About us

The Norwegian Association for Health and Exercise Physiologists (NFHT) represents professionals holding bachelor’s or master’s degrees in exercise science and exercise-based medicine from Norwegian universities and higher education institutions.

Our core expertise lies in the use of physical activity and exercise as evidence-based tools for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of both physical and mental health conditions.

At a time when non-communicable diseases and lifestyle-related conditions are placing increasing pressure on healthcare systems, NFHT advocates for a stronger and more systematic use of exercise-based interventions.

What is a Health and Exercise Physiologist?

A Health and Exercise Physiologist is a professional with specialised competence in using physical activity and exercise as targeted health interventions.

Through assessment, individualised programme design, and long-term follow-up, they contribute to:

disease prevention
improved physical function
enhanced quality of life

Their education includes key disciplines such as physiology, anatomy, nutrition, pathology, and health communication. This enables them to work with a wide range of populations, including healthy individuals, at-risk groups, and people living with chronic conditions.

Education and training in Norway

The following institutions currently offer programmes qualifying graduates as Health and Exercise Physiologists:

Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Kristiania University College
University of South-Eastern Norway

Approximately 250 graduates complete these programmes each year. A national forum for Health and Exercise Physiology in higher education, established in 2023, works to strengthen collaboration, ensure high academic standards, and support the continued development of the profession.

Today, several thousand professionals in Norway hold this qualification.

International perspective

Comparable professions exist internationally, particularly in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. In these contexts, professionals often operate under titles such as Exercise Physiologist or Clinical Exercise Physiologist, and are frequently integrated into healthcare systems through formal accreditation or regulation.

These professionals play a key role in multidisciplinary care, contributing to both prevention and treatment of disease. The international development highlights a clear need for stronger professional recognition and structural integration of this competence in Norway.

NFHT is currently in dialogue with the International Confederation of Sport and Exercise Science Practice regarding membership. Norwegian professionals also actively engage in international scientific communities, including the American College of Sports Medicine, contributing to knowledge exchange, research dissemination, and professional development.

The way forward

NFHT works to strengthen the role of Health and Exercise Physiologists within the Norwegian healthcare system. A key priority is to achieve formal professional recognition through authorisation. This would:

provide clearer frameworks for professional responsibility
strengthen patient safety
support more effective task-sharing within healthcare services
enhance recognition of the profession

Although Health and Exercise Physiologists are not currently subject to a dedicated authorisation scheme in Norway, they may in many cases fall under the scope of Norwegian Health Personnel Act when providing healthcare services. This means their practice is already governed by requirements related to professional standards, confidentiality, and documentation.

Despite this, the competence of Health and Exercise Physiologists remains insufficiently integrated into healthcare services. This represents a significant untapped resource in addressing rising healthcare demands and the growing burden of lifestyle-related disease.

NFHT therefore advocates for a more systematic inclusion of exercise-based expertise in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation across healthcare and public health systems.