Cancer Exercise Professionals
Your expertisecan changesurvival.
Exercise oncology is the fastest-growing specialty in health and fitness. The evidence base is extraordinary. The patient need is urgent.[3,4] The shortage of qualified professionals is acute. And the opportunity to build a meaningful, well-compensated career has never been greater.
2M+
New cancer diagnoses annually in the US — every patient should receive an exercise referral[4]
85%
Of patients who never receive that referral — representing an enormous unserved population[3]
162
US cities of 50,000+ residents with no exercise oncology program at all[12]
$0
Cost to enter the memios certification pathway — sponsored placement opportunities available
The career opportunity
This is not a niche.
This is the future
of cancer care.
You became a fitness professional or healthcare provider because you believe in the power of movement to change lives. Exercise oncology takes that belief and backs it with some of the strongest clinical evidence in modern medicine.
"The field of exercise oncology has grown exponentially since ACSM issued the first published guidelines in 2010. Over 2,800 randomized controlled trials now document its benefits."[1,2]
The demand for certified Cancer Exercise Specialists is outpacing supply at every major cancer center in the country. Hospitals need you. Patients need you. The infrastructure to connect them to you has not existed — until now.[3,12]
memios builds that infrastructure. It trains you, certifies you, places you, and supports you — with the platform, the clinical tools, and the professional community you need to practice at the highest level and build a career that means something.
18M
Cancer survivors currently living in the US — most without structured exercise support[4]
90%
Of oncologists who say they need more knowledge to effectively refer patients to exercise programs[3]
ASCO
Formally mandates that all cancer patients should be referred to exercise oncology programming[5]
2010
Year ACSM published first guidelines[2] — 15 years later, the workforce gap has only grown
Your credential
The certification that
opens hospital doors.
The Cancer Exercise Specialist credential through the Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI) is the nationally recognized standard for exercise oncology practice. It is the credential that hospital oncology programs require, that clinical guidelines reference,[5,18] and that patients deserve their care team to hold.
memios partners with CETI to provide the fastest, most supported path to this credential — and then places you within the memios hospital network. The NAPBC 2024 standard requires documented exercise recommendations for breast cancer patients,[18] creating immediate, growing demand for credentialed professionals.
Credential
Cancer Exercise Specialist (CES)
Issued through the Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI) in partnership with memios. The recognized professional standard for clinical cancer exercise delivery across all four phases of cancer care — grounded in 2,800+ peer-reviewed trials.[1]
CETI Accredited
Hospital Recognized
CEU Eligible
All Cancer Types
Your path to certification
1
Complete the CES Foundation Course
A comprehensive curriculum covering cancer pathophysiology, treatment modalities and their exercise implications, safety protocols for all treatment phases, clinical documentation, and evidence-based exercise prescription for every major cancer type. Includes ACSM 2019 guidelines,[1] ACS survivor guidelines,[7] ASCO referral standards,[5] and AHA cardio-oncology protocols.[8] Self-paced online delivery.
Online — Self Paced
2
Pass the CES Certification Examination
A proctored competency examination covering exercise oncology science, clinical safety protocols, cancer-specific exercise prescription, and patient communication. Passing score earns the CES credential, active for two years with continuing education renewal.
Proctored Online Exam
3
Complete memios Platform Onboarding
Upon passing the CES exam, memios onboarding activates your clinical platform access, sets up your exercise prescription builder and patient management tools, trains you on documentation standards and EHR communication workflows, and connects you to the memios professional network.
2-Day Virtual Onboarding
4
Join the memios Network and Access Placement
As a memios-certified CES, you gain access to the national hospital placement network — active roles at memios partner hospitals and cancer centers across the country. The Hillman Cancer Center model, using the EXCEEDS triage protocol, achieved a 45% patient connection rate using just 3–5 minutes of staff time.[19] Your role helps make that scale possible.
Immediate Network Access
Specialty add-on tracks
Prehabilitation Specialist
Advanced training in preoperative exercise programming, CPET-based risk stratification, ERAS protocol integration, and surgical team communication. Prehab programs reduce 30-day readmissions by ~32% and average LOS by 1.5–2 days.[15] Highest demand track as hospital prehab programs expand.
Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation
Specialized training in the CORE model,[8] cardiotoxicity monitoring, cardiac rehabilitation protocol delivery, and peak VO2 assessment. Enables delivery of Medicare-reimbursable cardiac rehab services (CPT 93797-93799).[8,13]
Holistic Wellness Coach
Training in survivorship wellness program delivery covering nutrition integration,[7] sleep coaching, mindfulness facilitation, and the eight-domain memios holistic wellness framework for long-term survivorship. Exercise in survivorship is linked to 31% reduced cancer-specific mortality.[11]
Your clinical tools
The platform that makes
great care efficient.
The memios Clinician Portal is purpose-built for Cancer Exercise Specialists. It replaces paper documentation, disconnected spreadsheets, and generic fitness apps with a single clinical platform that integrates with hospital EHR systems and communicates directly with the oncology care team.
The platform tracks validated clinical outcomes: FACIT-Fatigue,[6] PROMIS Physical Function,[10] PHQ-9,[9] and GAD-7 — the exact measures that document your impact and satisfy accreditation requirements like the NAPBC 2024 standard.[18]
Exercise Prescription Builder
300+ exercises with cancer-specific modifications across all cancer types. Phase-specific prescription templates. Drag-and-drop weekly program builder. One-click delivery to the patient app. Grounded in ACSM 2019 guidelines.[1]
Outcomes Tracking and Reporting
Automated tracking of FACIT-Fatigue,[6] PROMIS Physical Function,[10] PHQ-9,[9] and GAD-7. Trend charts from baseline. Automatic calculation of clinically meaningful change thresholds. One-click PDF export for oncology team communication.
HIPAA-Compliant Telehealth
Launch supervised video sessions directly from the patient card. Session recording, screen share, and group sessions for up to 12 participants. Extends your reach to rural and remote patients — telehealth achieves 80%+ retention in remote populations.[16]
EHR Integration and Care Team Communication
Two-way integration with Epic and Cerner. Referral orders flow directly into your patient queue. Session notes, outcomes reports, and survivorship care plans push back to the EHR — supporting ASCO referral mandate compliance.[5]
Mobile Clinician Companion App
iOS and Android companion for reviewing patient alerts and messages on the go. Push notifications for urgent patient flags — cardiac symptoms, high distress scores, missed safety check-ins. In-clinic session documentation from mobile.
Good morning, Dr. Chen
Tuesday · 8 sessions today · 3 alerts pending
Sarah M. — Distress thermometer flagged 6/10. PHQ-9 elevated. Review before 9am session.
24
Active patients
87%
Session adherence
−42%
Avg fatigue change
Today's schedule
SL
Sarah L. — Breast, Stage II
9:00am · Telehealth · Phase 2 Week 6
Review
RG
Robert G. — Colorectal, Post-Surg
10:30am · In-clinic · Phase 3 Week 2
On Track
MK
Maria K. — Prostate, Prehab
2:00pm · Telehealth · Phase 1 Week 3
Prehab
Career paths
Where this credential
takes you.
The CES credential opens doors across hospital systems, community cancer programs, telehealth platforms, and survivorship networks. Here are the primary career paths within the memios ecosystem.
H
Hospital-Based
Cancer Center Exercise Specialist
Embedded role within a hospital oncology or rehabilitation department. Deliver prehabilitation,[15] active treatment,[5,6] and post-procedure programs on-site. Direct collaboration with oncologists, surgeons, physical therapists, and dietitians. Full EHR integration.
$55,000–$85,000 per year + benefits
T
Highest Demand
Telehealth Cancer Exercise Specialist
Serve patients across multiple hospital client sites via the memios telehealth platform. Flexible hours and location. Particularly valuable for the 162 US cities with no local program.[12] Telehealth delivers 80%+ patient retention in rural populations.[16] Growing fastest in the memios network.
$60,000–$95,000 per year — flexible schedule
S
Survivorship
Survivorship Program Director
Lead long-term survivorship programming for a hospital client. Exercise in survivorship is linked to 31% reduced cancer-specific mortality and 22% lower recurrence risk.[11] Design and deliver group and individual Phase 4 programs. Manage community partnerships and the annual assessment program.
$65,000–$100,000 per year
Compensation comparison — health and fitness professional roles
The market moment
The workforce gap is
real, urgent,
and growing.
The clinical case for exercise oncology has never been stronger. The ASCO mandate requires that all cancer patients be referred to structured exercise programming.[5] The NAPBC 2024 standard requires documented exercise recommendations for breast cancer patients.[18] The Commission on Cancer is advancing toward matching requirements across all 1,500+ accredited cancer programs.[21]
The professionals who certify today and build their clinical track records through the memios network will be the program directors, clinical leads, and specialty educators of tomorrow. First movers in a clinical specialty this well-evidenced do not lose their advantage.
memios is building the infrastructure. The question is whether you will be part of it.
2010
ACSM publishes first exercise guidelines for cancer survivors[2]
2019
ACSM updated guidelines synthesize 2,800+ clinical trials[1]
2022
ASCO formally mandates all cancer patients should be referred to exercise[5]
2024
NAPBC requires documented exercise recommendations for breast cancer patients[18]
Now
CMS national coverage determination for exercise oncology services pending[20,21]
Soon
Commission on Cancer expected to add exercise documentation requirements across 1,500+ accredited programs[21]
Professional voices
From people already
doing this work.
"
Before memios, I was a personal trainer who wanted to work with cancer patients but had no idea how to break into the clinical world. The CES certification gave me the credential. The platform gave me the tools. My first hospital placement gave me the career I had been looking for. I went from $38K to $72K in one year.
JR
Jamie R.
CES — Cancer Center, Chicago, IL
"
I have been a physical therapist for 12 years. Adding the CES credential through memios changed the depth of care I can offer. The platform tracks everything — FACIT-Fatigue scores, PROMIS outcomes, session adherence. I can see, in the data, exactly how much difference I am making.
TC
Tanya C., PT, DPT, CES
Oncology Physical Therapist — Seattle, WA
"
The telehealth model changed everything for me. I live in a rural area, but I serve patients at three different hospital clients via memios. I have more patients, higher income, and more flexibility than I ever had in a gym or studio setting. And every session matters in a way that a fitness class simply does not.
MS
Marcus S.
Telehealth CES — memios Network
What memios gives you
Everything you need to build
a career that lasts.
A nationally recognized credential from CETI
The CES certification is recognized by hospital oncology programs, ASCO-aligned workflows, and cancer care accreditation bodies. Required by NAPBC 2024 standards[18] and aligned with ASCO guidelines.[5]
Direct access to hospital placement opportunities
The memios placement portal lists active roles at hospital clients nationwide — with role details, contract rates, delivery modalities, patient population profiles, and direct application to the hiring program.
Clinical platform that handles the administrative work
Exercise prescription builder, validated outcomes tracking (FACIT-Fatigue,[6] PROMIS,[10] PHQ-9[9]), telehealth sessions, and EHR integration. You spend your energy on patient care, not paperwork.
Telehealth delivery that multiplies your reach
Serve patients at multiple hospital clients without leaving your home. The 162 US cities with no local exercise oncology program[12] are your opportunity. Telehealth achieves 80%+ patient retention even in remote populations.[16]
Specialty add-on certifications that increase your value
Prehabilitation Specialist, Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation (CPT 93797-93799),[8] and Holistic Wellness Coach tracks give you a competitive edge for higher-level roles.
A national professional community you can lean on
Case consultations with experienced CES peers. Clinical Q&A with oncology advisors. Regular professional development. Access to emerging research — including the 2025 Adsul et al. implementation science framework.[21]
Outcomes data that proves your impact
The memios platform tracks your patient outcomes using validated clinical measures — FACIT-Fatigue,[6] PROMIS,[10] PHQ-9.[9] You can see, in data, exactly how much difference you are making in the lives of the patients you serve.
Compensation that reflects clinical-level work
Hospital-based and telehealth CES roles pay $55,000–$95,000 per year — significantly above the income ceiling of traditional fitness roles. Leadership, specialty, and program director tracks extend further.
Questions
What you probably
want to know.
Do I need a clinical background to pursue the CES certification?
No. The CES certification pathway is designed for fitness professionals — personal trainers, group fitness instructors, strength coaches — as well as healthcare professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists, and registered nurses. The CETI curriculum teaches you cancer pathophysiology, treatment protocols, and clinical exercise prescription from the ground up, grounded in the ACSM 2019 guidelines[1] and ACS survivor recommendations.[7]
How long does the certification take?
The CETI CES foundation course is self-paced and can typically be completed in four to eight weeks depending on your schedule and prior background. The certification examination is taken online after completing the course. memios platform onboarding follows within two to three weeks of exam passage. Most candidates go from enrollment to active clinical practice within 60 to 90 days.
What does placement through the memios network look like?
Certified memios CES professionals gain access to the placement portal, which lists active roles at hospital clients across the memios network. Roles are listed with detail on patient population, delivery modality, contract type, compensation range, and program size. The demand is driven in part by ASCO guidelines requiring exercise referrals for all cancer patients[5] and NAPBC 2024 compliance requirements.[18] Some roles are exclusive to the memios network and not posted publicly.
Can I work as a telehealth CES from anywhere?
Yes, with two important considerations. First, telehealth practice is subject to state professional licensure laws, which vary — memios provides guidance on multi-state practice requirements for each available role. Second, you will need a reliable internet connection and a private space for video sessions. Telehealth delivery achieves 80%+ patient retention in rural and remote populations,[16] and the 162 US cities with no local exercise oncology program[12] represent your primary opportunity.
How is this different from working at a cancer center without memios?
Without memios, you would likely have fragmented tools — paper documentation, disconnected scheduling, no standardized outcomes measurement, and limited EHR integration. With memios, you have a complete clinical platform, validated outcomes tracking (FACIT-Fatigue,[6] PROMIS,[10] PHQ-9[9]), a national professional community, standardized evidence-based protocols, and documentation that satisfies NAPBC[18] and ASCO[5] compliance requirements automatically.
Your expertise can change survival.
The credential, the platform, the placement, and the community are here. The only question is when you decide to step into the fastest-growing clinical specialty in health and fitness.
Research References
All statistics and clinical claims on this page are grounded in peer-reviewed research. Numbers in brackets correspond to citations used throughout the page. Primary source: Adsul, Pergolotti, and Schmitz (2025), ASCO Educational Book, Vol. 45, Issue 3, e472854.
1
Campbell KL, Winters-Stone K, Wiskemann J, et al. Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: consensus statement from international multidisciplinary roundtable. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019;51:2375–2390. (2,800+ RCT evidence base; updated ACSM guidelines.)
2
Schmitz KH, Courneya KS, Matthews C, et al. American College of Sports Medicine roundtable on exercise guidelines for cancer survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;42:1409–1426. (First published ACSM guidelines for cancer survivors; 2010 foundation of the field.)
3
Ligibel JA, Pierce LJ, Bender CM, et al. Attention to diet, exercise, and weight in oncology care: results of an ASCO national patient survey. Cancer. 2022;128:2817–2825. (15% referral rate; 90% of oncologists needing more knowledge to refer patients.)
4
American Cancer Society. Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Facts and Figures 2022–2024. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2022. (18 million cancer survivors; 2 million+ new annual diagnoses.)
5
Ligibel JA, Bohlke K, May AM, et al. Exercise, diet, and weight management during cancer treatment: ASCO guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40:2491–2507. (ASCO formal mandate that all cancer patients should be referred to exercise programming.)
6
Campbell KL et al. (ACSM 2019) and FACIT-Fatigue meta-analyses. Up to 50% reduction in cancer-related fatigue severity. Exercise outperforms all pharmaceutical interventions for cancer-related fatigue. Best-evidenced intervention for chemobrain.
7
Rock CL, Thomson CA, Sullivan KR, et al. American Cancer Society nutrition and physical activity guideline for cancer survivors. CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72:230–262. (Resistance training preserves lean body mass; prevents sarcopenia; nutrition guidelines for cancer survivors.)
8
Gilchrist SC, Barac A, Ades PA, et al. Cardio-oncology rehabilitation to manage cardiovascular outcomes in cancer patients and survivors. Circulation. 2019;139:e997–e1012. (CORE model; cardiotoxic treatment; cardiac rehab CPT 93797-93799.)
9
Campbell KL et al. (ACSM 2019) and PHQ-9/GAD-7 outcomes across exercise oncology RCTs. Exercise reduces depression and anxiety in cancer patients with effectiveness comparable to pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions.
10
Ligibel JA et al. (ASCO 2022) and FACT-G / PROMIS Global Health meta-analyses. Exercise consistently improves patient-reported quality of life across all cancer types and all treatment phases studied.
11
Rock CL et al. (ACS 2022). Post-diagnosis physical activity linked to 31% reduced cancer-specific mortality, 22% reduced recurrence risk, and 45% reduced all-cause mortality in breast cancer meta-analysis. Similar associations for colorectal and prostate cancer.
12
Schmitz KH, Demanelis K, Crisafio ME, et al. Proximity to cancer rehabilitation and exercise oncology by geography, race, and socioeconomic status. Cancer. 2025;131:e35515. (162 US cities of 50,000+ with no exercise oncology program; systematic access disparities.)
13
Viamonte SG, Joaquim AV, Alves AJ, et al. Cardio-oncology rehabilitation for cancer survivors with high cardiovascular risk: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Cardiol. 2023;8:1119–1128. (Significant improvement in peak VO2 and quality of life in cardiac rehab RCT.)
14
Giri S, Al-Obaidi M, Weaver A, et al. Association between chronologic age and geriatric assessment–identified impairments. J Natl Compr Cancer Netw. 2021;19:922–927. (Geriatric assessment impairments; muscle mass and physical function as prognosis predictors.)
15
Stout NL, Brown JC, Schwartz AL, et al. An exercise oncology clinical pathway: screening and referral for personalized interventions. Cancer. 2020;126:2750–2758. (Prehabilitation: ~32% readmission reduction; 1.5–2 day LOS reduction; reduced post-operative complications.)
16
Winters-Stone KM, Boisvert C, Li F, et al. Delivering exercise medicine to cancer survivors: has COVID-19 shifted the landscape? Support Care Cancer. 2022;30:1903–1906. (EXCEL study: telehealth delivery; 75%+ self-referral; 80%+ retention in rural/remote populations.)
17
Brennan L, Sheill G, Collier S, et al. Personalised exercise rehabilitation in cancer survivorship: the PERCS triage and referral system study protocol. BMC Cancer. 2024;24:517. (PERCS model; post-procedure rehabilitation protocols; improved adherence and functional outcomes.)
18
National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). Optimal Resources for Breast Care 2024 Standards. American College of Surgeons, 2025. (Documented exercise recommendation required for all eligible breast cancer patients — effective January 2024.)
19
Schmitz KH, Chongaway A, Saeed A, et al. An initiative to implement a triage and referral system to make exercise and rehabilitation referrals standard of care in oncology. Support Care Cancer. 2024;32:259. (UPMC Hillman Cancer Center EXCEEDS model: 45% patient connection rate using 3–5 minutes of staff time.)
20
Kennedy MA, Potiaumpai M, Maitin-Shepard M, et al. Looking back: a review of policy implications for exercise oncology. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2023:140–148. (Policy review: reimbursement pathway analysis; CMS NCD pathway for exercise oncology services.)
21
Adsul P, Pergolotti M, Schmitz KH. Implementation science as the secret sauce for integrating exercise screening and triage pathways in oncology. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2025;45:e472854. (Primary synthesis: EPIS, CFIR, RE-AIM, ERIC, CaReR frameworks; EXCEEDS, PERCS, CORE, CREST, PGA triage models; CMS NCD update; full implementation science review.)