What is the RationaleWhat is the Rationalefor Getting Certified?for Getting Certified?

ProfessionallyProfessionally - To ensure within a - To ensure within a profession that: profession that: The standards are being maintained to The standards are being maintained to

guarantee safe and ethical practice.guarantee safe and ethical practice.

What is the RationaleWhat is the Rationalefor Getting Certified?for Getting Certified?

PublicPublic - It indicates that:- It indicates that: The person has mastered the expertise, The person has mastered the expertise,

advanced knowledge, skills, and / or proficiency advanced knowledge, skills, and / or proficiency necessary to practice in a particular area of necessary to practice in a particular area of specialty identified by an administering specialty identified by an administering organization. organization.

To ensure that the individual is To ensure that the individual is minimallyminimally competent to do their job.competent to do their job.

National Strength &National Strength &Conditioning AssociationConditioning Association

http://www.nsca-lift.org/

Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialists Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialists (CSCS)(CSCS)

Implements safe and effective conditioning and Implements safe and effective conditioning and strength programs for commercial or community strength programs for commercial or community health and fitness facilities; also colleges & health and fitness facilities; also colleges & universities.universities.

Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) *Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) * Designed for professionals who work one-on-one Designed for professionals who work one-on-one

with their clients in a variety of environmentswith their clients in a variety of environments* Does not require a college degree to sit for exam

Ergonomists CertificationsErgonomists Certificationshttp://humanics-es.com/bcpe.htm

Certified Professional Ergonomists (CPE)Certified Professional Ergonomists (CPE) Master’s Degree in ergonomics or equivalent life Master’s Degree in ergonomics or equivalent life

science or engineering sciencescience or engineering science 4 years of full time professional practice as an 4 years of full time professional practice as an

ergonomists practitionerergonomists practitioner

Certified Ergonomics Associate (CEA)Certified Ergonomics Associate (CEA)

Associate Ergonomics Professional (AEP)Associate Ergonomics Professional (AEP)

Professional ErgonomistProfessional Ergonomist

Studies the interaction between people and Studies the interaction between people and machines and investigate environmental machines and investigate environmental factors that affect workfactors that affect workDesign or redesign the workplace, social, or Design or redesign the workplace, social, or

physical work environmentphysical work environmentAssist engineers in designing systems and Assist engineers in designing systems and

machinesmachines Implement new programsImplement new programsRehabilitate and educateRehabilitate and educateEvaluate systemsEvaluate systems

Non-Professional CertificationsNon-Professional Certifications

Top OrganizationsTop Organizations

Professional TracksProfessional Tracks ACSMACSM

HFSHFS

ESES

RCEPRCEP

(cPT)(cPT)

NSCANSCACSCSCSCS

(CPT)(CPT)

NATANATAATCATC

Non-Professional Non-Professional TracksTracks AFAAAFAA ACEACE YMCAYMCA Cooper InstituteCooper Institute IDEAIDEA (ACSM – cPT only)(ACSM – cPT only)

Common Requirements of Common Requirements of Non -Professional CertificationsNon -Professional CertificationsA college degree is A college degree is NotNot always required always required

Current CPR CertificationCurrent CPR Certification

MostMost will require CEUs will require CEUs

All will cost money to sit for the examsAll will cost money to sit for the exams

SomeSome will have prerequisites to sit for the exam will have prerequisites to sit for the exam

Some certifications will hold workshopsSome certifications will hold workshops

Many exams have multiple parts:Many exams have multiple parts: Written Written PracticalPractical

NonNon-Professional-ProfessionalFitness CertificationsFitness Certifications

Aerobics & Fitness Assoc. of America (AFAA)Aerobics & Fitness Assoc. of America (AFAA)

American Council on Exercise (ACE)American Council on Exercise (ACE)

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

YMCAYMCA

Cooper Institute for Aerobics ResearchCooper Institute for Aerobics Research

Aerobics & Fitness Association Aerobics & Fitness Association of America of America

Certification typesCertification types Primary Aerobic Instructor CertificationPrimary Aerobic Instructor Certification Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor CertificationPersonal Trainer/Fitness Counselor Certification Step CertificationStep Certification Weight Training CertificationWeight Training Certification Fitness Practitioner Certification (see next slide)*Fitness Practitioner Certification (see next slide)*

All RequireAll Require Either previous AFAA certification or degree in Either previous AFAA certification or degree in

exercise scienceexercise science CEU’s every 2 yearsCEU’s every 2 years

AFAA RequirementsAFAA Requirementshttp://www.afaa.com/

Fitness Practitioner also requires:Fitness Practitioner also requires:

4 year college degree4 year college degreeLiability insuranceLiability insuranceRecord of workshop attendanceRecord of workshop attendanceHome-study course Home-study course Pass 2 case studies Pass 2 case studies

AAmerican Council on Exercisemerican Council on Exercise http://www.acefitness.org/

Certification typesCertification typesPersonal Trainer CertificationPersonal Trainer CertificationGroup Fitness Instructor CertificationGroup Fitness Instructor CertificationLifestyle and Weight Management Lifestyle and Weight Management

Consultant CertificationConsultant Certification

CEU’s every 2 yearsCEU’s every 2 years

ACSM Certified Personal TrainerACSM Certified Personal Trainerhttp://www.lww.com/acsmcrc/

New as of Jan 2005New as of Jan 2005

Minimum of 18 years oldMinimum of 18 years old

HS diplomaHS diploma

45 CEU’s every 3 years45 CEU’s every 3 years

YMCAYMCAhttp://www.educom.on.ca/ymca-ywca/education.htm

Certification TypesCertification TypesCertifications working with older adultsCertifications working with older adultsLifeguard and Special Populations InstructorLifeguard and Special Populations InstructorArthritis Foundation YMCA Aquatic Program Arthritis Foundation YMCA Aquatic Program

Instructor Instructor Health and Fitness Certifications Health and Fitness Certifications

Age and YMCA certification course Age and YMCA certification course requirementsrequirements

Cooper Institute for Aerobics Cooper Institute for Aerobics ResearchResearch

Offer a variety of certifications targeted to Offer a variety of certifications targeted to professionals in the healthcare and professionals in the healthcare and fitness industry:fitness industry:Personal training and fitnessPersonal training and fitnessDietary guidanceDietary guidanceAerobics fitness instructionAerobics fitness instructionHealth promotionHealth promotionPublic safety fitnessPublic safety fitness

What is the RationaleWhat is the Rationalefor Getting Certified?for Getting Certified?

ProfessionallyProfessionally - To ensure within a profession - To ensure within a profession that standards are being maintained to guarantee that standards are being maintained to guarantee safe and ethical practice.safe and ethical practice.

PublicPublic - It indicates that the person has mastered - It indicates that the person has mastered the expertise, advanced knowledge, skills, and the expertise, advanced knowledge, skills, and proficiency necessary to practice in a particular proficiency necessary to practice in a particular area of specialty identified by an administering area of specialty identified by an administering organization. organization. To insure that the individual is minimally competent to To insure that the individual is minimally competent to

do their job.do their job.

SummarySummary

CertificationCertification - individual is evaluated and - individual is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain standards through recognized as meeting certain standards through successful completion of a valid & reliable successful completion of a valid & reliable examination. Usually recognized examination. Usually recognized NationallyNationally..LicensureLicensure - the granting of permission by a - the granting of permission by a competent authority to an individual to engage in a competent authority to an individual to engage in a practice or activity that would otherwise be illegal. practice or activity that would otherwise be illegal. Usually only recognized at the Usually only recognized at the StateState level.level.RegistrationRegistration - the recording of professional - the recording of professional qualification information which is placed in the qualification information which is placed in the organization’s registry; organization’s registry; available to the available to the PublicPublic about the qualifications of those listed. about the qualifications of those listed.