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Preparing for the ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist Certification

ACSM offers a variety of ways to prepare for the Certified Health Fitness Specialist Certification exam, including recommended study materials and workshops. While we recommend you use our study materials and attend an exam preparation workshop, how you choose to prepare is up to you. If you have any questions about preparing for the ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist Certification exam after reviewing this information and our Get Certified Guide, feel free to contact us at 1-800-486-5643.

Recommended Study Materials

The following textbooks are recommended to prepare you for the ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist  certification.

New Textbooks!  For Certification Exam Transition Information and FAQ's, Click Here.

• ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription,  8th edition
  
• ACSM's Certification Review, 3rdnd edition 
  
• ACSM's Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 6th edition
  
• We also offer a Study Packet of all 3 Core Study Materials 

You may purchase these study materials online through our publishing partner Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at www.lww.com or by calling 1-800-486-5643.

Or, for a complete listing of all ACSM Study Materials, Click Here

Exam Preparation Workshop

The ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist Two-Day Workshop is a blend of classroom lecture and hands-on practicum designed to help prepare you for the certification exam.   The workshop includes a high level review of exercise physiology, risk stratification, exercise programming, fitness assessments and techniques, a review of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) of the Certified Health Fitness Specialist, and a forum for the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.

If you choose to attend the workshop, you will benefit by having prior experience in the following:

• Competence in monitoring heart rate (HR) both at rest and during exercise.
  
• Competence in monitoring blood pressure (BP) both at rest and during exercise. BP training sessions are typically available from the local chapter of the American Heart Association.
  
• Experience in leading an exercise class.
  
• Basic counseling skills.
  
• Knowledge of functional anatomy and exercise physiology.

Click here to view the ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist Workshop Topics

Please click here to see workshop dates, locations and to register.