Among other considerations, when choosing a career, it seems to me that professional development ought to be a highly regarded factor. Doesn’t everyone want to be a professional? All students should think about the importance of being referred to as a “professional” from within the context of an established professional field. It seems of little advantage otherwise to be referred to as a professional outside of an established career option.

A fitness professional, for example, is not a professional in the same context as a physical therapist is from within the physical therapy association. In fact, it is the association that lays the ground work for professional development. All students should understand this point. It has direct bearing on what they call themselves, whether they are respected in what they do, and how much security they will have in the long run. For certain, employers understand this point. They expect their employees to provide reasonable evidence of their professional commitment to a professional organization. It is also proper for employers to expect the employees to become certified and/or licensed by the professional organization. All of this bears directly on the employees’ commitment to services and the degree to which the employee understands right from wrong and how to therefore harm to the client. You can (or should) expect the employer to ask about a code of ethics, standards of professional practice, and certifications. They should feel more comfortable hiring a board certified exercise physiologists versus someone with a certification that is not link to an academic degree.

Of course, there are some certifications that are good even when the candidate fails to have an academic degree in the field. But, these are exceptions to the rule. Your first concern, as a new student at a university or college is to determine if the academic degree you are considering is accredited by a professional society. Then, you should find out if the professors are members of the professional society. Are they board certified? Do they network with members of the society? Start by asking these questions, and then make the decision whether the school is the best one for your career options. If you want to be an exercise physiologist, stay away from schools that do not have exercise physiology programs of study. By this, I mean simply, the school must offer an academic degree in exercise physiology.

Remember, you can’t become a physical therapist by attending a kinesiology academic program. Likewise, the logic is obvious for students who want to be an exercise physiologist. You can’t become an exercise physiologist by getting a human performance degree (even should the degree require a minor or a concentration in exercise science). An academic minor does not equal an academic major. Professional titles require an academic major. Take time before attending a particular school by asking these questions to advance your thinking and, therefore, to expand on your career options at graduation. Professionalism, professional development, professional credentials, and professional thinking are important to successfully realizing one’s goals and dreams.

When time permits, read several of articles published in the Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline electronic journal to get my point. There are articles that go back several years in the archive section of the journal that address a variety of issues and concerns about professionalism. Start now rather than later. Determine the best school for you by investigating the school’s reputation. Know your options. Hands-on experiences are important. Make sure the academic program has the faculty to convey professionalism and who are willing to showcase and support the American Society of Exercise Physiologists. Many who understand the professional development of students believe that this is important.