Professional Certification

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Professional Certification
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Certification

• Professional organizations such as the American
  College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) have increased
  public awareness about all aspects of exercise
  and fitness, including the importance of dealing
  with highly trained and qualified exercise
  professionals.

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Certification

• Professional certification and licensure are two
  ways to ensure the competency of professionals in
  the field of exercise science.

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Certification

• Although many professional organizations offer
  certification programs for exercise
  professionals, Louisiana was the first state in
  the US to pass a law requiring licensure of all
  clinical exercise physiologists.

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Certification

• This requirement places clinical exercise
  physiologists on par with other health
  professionals (e.g., nurses, nutritionists,
  physical therapists, and occupational therapists)
  who are required to have licenses to practice in
  many states.

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Certification

• In the future, it is possible that other states
  will pass legislation requiring licensure of
  exercise professionals.

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Certification

• A number of professional organizations (e.g.,
  ACSM, NSCA, ACE and YMCA) offer certification
  workshops and examinations for health/fitness
  instructors, exercise leaders, personal trainers,
  and health/fitness directors working with healthy
  populations.

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Certification

• Clinical-track workshops and certifications are
  also available for exercise specialists, exercise
  technologists, and program directors who are
  working with higher-risk individuals enrolled in
  exercise rehabilitation programs.

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Certification Requirements

• Some require a degree in exercise science, or a
  closely allied field, as well as experience
  working in health/fitness or clinical settings.

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Certification

• Career goals dictate which type of professional
  certification is best.

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Certification

• Advantages to obtaining licensure or professional
  certification
• Better chance of finding a job
• Credibility
• Standardized knowledge

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Certification

• Certification by reputable, professional
  organizations upgrades the quality of the typical
  person working in the field and ensures employers
  and their clientele that employees have mastered
  the knowledge and skills necessary to be
  competent exercise science professionals

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Certification

• Hence, the likelihood of lawsuits resulting from
  negligence or incompetence may be lessened.

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Certification

• Certification and licensure help to validate
  exercise specialists as health professionals who
  are equally deserving of the respect afforded to
  professionals in other allied health professions.

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Certification

• ACSM
• http//www.acsm.org/certification

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Certification

• NSCA
• http//www.nsca.com/certification/

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Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Association (CSCCa)

• http//www.cscca.org/certification
• Strength Conditioning Coach Certified
• The most comprehensive certification of its kind
  and the most specific to the field of strength
  and conditioning coaching, the SCCC (Strength and
  Conditioning Coach Certified) certification
  identifies individuals who possess the knowledge,
  skills, techniques, and expertise necessary to be
  an effective strength and conditioning coach on
  the collegiate and professional level.

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Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Association (CSCCa)

• Master Strength Conditioning Coach
• The highest honor that can be achieved as a
  strength and conditioning coach--representing
  professionalism, knowledge, experience,
  expertise, as well as longevity in the field.

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Certification

• National Academy of Sports Medicine
• http//www.nasm.org/fitness-specializations/perfor
  mance-enhancement-specialist-(pes)
• Performance Enhancement Certification
• Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES)

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American Council on Exercise(ACE)

• Personal Trainer Certification The American
  Council on Exercise's acclaimed Personal Trainer
  Certification is designed for fitness trainers
  providing any form of one-on-one or small-group
  fitness instruction.

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American Council on Exercise(ACE)

• Advanced Health Fitness Specialist
  Certification This certification prepares the
  advanced professional to provide in-depth
  preventative and post-rehabilitative fitness
  programming that addresses common diseases and
  disorders seen on a daily basis
• (e.g., cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2
  diabetes and musculoskeletal ailments).

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American Council on Exercise(ACE)

• Group Fitness Instructor Certification The ACE
  Group Fitness Instructor Certification is
  designed for fitness professionals teaching any
  form of exercise in a group setting. Passing the
  ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification Exam
  demonstrates to your class participants that you
  possess a foundation of knowledge and skills
  necessary to teach a safe and effective group
  fitness class, no matter what type of modality.

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American Council on Exercise(ACE)

• Lifestyle Weight Management Consultant
  Certification Your clients want to lose weight.
  They come to you for help. The Lifestyle Weight
  Management Consultant Certification demonstrates
  to your clients that you have the knowledge to
  develop sound, balanced weight management
  programs that bring together the three critical
  components of long-term weight management
  success nutrition, exercise and lifestyle change

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Web sites

• Professional Organizations
• http//www.shapeamerica.org/
• http//www.acsm.org
• http//www.nsca-lift.org
• http//www.acefitness.org/getcertified/default.asp
  x

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Web sites

• Fitness and Exercise Sites
• http//www.fitnessworld.com
• http//www.sportsci.org
• http//www.quackwatch.com/