What do you think about the new ACSM Exercise is Medicine Credential?
“The Exercise is Medicine initiative now includes a credential program that will provide professionals with the opportunity to work closely with the medical community, as well as provide numerous additional benefits to the certified professional.
This credential contains three levels, based on the health status of patient referrals. All three levels require exercise professionals to be certified by a NCCA accrediting organization. Formal education (B.S. M.S. degree in exercise science) provides the exercise professional additional opportunities to work with patients who are at higher risk.
You may learn more by visiting ACSM site www.acsm.org.
I’d like to know your thoughts.
I first read about the credential in a previous ACSM Certified Newsletter and I find it to be an intriguing credential. My work, in addition to the general population, focuses a lot on people with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and injuries, and so in my opinion I believe the credential to be applicable to me and those who do work similar to mine.
I support elevating our profession to one of a respected status in the medical community. I consider myself to be an advocate of state licensure for fitness professionals and until this happens on a large scale I don’t think we will truly be accepted as part of the health care industry, but the Exercise is Medicine credential is a nice first step.