FAQ - About ACSM

ACSM isn‘t what comes to mind when you think of a traditional college. The organization is worldwide membership association (like the college of surgeons) of more than 50,000 professionals in the sports medicine and exercise science fields. ACSM doesn't have a campus or student body, and you can‘t get a degree from ACSM. Rather, the the organization is a college in the sense that the members and certified professionals are a community of professionals who share a common purpose – the purpose of advancing health through science, education and medicine.

There are many outstanding sports medicine and exercise science programs offered worldwide. To help you find a good fit, ACSM offers an online Degree Guide where you can search for programs throughout the U.S.

Our membership can be broken down into four primary categories. As of December 2016, our membership was:

• 25% Basic and Applied Science (generally researchers with Ph.D.s)
• 29% Alliance (mostly health and fitness professionals, like personal trainers or exercise physiologists)
• 16% Medicine (mostly M.D.s)
• 30% Education and Allied Health (can range from a professor at a college to a public health professional

There are volunteer opportunities listed on the ACSM website. Additionally, you could join one of ACSM‘s Interest Groups. Interest Groups were formed to provide an additional forum for focused discussion, activity, debate and both formal and informal networking among members with similar interests in selected areas. View a list of interest groups.

Absolutely! You can broadly reach ACSM members, qualified candidates for your position, by posting an employment ad on the ACSM Career Center at http://careers.acsm.org.

Please visit our ACSM Leadership information page. 

Yes! ACSM‘s Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines will tell you all you need to know to run your facility. This book is an essential resource in guiding the staff to establish and maintain an exceptional standard of operation, client care, and service. 

The U.S. Department of Labor‘s Bureau of Labor Statistics department can give you wage estimates for many different professions. Visit their Occupational Employment Statistics page from May 2009 for wage estimates in your field.

ACSM's list rental is managed through MGI Lists. Candy Brecht is our sales representative and can be reached at 703-706-0383 or via e-mail at  CBrecht@mgilists.com.  Candy can provide list rental options and pricing.  MGI Lists also has a website at www.mgilists.com.

ACSM wishes to acknowledge deceased members in our e-news magazine: Sports Medicine Bulletin. If you are aware of the passing of an ACSM member, please email the ACSM Membership and Chapter Services Department or send notification by mail to 401 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46202. Please be sure to include the member's full name and date of death.