Policies & Procedures

Appeals regarding candidate disputes or disciplinary decisions by the CCRB Ethics and Professional Conduct subcommittee, based on perceived lack of due process, may be appealed to the CCRB EC. An appeal to the CCRB EC must be made in writing signed by the appellant, addressed to the CCRB EC and received within 30 days of the date of a decision by the CCRB Ethics and Professional Conduct subcommittee. The written appeal must identify the precise factual basis, applicable rules or circumstances that are the basis for the appeal. The CCRB Ethics and Professional Conduct subcommittee shall maintain a record of all appeals, take appropriate action regarding the appeal in a timely manner, and document the actions taken. The ACSM CCRB EC may report on the status and outcome of appeals only according to the confidentiality policies. All appeals should be reviewed for possible corrective actions within the Operating Guidelines and Operating Policies.

The organization for the appeal consideration will be an ad hoc committee of the CCRB EC activated to consider appeals as an Appeals Panel, hereafter referred to as the CCRB Ethics Appeal Panel. The CCRB Ethics Appeal Panel will examine the request and the circumstances of the appellant's claim, review the decision as rendered by the CCRB Ethics and Professional Conduct subcommittee and verify that all measures of due process have been met by the appellant and the CCRB Ethics and Professional Conduct subcommittee. The CCRB Ethics Appeal Panel must operate under conditions of confidentiality, and manage all appeals so as resolution is done in an efficient and timely manner generally within 30-45 days of the initiation of the appeal. All decisions by the CCRB Ethics Appeal Panel are final. The CCRB Ethics Appeal Panel will consist of three members appointed by the Chair of CCRB with the National Director of Certification and Registry Programs serving as Secretary in a non-voting capacity. Any member of the CCRB Ethics Appeal Panel with a potential conflict of interest must recuse themselves from a specific appeal where a conflict is apparent. The Chair will then appoint an alternate to the CCRB Ethics Appeal Panel.

All candidates who successfully complete an ACSM certification exam are subject to an audit to confirm their eligibility. ACSM audits a minimum of 15% of candidates every year. Candidates can expect to be audited in the month following their examination.

ACSM will contact the candidate with notification of the audit and the appropriate steps to complete the necessary documentation to prove eligibility. All documentation is due within 30 days of the request by ACSM.

If the eligibility requirements include an academic degree, the candidate will need to provide an official transcript. If the eligibility requirements include hours of experience, a form will be provided by ACSM to be completed by the candidate and a letter by the candidate's supervisor verifying the experience will need to be submitted as part of the verification process.

ACSM will contact the audited candidate by email, therefore it is imperative that candidates keep their address and contact information updated with ACSM. Once the audit is complete and eligibility confirmed, ACSM will mail a certification packet to the newly certified professional.

ACSM reserves the right to revoke the credential of any individual that cannot verify their eligibility as part of the ACSM audit verification process.

For professionals renewing an ACSM certification View the random CEC auditing process

F.1 PURPOSE

This Code of Ethics is intended to aid all certified and registered American College of Sports Medicine Credentialed Professionals (ACSMCP) to establish and maintain a high level of ethical conduct, as defined by standards by which an ACSMCP may determine the appropriateness of his or her conduct. Any existing professional, licensure or certification affiliations that ACSMCPs have with governmental, local, state or national agencies or organizations will take precedence relative to any disciplinary matters that pertain to practice or professional conduct.
This Code applies to all ACMCP's, regardless of ACSM membership status (to include members and non-members. Any cases in violation of this Code will be referred to the ACSM CCRB Executive Council and the CCRB Ethics subcommittee, and if appropriate the ACSM Committee on Ethics and Professional Conduct as well.

F.2 PRINCIPLES and STANDARDS

Responsibility to the Public

ACSMCPs shall be dedicated to providing competent and legally permissible services within the scope of the Knowledge and Skills (KSs) of their respective credential. These services shall be provided with integrity, competence, diligence, and compassion.

ACSMCPs provide exercise information in a manner that is consistent with evidence-based science and medicine.

ACSMCPs respect the rights of clients, colleagues, and health professionals, and shall safeguard client confidences within the boundaries of the law.

Information relating to the ACSMCP/client relationship is confidential and may not be communicated to a third party not involved in that client's care without the prior written consent of the client or as required by law.

ACSMCPs are truthful about their qualifications and the limitations of their expertise and provide services consistent with their competencies.

Responsibility to the Profession

ACSMCPs maintain high professional standards. As such, an ACSMCP should never represent him/herself, either directly or indirectly, as anything other than an ACSMCP unless he/she holds other license/certification that allows him/her to do so.

ACSMCPs practice within the scope of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. ACSMCPs will not provide services that are limited by state law to provision by another health care professional only.
An ACSMCP must remain in good standing relative to governmental requirements as a condition of continued Credentialing.

ACSMCPs take credit, including authorship, only for work they have actually performed and give credit to the contributions of others as warranted.

Consistent with the requirements of their certification or registration, ACSMCPs must complete approved, additional educational course work aimed at maintaining and advancing their knowledge and skills.

F.3 PRINCIPLES and STANDARDS FOR CANDIDATES OF THE CERTIFICATION EXAM

Candidates applying for a Credentialing examination must comply with all eligibility requirements and to the best of their abilities, accurately complete the application process. In addition, the candidate must refrain from any and all behavior that could be interpreted as "irregular" (please refer to the policy on irregular behavior).

F.4 DISCIPLINE

Any ACSMCP may be disciplined or lose their certification or registry status for conduct which, in the opinion of the Executive Committee of the ACSM Committee on Certification and Registry Boards, goes against the principles set forth in this Code. Such cases will be reviewed by the ACSM CCRB Ethics subcommittee, which may include a liaison from the ACSM Committee on Ethics and Professional Conduct, as needed, based on the ACSM membership status of the ACSMCP. The ACSM Ethics subcommittee will make an action recommendation to the ACSM Committee on Certification and Registry Boards Executive Council for final review and approval.

Code of Ethics
APPROVED by the CCRB Executive Council, May, 2005
APPROVED by the ACSM Board of Trustees, June, 2005   

The American College of Sports Medicine strives to comply with all applicable federal and state laws. It does not knowingly violate such laws in its employment activities, membership policies, membership programs, educational activities, honor programs, certification matters, or program funding, nor knowingly discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual preference, military status, age, national or ethnic origin, disability or handicap. ACSM attempts to make its programs equally accessible to all persons regardless of disability.

Requests for special accommodations for a credentialing exam can be made by emailing certification@acsm.org.   

Any ACSM Certified Professionals may disclose their affiliation with ACSM Certification in any context, oral or documented, provided it is currently accurate. ACSM certificants may not imply ACSM endorsement unless expressively authorized by the College. Disclosure of affiliation in connection with a commercial venture may be made provided the disclosure is made in a professionally dignified manner, is not false, misleading or deceptive, and does not imply licensure or the attainment of specialty or diploma status. ACSM certified professionals may disclose their credential status.

ACSM certified professionals may list their ACSM certification on business cards without prior authorization; see table below. ACSM certificated professionals and the institutions employing an ACSM certificants may inform the public of an affiliation as a matter of public discourse or presentation.

 ACSM Certification Names and Acronyms (adopted by CCRB EC June-2017)