply for a postgraduate degree.	They can pursue M.Sc. in Physiology.	They can study Ph.D. in Physiology.

Physiology courses in India-

Undergraduate course	Postgraduate course	Ph.D.
B.Sc./ B.Sc. (Hons.) in Physiology	M.Sc. in Physiology	Ph.D. in Physiology

Course Highlights-

B.Sc. in Physiology-

Course Name	Bachelor of Science in Physiology
Degree Level	Undergraduate
Duration	3 years
Examination Type	Semester system
Minimum Qualification	Completed class 12th with Science or biology
Admission process	Entrance or merit-based
Employment sector	Hospitals, Private clinics, Research laboratories, Colleges, Universities, Labs, Pharmaceutical companies

M.Sc. in Physiology-

Course Name	Master of Science in Physiology
Degree Level	Postgraduate
Duration	2 years
Minimum Qualification	B.Sc. in Physiology
Examination Type	Semester system
Admission process	Entrance or merit-based
Employment sector	Government Hospitals, Rehab Centers, Medical Schools /universities, Private Practice, etc.

Ph.D. in Physiology-

Course Name	Ph.D. in Physiology
Degree Level	Doctorate
Duration	3 Years
Minimum Qualification	Post-graduation in Physiology
Examination Type	Semester System
Admission process	Based on shortlisted candidates’ performance in the round of interviews.
Employment sector	Rehabilitation Centers, Psychological Research Centres, Advertising Industry Teaching, Welfare Organizations, Psychological assessment, and testing, Research Establishments

Top Colleges

College name	Location
Delhi University (DU)	Delhi
Christ University	Banglore
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences	Punjab
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)	Banaras
University of Calcutta	Kolkata
University of Madras	Chennai
Indian Institute of Science	Banglore
Vidyasagar College	Kolkata
Surendranath College	Kolkata
AIIMS	Delhi

Internships for Physiologists-

Internships provide on-the-job training for physiological positions of many sorts. An internship focused on one of the numerous fields of physiology can help university students gain experience. Many internship programs offer hands-on experience to college students looking for part-time physiology employment.

Internships might help you lay the groundwork for your future career. As a consequence, choosing internships that are related to your interests is essential. Internships in physiology give important experience and knowledge.

Internships are beneficial because they allow students to get experience with the businesses and organizations in which they are interested. Someone with internships and experience is significantly more likely to be hired than someone with a generic CV and no experience.

Entrance Exams

Exam name	Conducting Body	Level	Mode
BHU PET ( Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Test)	Banaras Hindu University	University-Level	Offline (Pen and Paper-based)
DUET (Delhi University Entrance Test)	National Testing Agency (NTA)	National Level	Computer-Based Mode
CUCET (Central Universities Common Entrance Test)	Jointly by 12 central universities	National Level	Online (Computer-Based Mode)

Work Description

Physiologists study, monitor, and investigate the human body and its functioning in various settings, both pathological and normal. Physiologists study cells and molecules at a cellular and molecular level. Physiologists conduct the following activities daily:

A physiologist monitors and reassesses an athlete’s workout routines regularly.
They are in charge of collaborating with training personnel to maximize training results.
Their job includes educating and counseling athletes and coaches on topics like heart rate monitoring, recuperation tactics, hydration measures, and overtraining, among other things.
They put athletes through fitness testing to establish an accurate physiological profile of them.
Physiologists study the interactions between tissues, cells, and subcellular components, as well as research participants, to enhance efficiency, cure diseases, and treat diseases.
Physiologists who deal with people study human illnesses, design equipment for use in medicine, and examine biological materials.
They collaborate with doctors and health agencies to enhance community health outcomes and prepare funding submissions to advance their study.
They must promote public awareness about health and fitness concerns.
They also emphasize the advantages of sports and exercise while giving physiological benchmarks.
They work with specialized equipment and resources including aqua-pacers, osmometers, and electronic timing systems.

Job Profiles

Job name	Job description
Physiologist	They look at and track human physiological organs and systems such as the respiratory, neurological, and cardiovascular systems. They’re also in charge of diagnosing and treating physiological problems and chronic diseases.
Biomedical Scientists	They work in hospitals and clinics, performing a variety of laboratory tests and procedures on fluids and tissue samples to assist doctors and clinicians in an illness diagnosis. They also tested the effects of treatments.
Healthcare Administrator	Healthcare executives, also known as healthcare administrators, are in charge of planning, directing, and coordinating health services.
Personal Trainer	Personal trainers deal with customers one-on-one. They create and implement workout plans for them and assist them in sticking to them. They also assist them in losing/gaining weight and recovering from injury.
Physiotherapist	Physiotherapists help and treat people who have physical injuries, problems, or impairments. Patients’ mobility and physical function are improved by their involvement in rehabilitation.
Sports Physiologists	They work with athletes and sports teams to help them improve their fitness and physical abilities. They help them in a variety of ways, including monitoring their training, measuring their fitness levels, and designing fitness-training plans.
Professor	These individuals’ primary responsibility is to educate and transmit information to students enrolled in Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programs, depending on their qualifications.
Researcher	Researchers want to get a better understanding of the human body’s processes to create answers to a variety of physiological issues. To this purpose, they examine diverse functions in the laboratory and the natural environment using the most up-to-date scientific instruments and methodologies.
Clinical exercise physiologists	They collaborate with doctors and allied health professionals. Their job includes giving individuals with chronic illnesses including diabetes and coronary heart disease specialized advice on exercise and physical fitness.
Cardiovascular Tech	They assist physicians with the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac and peripheral vascular diseases by assisting them in winding a needle through a patient’s blood artery to the heart.
Clinical associates	Clinical associates help restorative practices improve their working skills and tactics in the short and long term. They ensure that such systems are satisfactory and comply with state and federal regulations.
Lab Assistant	Clinical Lab Technologists and Clinical Lab Technicians supervise them primarily. They collect samples, do comprehensive manual testing, and supervise automated analytical tests.

Top Recruiters

The following are some companies that hire graduates of physiology-

Defence Ministry of India
First Physio Clinic
Fortis Healthcare Company
Apollo Hospital
Sarthak Health Care
DRS Physio & Wellness
Spectrum Physio Centre
Pain-Free Physiotherapy Clinic
Jawaharlal Institute of postgraduate medical education and research
Kelly Service India Pvt Ltd.
Jaypee healthcare limited
Meditrina Hospitals Private Limited
MAX Healthcare
Indian Council of Medical Research
Kailash Hospital

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

FAQs

What is Physiology?

It’s the scientific study of normal functions in living organisms.

What do Physiologists do?

They research ways to treat illnesses and cope with the pressures our bodies face in various settings.

What are the career opportunities in Physiology?

There are diverse opportunities, including physiologists, scientists, personal trainers, fitness instructors, and sports physiologists.

Where can Physiologists work?

They can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehab centers, and as personal trainers.