Exercise Physiologists -- Not Personal Trainers

Society is full of "fitness professionals" and many of them call themselves "personal trainers." People need exercise. It is medicine when prescribed by a Board Certified Exercise Physiologists.

A Board Certified Exercise Physiologist is a person who has passed the Exercise Physiologist Certified exam.

EPCs are held accountable to the ASEP Code of Ethics and the Exercise Physiologist's Standards of Practice.

"Professional Distinction with Board Certification"

ASEP is important for many reasons, but one in particular is to promote the professional development of exercise physiology. Hence, implicit within the ASEP web pages is the notion that exercise physiology is a healthcare profession. The bulk of the epidemiologic evidence and the scientific papers by exercise physiologists support the health benefits of regular exercise. Moreover, it is clear that an active lifestyle protects from many diseases. Now, with the ASEP Board Certification as the gold standard for exercise physiologists, the supervision, safety, and care of clients are increasingly evident throughout the public sector.

Personal trainers may or may not have a college degree and, if they do, the degree may or may not be in a related field. They are not qualified to earn the EPC degree. Therefore, they can neither be held accountable to the exercise physiology Code of Ethics nor practice exercise physiology.

ASEP: A True Vision!

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is a process. Working together is success." -- Henry Ford

Professional exercise physiologists have a responsibility to create change in their professional arenas, whether that is in the clinical area, education, administration, business, or research. Personal attention, role modeling, precepting, and mentoring are all critical to sharing values and career goals and other significant matters, such as accreditation, board certification, and standards of practice.

Exercise physiologists in the very near future will be recognized as healthcare professionals, which is certainly different from the old version of an exercise specialist, trainer, or fitness instructor. Exercise physiologists will have opportunities to serve their clients in diverse career venues and practices. This kind of responsibility requires a credible certification that reflects professionalism, protects the public, and strengthens the profession.