Lead the Way with ACSM Certifications

General Information:

This information is designed to help qualified individuals prepare and apply for ACSM credentialing programs. All policies and procedures outlined here, as well as in the current ACSM Certification Resource Guide, apply to all candidates, in both the United States and internationally. Additionally, a PDF file of the CCRB Candidate Handbook containing the complete set of these supplemental policies and procedures is available. It is the candidate’s responsibility to become familiar with all policies and procedures regarding ACSM certifications prior to sitting for any ACSM exam.

Health Fitness Certifications:

The ACSM Certified Personal Trainer^SM is designed for a fitness professional involved in developing and implementing an individualized approach to exercise leadership in healthy populations and/or those individuals with medical clearance to exercise.
The ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor^®  is designed primarily for leaders of preventive health programs in corporate, commercial, and community settings aimed at low- to moderate- risk individuals or persons with controlled diseases, such as hypertension, obesity or asthma.

Clinical Certifications:

The ACSM Exercise Specialist^® certification for professionals performing exercise testing and training clients with cardiovascular, pulmonary or metabolic diseases. ACSM Exercise Specialists^® are competent in graded exercise testing and exercise prescription, performing emergency procedures, and providing health and fitness counseling for patients in clinical settings.
The ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist^® provides exercise management for patients with a broad spectrum of chronic diseases or disabilities. This national registry for clinical exercise physiologists catalogues allied health professionals who work in the preventive or rehabilitative application of exercise and physical activity for populations where exercise has been shown to provide a therapeutic or functional benefit.

Determining the Best Certification for you:

It is recommended that the candidate interested in becoming certified initially determine which certification level is appropriate for his/her skills and goals by reviewing the minimum requirements and recommended competencies and decide which level they qualify for. The next step is to review the recommended study tools listed for the specific certification level.