How do I become a kinesiologist? What training options and qualifications are there?

Training opportunities and qualifications

  • There are two types of training:Courseson individual methods and comprehensiveDiploma programs.
  • Degrees and recognitionsare available at various levels: the school's own certificates, EMR approval, qualification with association recognition and qualification with a federal diploma.

Courses in the individual methods

Various methods such as Touch for Health, Brain Gym or Neuro Concept Training can be completed as individual courses. In most cases, there are no specific prerequisites. These courses do not qualify you to work professionally without relevant previous training, but are intended as a methodological supplement.

Diploma programs

Courses that qualify you to work as a kinesiologist take several years. Most schools do not require any specific prior knowledge. The courses conclude with a certificate or diploma from the school.

The structure of the diploma course differs from school to school. There are usually three levels:

  • Basic knowledge or Practitioner
  • Professionalization or kinesiology expert
  • Kinesiology Master

Some diploma courses already include the necessary number of learning hours and the other topics (e.g. medical basics) that are required for EMR approval and/or industry recognition (OdA KT).

Some schools also offer the medical basics, supervision hours and internships required for the higher specialist examination.

EMR / health insurance recognition

Training courses that include at least 500 hours of study plus 350 hours of conventional medical training allow you to be registered with the EMR (Experiential Medical Register of Health Insurers). This registration enables your clients to settle the costs of the treatments via the supplementary insurance of their health insurance company.

Industry certificate OdA Complementary Therapy

Obtaining the OdA KT sector certificate requires internships and self-awareness in addition to the diploma training. The conditions for obtaining the OdA Complementary Therapy sector certificate are as follows:

  • Specialist training in kinesiology (at least 500 learning hours)
  • Medical training (at least 350 hours)
  • 10 self-awareness sessions in kinesiology
  • Training supervision
  • Internship

Higher professional examination complementary therapist method kinesiology

The highest qualification in kinesiology is the higher professional examination for the federal diploma in "Complementary Therapist Method Kinesiology". With the HFP diploma, you will receive a federally recognized professional qualification that will enable you to practice as a therapist throughout Switzerland in the long term.

Conditions for admission to the higher professional examination:

  • Secondary level II qualification (apprenticeship or school-leaving certificate) or higher education
  • Industry certificate Kinesiology of the Organization of the Working World Complementary Therapy (Oda KT)
  • At least 2 years of professional experience in complementary therapy with a workload of at least 50% or at least 3 years with a workload of at least 30%;

During the declared professional practice in complementary therapy, at least 36 hours of supervision with supervisors approved by the OdA KT

You can find more information about the higher specialist examination in complementary therapy in the self-test

"Complementary therapist (HFP)"

Provider of courses "Kinesiology (Cert.)"