ASEP BOARD OF CERTIFICATION
Mission Statement
The Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) and the Board of Certification were first conceived and formally developed and supervised by the Board of Directors of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) in 1999. The specific objective was then, and still is, to develop and ensure the continuation of a credible professional credential for Exercise Physiologists. The ASEP Board of Certification is committed to the education of college-prepared exercise physiologists who will: (1) promote life-long optimum health, fitness, and rehabilitative policies and procedures; (2) advance the profession of exercise physiology through critical and reflective thinking; and (3) provide instructional, rehabilitative, and scientific services as educators, consultants, and researchers.
Purpose
The ASEP Board of Certification, as directed by the ASEP Board of Directors, promotes the certification of college-prepared exercise physiology graduates to access key positions in the health, fitness, rehabilitative, and research fields of professional work.
The Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) examination is used by the ASEP Board of Certification to measure the academic and technical competence of exercise physiology candidates. To understand the importance of the examination as a prerequisite for the EPC certificate, one must recognize the significance of the certification.
It is awarded to qualified candidates in accordance with the objectives of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists to professionalize exercise physiology. The certificate is a measure of academic knowledge and practical abilities and thus, ensures the professional competence of individuals offering exercise physiology services to the public as professional exercise physiologists.
The primary objective of the EPC examination is to test the candidate's competence in the profession of exercise physiology. Such professional competence includes adequate academic and technical knowledge, the ability to apply such knowledge skillfully and with good judgment, and an understanding of professional, ethical responsibility. Once a candidate has successfully completed the examination, he or she is added to the Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) registry and can, therefore, be legally and professionally referred to as either an Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) or as a "Board Certified Exercise Physiologist" signified by the use of the initials EPC to represent their professional credential.
Since the Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) certificate is granted under specific professional assumptions enacted in the public interest, it is issued only to properly qualified persons. The need of the public for assurance of professional competence on the part of those receiving the Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) designation must be fully satisfied. The examination is also expected to play a role in state's licensing procedure by evaluating the candidate's technical competence (including academic outcome knowledge and the application of laboratory-based and research-based knowledge) as professional exercise physiologists. Questions selected for the examination are at a level suitable for testing the academic and hands-on competence of the candidate.
The Board of Certification may revoke or otherwise take action with regard to the certification of an individual in the case of non-compliance with ASEP membership, annual fee, ASEP Code of Ethics, and the Exercise Physiologist's Standards of Practice. Hence, the Exercise Physiologist Certified (EPC) examination is designed to ensure professional competence among exercise physiology practitioners, and to promote exercise physiology professionalism.