ACSM Endorses Statement on Recertification and Continuing Education
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ACSM Endorses Statement on Recertification and Continuing Education

Aug. 20, 2024

ACSM endorses Health & Fitness Journal statement on recertification and continuing education. In July, ACSM endorsed a new publication in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal titled “Update on Recertification and Continuing Education Credit Provider Policy.” The article provides an overview of how the ACSM Committee on Certification and Registry Boards (CCRB) and its Continuing Professional Education (CCRB-CPE) subcommittee’s recertifications and continuing education are fully aligned with National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) standards and recommendations. The main objectives in the statement include: 

  1. Understanding the procedures associated with ACSM recertification and categories of continuing education credits (CECs) that apply to recertification. 

  1. Current procedures for certification renewal and maintenance of the four primary ACSM certification programs 

  • ACSM Group Exercise Instructor® (ACSM-GEI)
  • ACSM Certified Personal Trainer® (ACSM-CPT)
  • ACSM Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-EP)
  • ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-CEP) 
  1. Policy discussion for continuing education providers that is considered acceptable and within the competencies of each certification program. 

 ACSM Associate Vice President of Certification and Credentialing Francis Neric states “the ACSM CCRB Executive Council (CCRB EC) expanded its mission in 2023 to ‘advance the credibility and integrity of ACSM certified professionals through careerlong development with evidence-based practices to benefit all.’ As such, the CCRB EC charged its Continuing Professional Education Committee to develop a guidance document to ensure continuing professional development providers (e.g., conferences, correspondence courses) align directly with the competencies of ACSM certified professionals. In addition, the CCRB EC envisions using the recertification policy as a self-assessment tool for ACSM exercise professionals to identify gaps in knowledge and skill and identify opportunities to maintain professional competency over time.” 

Additional content covered in the statement includes the CCRB-CPE’s review of the job task analyses associated with each of the ACSM certification programs and common categories that current and future continuing education programming can be assigned to in helping continuing education providers steer programming to become an approved provider for CECs. A new coding system developed by the CCRB-CPE will also allow for ACSM to develop metrics on the number of CEC programs currently available for each category and domain of the certification program that is targeted by the education provider course. This coding system also can be used to determine areas of need for programming that can result in requests for program content with providers. The coding system has been implemented in ACSM’s CEC Application and CCRB-CPE Application Review Rubric. 

Information on ACSM’s recertification policy and current CEC opportunities was also developed and provided to help ensure programming is consistent with the continuing education definition via the CCRB’s employer advisory council internal taskforce. The advisory council is charged with informing the CCRB EC of the latest developments in the health fitness industry and suggests potential knowledge and skills that will equip certified professionals with the ability to competently navigate the evolving landscape. The CCRB updates and oversight are meant to provide all certified professionals with the information and recertification education to maintain all ACSM certification(s). 

The paper was endorsed by the ACSM Pronouncement Committee and the ACSM Administrative Council and Board of Trustees. Authors include Paul M. Gallo, Ed.D., FACSM, ATC, ACSM-CEP, ACSM-EP, ACSM-GEI; Becky Langton, M.A., ACSM-EP, ACSM-GEI; Meir Magal, Ph.D., FACSM, ACSM-CEP; Rachelle Reed, Ph.D., ACSM-EP; James W. Whitworth, Ph.D., ACSM-CPT; and Francis Neric, M.S., MBA. For more information about this article, please contact CCRB CPE Chair (2023-6 term) Rachelle Reed at acitelli.rachelle@gmail.com or ACSM Associate Vice President of Certification and Credentialing Francis Neric at fneric@acsm.org

The paper was published in the July issue of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal. View the article and learn about the competencies and continuing education requirements and opportunities for each ACSM certification.