ACSM-CEP Certification 

The transition to one clinical certification will occur over the course of 5-6 months. Please take note when ACSM will stop administering the CEP and RCEP certifications, and when the application process for the new ACSM-CEP certification begins:

 

Clinical Exercise Physiologist 2018-19 Timeline:

• Sep 1, 2018: ACSM stops taking RCEP applications
• Sep 3, 2018: ACSM-CEP applications available
• Oct 31, 2018: final day of RCEP and CEP administrations
• Nov 1 - Dec 2, 2017: CEP, RCEP administrative blackout
• Dec 3 - 31, 2018: *ACSM-CEP operational beta available
• Jan 1 - Feb 28, 2019: standard setting, psychometric analyses, and final scoring
• Mar 1, 2019: *beta scores released and instant scoring available

Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology or equivalent and 600 hours of hands-on, clinical experience

Or

Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, or equivalent and 1,200 hours of hands-on, clinical experience.

Download the full list of CEP Qualification Criteria HERE

* "Table 3. Recommended distribution of clinical experience" provides an approximate % weighting

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science (Exercise Physiology or equivalent) and 1,200 hours of hands-on, clinical experience may apply to take the exam. ACSM-CEP application forms will be available November 1, 2017.

 

Those who do not meet the new minimum requirement for the ACSM-CEP, may consider taking the CEP prior to October 31, 2018. Current eligibility requirements can be found here.

Those with a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology or equivalent and 600 hours of hands-on, clinical experience may apply to take the exam. ACSM-CEP application forms will be available November 1, 2017.

Those who do not meet the new minimum requirement for the ACSM-CEP, may consider taking the CEP prior to October 31, 2018. Current eligibility requirements can be found here.

ACSM and the Clinical Exercise Physiology Association (CEPA) will co-develop a formal Registry of Clinical Exercise Physiologists. The aim of the Registry is to not only emphasize the value ACSM-CEPs bring to healthcare teams, but to highlight those individuals in the registry who have achieved a standard of excellence beyond entry level certification. CEPA is currently developing the Registry entrance requirements and will announce provide announcements on their website. 

The ACSM-CEP content domains will include:

Domain I. Patient Assessment

Domain II. Exercise Testing

Domain III. Exercise Prescription

Domain IV. Exercise Training and Leadership

Domain V. Education and Behavior Change

Domain VI. Legal and Professional Considerations Responsibilities

Download the Full Content Outline and Job Task Analysis

No. Clinical certificants in good standing will not need to retake their clinical exams or provide additional documentation. Certificants will be automatically migrated to the ACSM-CEP program, and certification numbers, login information, and CEC history will remain intact. In addition, ACSM will reissue and mail hard-copy credentials to the address we have on file for you.

Yes. All the RCEP CECs, assuming they are consistent with your scope of practice, will count toward your ACSM-CEP.

“ACSM-CEP” is the most appropriate to use on your resume and acronym after your name.

Clinical certificants (RCEP and CEP) in good standing will not need to retake their clinical exams or provide additional documentation. Certificants will be automatically migrated to the ACSM-CEP program, and certification numbers, login information, and CEC history will remain intact.