EIM Credential Eligibility

The Exercise is Medicine^® Credential contains three (3) levels, designed to serve clients and patients depending upon their health status. The eligibility requirements for the three credential levels vary, based on the following:

• Your current fitness professional certification must be an NCCA or ANSI/ISO 17024-accredited certification. See a list of NCCA-accredited organizations here, and the list of ANSI/ISO 17024-accredited organizations here.ex

• The level of your current NCCA or ANSI/ISO-accredited certification and your education level determine the EIM credential level you can obtain. Those with bachelor's or master's degrees in Exercise Science qualify for higher level credentials.

Level 1

• Patient Population: Individuals at low or moderate risk who have been cleared for independent exercise.

• Credential Requirements:

  • NCCA or ANSI/ISO-accredited fitness professional certification

  • Successful completion of the EIM credential online course and examination 

Level 1 Exemption:

To be exempt from the online course and exam, you must answer YES to both of the following:

• I have a bachelor's degree or higher in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology or Kinesiology.

• I have a current NCCA or ANSI/ISO-accredited fitness certification.

Level 2

• Patient Population: Individuals at low, moderate or high risk who have been cleared for independent exercise.

• Credential Requirements:

  • Approved BS/BA in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology or Kinesiology

  • NCCA or ANSI/ISO-accredited fitness professional certification

  • Successful completion of the EIM credential online course and examination

Level 2 Exemption:

To be exempt from the online course and exam, you must answer YES to both of the following:

• I have a bachelor's degree or higher in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology or Kinesiology.

• I have a current NCCA or ANSI/ISO-accredited certification with an emphasis on special populations (ACSM EP, ACSM CEP, ACE Medical Exercise Specialist).

Level 3

• Patient Population: Individuals at low, moderate or high risk including those requiring clinical monitoring

• Credential Requirements:

  • Approved MS/MA in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology or Kinesiology OR approved BS/BA in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology or Kinesiology with 4,000 hours of experience in a clinical exercise setting

  • NCCA or ANSI/ISO-accredited clinical exercise certification (ACSM CEP) 

• To obtain your Level 3 EIM Credential you must fill out the EIM exemption application form.

 

Claim My Exemption and Earn the EIM Credential

Those who are exempt from the EIM course and exam must complete this application and submit with payment. Be sure to include your degree name and college or university attended. You may be required to submit transcripts and certificates from other certification organizations to ensure all exemption requirements are met.

Take the EIM online course to earn the EIM Credential.

If it's required that you take the EIM online course to earn the EIM Credential, complete the course, pass the online final exam and you will be directed to submit an application form to ACSM. You may be required to submit diplomas, transcripts or certificates from other certification organizations to en sure all credential requirements are met. Take the EIM online course.