A Closer Look at the ASEP Board
Certified Exercise Physiology Exam
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP, EPC
Professor and Chair, Department
of Exercise Physiology
Director of Exercise Physiology
Laboratories
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811
“The way I see it, if you
want to be an exercise physiologist, you gotta put up with the planning
and preparation for the EPC exam.” – William Boone
Planning and preparing for the Exercise
Physiologist Certified (EPC) exam is an essential component of becoming
a professional exercise physiologist. As with other professional
certifications, planning begins with the decision to attend college, which
courses to take, what kinds of hands-on experiences are necessary and,
in general, everything that goes into the comprehensive preparation for
the ASEP Board Certified exam. Successful completion of the examination
is necessary to practice exercise physiology in the United States.
What is the American Society of
Exercise Physiologists (ASEP)?
ASEP is a non-profit professional
organization of exercise physiologists. It was founded in 1997 on
behalf of all exercise physiologists in the United States. The organization
defines, develops, and implements professional credentials for exercise
physiologists at all levels of academic rank to improve job opportunities
and financial stability. For more information about ASEP, click on
the following web sites: (1) title;
(2) vision; (3) purpose,
and (4) objectives.
When was the Board of Certification
established?
In 1998, the certification arm (i.e.,
the Board of Certification) of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists
(ASEP) was established to oversee the “Exercise Physiologist Certified”
(EPC) examination.
What are the objectives of the
Board of Certification?
The Board 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.
When was the first EPC exam administered?
The first exam was administered
in September 2000 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM.
During 2001, the EPC exam was administered three times: (1) at the College
of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN (May 5); (2) at the 4th ASEP National
Meeting in Memphis, TN (on the campus of the University of Memphis); and
(3) at the College of St. Scholastica (December 8).
How many exercise physiologists
are certified by ASEP?
Presently, there are 57
ASEP Board Certified Exercise Physiologists in the United States.
The EPC professional credential is recognized as the only Board Certification
that is specifically designed to identify professional competencies of
an exercise physiologist.
What are the purposes of the EPC
exam?
The EPC exam is designed: (1) to
insure professional competence among exercise physiologists and (2) to
promote the professional development of exercise physiology. 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 insures the professional competence of individuals
offering exercise physiology services to the public as professional exercise
physiologists.
What are the legal implications?
Once a candidate has successfully
completed the exam, he or she is certified as an “Exercise Physiologist”
and can, therefore, be legally and professionally referred to as an “Exercise
Physiologist Certified” or simply as a “Certified Exercise Physiologist”.
Why is the EPC exam important
in the public sector?
Since the EPC certificate is granted
under specific professional assumptions enacted in the public interest,
it is issued only to properly qualified persons. The public’s need
for assurance of professional competence on the part of those receiving
the EPC designation must be fully satisfied. The examination is also
expected to play a role in the licensing procedure by evaluating the candidate’s
technical competence (including academic outcome knowledge and the application
of laboratory- and research-based knowledge) as professional exercise physiologists.
What are “Certified Exercise Physiologists”
qualified to do in the public sector?
Members of the Board of Directors
and the Board of Certification have agreed on what they believe is the
“practice of exercise physiology”. The professional statement is
defined in the “ASEP Standards of Professional Practice”. The Standards
can be located on the ASEP contact page using: http://www.asep.org/standards/
What are the components of the
EPC exam?
The examination consists of cognitive
and practical competencies that are evaluated in both written and applied
components. The written exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions
from the following academic courses:
(1) exercise physiology;
(2) cardiac rehabilitation;
(3) exercise metabolism and regulation;
(4) kinesiology;
(5) research;
(6) sports biomechanics;
(7) environmental exercise physiology;
and
(8) sports nutrition.
The applied part consists of hands-on
demonstration of laboratory skills and abilities. The candidate must
successfully complete both components to receive certification. More
specific information about the necessary laboratory skills can be located
at:
http://www.css.edu/asep/ASEPepcPART2.pdf
What is the cost of the EPC certification?
Where can more information be
found about the EPC exam?
Candidates should refer to the ASEP
home page using the following URL to locate the EPC Manual: http://www.asep/org/epcmanual/
What does the EPC do for exercise
physiologists that other certifications do not?
The ASEP certification is the only
Board Certification for exercise physiologists. The certification
is linked to the ASEP Standards
of Professional Practice that sets exercise physiologists apart as
academic-based professionals.
What are two weaknesses of the
ASEP Board Certified Examination?
The certification is new to the
field of exercise physiology as well as the potential employers within
the public sector. Since it is linked to a comprehensive academic
program of study, not all candidates from diverse fields of study will
be able to pass the exam.
What resources are suggested to
prepare for the EPC exam?
The ASEP Board of Certification
is presently working on an outline for an EPC Study Manual. Until
then, the best approach to prepare for the exam is to consult the ASEP
home page and click on the EPC
links. Also, refer to the following web page about individual
"stations" using the URL http://www.css.edu/ASEPepcPART2.pdf
Why should an exercise physiologist
be certified?
It is a natural step in the professional
development of exercise physiology. Additional insight and understanding
can be acquired from reading several related articles on certification
published on the ASEP electronic journal,
PEPonline.
Copyright
©1997-2007
American Society of Exercise Physiologists All Rights
Reserved.