Answers (12)
1
O.k, here we go....
I would say "sometimes" to working outside the scope of practice of held certifications: What if you have certifications (which we're all required to) PLUS work experience or a degree or two in relevant areas of study? Doesn't what you learned on the job or to obtain your degree trump the deficiencies of certain certifications?
An individual's scope of practice should take into account ALL training and experience one has obtained, not purely in the form of passing the tests for the certifications (please, no offense to any certifying body, but God help us all if we relied solely on certification content).
Our knowledge and experience should be fluid; we should never think we're done learning, simply because we passed a test. The amount of new and exciting research in our field that emerges regularly is staggering. Do you figure you have a handle on that if you simply took your one certification course? Of course not. And, I'm assuming that most of the reputable organizations, like IDEA, ACSM, Can-Fit-Pro, CPTN, would want and encourage us to seek out more information. In my experience, the content in most certification courses is just enough to build a strong framework on which to build; it's not the done deal!
Bottom line: if you are confident in your knowledge and abilities, so much so that you would sign a legal document stating as such, then there is no reason not to try to learn more and help more. If you have serious doubts in your ability, listen to that voice and learn more before acting.
I would say "sometimes" to working outside the scope of practice of held certifications: What if you have certifications (which we're all required to) PLUS work experience or a degree or two in relevant areas of study? Doesn't what you learned on the job or to obtain your degree trump the deficiencies of certain certifications?
An individual's scope of practice should take into account ALL training and experience one has obtained, not purely in the form of passing the tests for the certifications (please, no offense to any certifying body, but God help us all if we relied solely on certification content).
Our knowledge and experience should be fluid; we should never think we're done learning, simply because we passed a test. The amount of new and exciting research in our field that emerges regularly is staggering. Do you figure you have a handle on that if you simply took your one certification course? Of course not. And, I'm assuming that most of the reputable organizations, like IDEA, ACSM, Can-Fit-Pro, CPTN, would want and encourage us to seek out more information. In my experience, the content in most certification courses is just enough to build a strong framework on which to build; it's not the done deal!
Bottom line: if you are confident in your knowledge and abilities, so much so that you would sign a legal document stating as such, then there is no reason not to try to learn more and help more. If you have serious doubts in your ability, listen to that voice and learn more before acting.
1
Short answer, Only if you like spending money on legal bills.
Going outside your scope of practice means that you are, in effect, doing something you have neither the (formal) education or certification to do.
Going outside your scope of practice means that you are, in effect, doing something you have neither the (formal) education or certification to do.
0
As a personal trainer you should never go beyond your certification. Although PT's often play a number of roles in their clients lives we should never extend ourselves into the roles of doctors or therapist. Often times clients will come with ailments or concerns and while it builds good rapport to listen and empathize we should always defer to qualified professionals to render the necessary services.
0
No, it is not. But with todays numerous certifications a lot of the lines are getting pretty blurred. Especially with the prehab/rehab area, NASM has opened this area up with their CES Certification. Working with movement patterns has become a pretty popular direction, but motor control reprogramming is the same thing and that is a physical therapy arena. Gray Area!
Nutrition has always been a gray area, certifications tell you how to work with healthy client recommendations but can't write a menu. Gray Area!
I hold a couple of active certifications and they all have a different take on "scope of practice". You can always give recommendations or write programs but not prescriptions...its in the wording that defines scope of practice.
Nutrition has always been a gray area, certifications tell you how to work with healthy client recommendations but can't write a menu. Gray Area!
I hold a couple of active certifications and they all have a different take on "scope of practice". You can always give recommendations or write programs but not prescriptions...its in the wording that defines scope of practice.
0
Joanne, thank you for your intersting questions! Here is some fuel for this question and i hope others will chime inn? I am degreed as an Exercise Physiologist, at one time i held 8 fitness certifications wich i let laps because of phylosophical differences, currently i am certified in 3 Physical Therapy Techniques and that is what i use as part of my Exercise Phylosophy. Now, i ask you, am i practicing outside my scope? In North Carolina, the answer would be no! I also am a consultant to personal injury law firm! Can't wait to hear the responses!
0
Louie thank you for your response. I honestly can't answer your question. It is for this reason I posed the question, as shown above which is--"If you are degreed and have decided not to take the certification route, how do you determine your scope of pratice?"
Have you for yourself made clearly defined boundaries of what services you will perform professionally and services that you will pass on to a physical therapist. This segues into the question, what is your professional code of ethics?
Thank you very much Louie for the interchange of opinions.
Have you for yourself made clearly defined boundaries of what services you will perform professionally and services that you will pass on to a physical therapist. This segues into the question, what is your professional code of ethics?
Thank you very much Louie for the interchange of opinions.
0
Shawn Fears, thank you very much for your questions which were:
1. "So what is your personal scope of practice?"
2. "What is your niche?"
3. "Do you have boundaries in place for liability issues?"
4. "Are you able to be insured"
Sounds like you have an interesting perspective on this subject, tell us more?
Answers:
1. My scope of practice is not personal; It is defined by the certifying bodies of the certifications I hold. I don't have a problem with that. Thanks to Idea Fitness Connect, it is easy to find out what credentials I currently hold just click on my name and you will go directly to my profile. Once you see which credentials hold you may visit the site of the certifying body and find out my scope of practice. It's all public.
2. What is your niche? Please feel free to visit my site at www.focusedwellness.com
3. Yes, I do have boundaries in place for liability issues (which thank goodness I've never had to contend with) but for the fact that working within one's professional boundaries edifies our industry. If you are a personal trainer, know your professional boundaries, if you are an athletic trainer, know your professional boundaries, if you are a pediatrician, know your professional boundaries. Why should it be different for fitness and wellness professionals?
4. I am able to be insured. Please visit my profile and scroll down to the bottom to see confirmation of insurance.
5. Regarding my perspective on this, whether one decides to hold a certification or not professional ethics dictates that one have a scope of practice that they abide by. If everyone does whatever they want then we have a wild, wild west situation. I don't believe that is what you are in this industry for
I am grateful for this site because it gives us all an opportunity to thought-provoking questions that bring to light the high level of professionalism among dedicated fitness professionals.
Keep the questions coming.
1. "So what is your personal scope of practice?"
2. "What is your niche?"
3. "Do you have boundaries in place for liability issues?"
4. "Are you able to be insured"
Sounds like you have an interesting perspective on this subject, tell us more?
Answers:
1. My scope of practice is not personal; It is defined by the certifying bodies of the certifications I hold. I don't have a problem with that. Thanks to Idea Fitness Connect, it is easy to find out what credentials I currently hold just click on my name and you will go directly to my profile. Once you see which credentials hold you may visit the site of the certifying body and find out my scope of practice. It's all public.
2. What is your niche? Please feel free to visit my site at www.focusedwellness.com
3. Yes, I do have boundaries in place for liability issues (which thank goodness I've never had to contend with) but for the fact that working within one's professional boundaries edifies our industry. If you are a personal trainer, know your professional boundaries, if you are an athletic trainer, know your professional boundaries, if you are a pediatrician, know your professional boundaries. Why should it be different for fitness and wellness professionals?
4. I am able to be insured. Please visit my profile and scroll down to the bottom to see confirmation of insurance.
5. Regarding my perspective on this, whether one decides to hold a certification or not professional ethics dictates that one have a scope of practice that they abide by. If everyone does whatever they want then we have a wild, wild west situation. I don't believe that is what you are in this industry for
I am grateful for this site because it gives us all an opportunity to thought-provoking questions that bring to light the high level of professionalism among dedicated fitness professionals.
Keep the questions coming.
0
Joanne, so I see that you have quite a few certifications..lol overachiever ;-)
By the way I LOOOOVE the CALU program!!! I just finished year 3. What made you choose the path you took?
Some of the different certifications you have step into that gray area that I mentioned before. At what point as a NASM CES do you say you need a physical therapist or does the guidlines of your ACSM CEP limit your role as a corrective exericse specialist?
It seems like experts like Mike Clark, Gray Cook and Gary Gray, who put excellent information out there base on their physical therapy practice, have made this area very blurred for personal trainers.
By the way I LOOOOVE the CALU program!!! I just finished year 3. What made you choose the path you took?
Some of the different certifications you have step into that gray area that I mentioned before. At what point as a NASM CES do you say you need a physical therapist or does the guidlines of your ACSM CEP limit your role as a corrective exericse specialist?
It seems like experts like Mike Clark, Gray Cook and Gary Gray, who put excellent information out there base on their physical therapy practice, have made this area very blurred for personal trainers.
0
I've talked to other trainers about this. The question comes up a lot about nutrition. Should a Personal Trainer work with clients on nutrition, set up meal plans and diets? Most Personal Trainer courses cover some nutrition. Usually enough to set up meal plans and get clients good information on what foods have which vitamins and minerals and how they help and affect the human body. However, a lot of gyms do not let trainers go through nutrition with clients or even answer questions. The gyms usually have nutritionists or "nutrition consultants" that we can refer these clients to. Hence the client will now have to pay more money. I can understand this if a client has special needs such as diabetes, an obesity or malnutrition situation. However some certifications even cover these topics. It all depends on the trainer's personal experience and knowledge. Being a Martial Arts Instructor I also find this in the fitness world, of Fitness Instructors teach Martial Arts based fitness classes, such as cardio kick boxing, boxing fitness & self-defense. This is a situation that I think may be crossing the line. Especially if participants get the idea that they can learn effective techniques for real life self-defense situations. This is something only a Certified Martial Arts Instructor should teach. If a Fitness Instructor is going to teach these classes, they should have some kind of Martial Arts background and training. They should also emphasize whether or not this is real life training or just for exercise purposes. If a trainer has a background in the exercise style or situation, then it may be out of their certification scope. But it may not be out of their personal scope of knowledge. We must also look at the legal aspects. A lot of trainers try to act as Physical Therapists. This can be a huge mistake. If you're going to cross these lines you need to know what you are doing, if it is safe and if it's legal. There are certain things only a Licensed Physical Therapist can legally do. Don't be afraid to tell a client, "This is something I don't have experience in". Then find them an expert who does. It doesn’t make you look bad to the client. It shows you don't think you know everything and you're not afraid to go elsewhere for help. It shows your concern for the client to make sure they get the right care. You might even learn something. You never know that person may refer a client to you some day.
0
In a word, "NO." The entire purpose of pursuing a field of study or discipline, and in achieving certification in that field is so that you can present with a minimum amount of knowledge and expertise in that field. In my opinion, if the field that you are practicing "outside of" has its own specific certification or licensure, then you should not be practicing in that field without the proper acknowledgement of your knowledge and expertise in that field (meaning without being certified or licensed). Doing otherwise can have some serious detrimental consequences for your client and to you (legally and physically).
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com
0
Not a lot to add, but like many have mentioned, the simple answer is "no." Obviously experience and education blur the lines, but from a simple liability perspective I think it is best to stay within the scope of your professional certifications.
That being said, if you are truly confident in your abilities, knowledge, and expertise in a particular area in which you are not officially certified, it may still be ok to provide services. Provided that, God forbid, something goes wrong, your actions would be found reasonable in the eyes of your peers. If your practice is sound and intelligent and based on universally accepted procedures, you should be ok. But you can never be too careful. A certification, if nothing else, adds to your credibility.
That being said, if you are truly confident in your abilities, knowledge, and expertise in a particular area in which you are not officially certified, it may still be ok to provide services. Provided that, God forbid, something goes wrong, your actions would be found reasonable in the eyes of your peers. If your practice is sound and intelligent and based on universally accepted procedures, you should be ok. But you can never be too careful. A certification, if nothing else, adds to your credibility.
