Certified Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP)
Please note: The CSEP-PFLC and CSEP-ET designations ceased to exist as of
January 1, 2008.
At the National Health & Fitness Program Committee annual meeting on April 10, 2006 attendees voted in favour of combining the CSEP-Professional Fitness and Lifestyle Consultant (PFLC) and the CSEP-Exercise Therapist (ET) certifications into the new designation of CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP). The CSEP-CEP is the only advanced health and fitness practitioner certification. It embodies the scope of practice of both the CSEP-PFLC (apparently healthy asymptomatic individuals) and the CSEP-ET (exercise related clinical knowledge for independent functioning individuals with disabilities or chronic diseases for whom physical activity is advocated as a form of therapy).
The rationale for combining the PFLC and ET certifications is as follows:
- The PFLC and ET certification scopes were overlapping and insufficiently different so that they were confusing to CSEP H&FP members and to the general public.
- Many PFLCs already worked with independently functioning populations with disabilities or chronic diseases who have been cleared to participate in physical activity/exercise via the PARmed-X or written permission from the client's physician.
- Both certifications required an undergraduate degree with a specialization in health-related fitness and performance-related physical activity/exercise applications.
- The CEP certification is more in line with the needs of the current exercise industry/field.
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The resources (e.g. study guide, texts/manuals and exams) build on one
another. The “Kinesiology” curriculum core courses are similar but there
will be a need to take elective courses that address exercise application
considerations for persons who have various medical conditions, functional
limitations or disabilities in the focus areas outlined below:
- Cardiopulmonary/Metabolic conditions
- Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Physical Activity/Exercise considerations for the elderly
Objective
The objective of the CSEP-CEP certification is to recognize the
qualifications of those persons who possess advanced formal academic
preparation and practical experience in both health-related and
performance-related physical activity/exercise science fitness applications
for non-clinical and clinical populations.
Description
The CSEP-CEP performs assessments/evaluations, prescribes conditioning
exercise, provides exercise supervision/monitoring, counselling, healthy
lifestyle education, and outcome evaluation for “apparently healthy”
individuals and/or populations with medical conditions, functional
limitations or disabilities through the application of physical
activity/exercise, for the purpose of improving health, function and work or
sport performance.
The certifications of the Atlantic CSEP H&FP are nationally recognized and transferable across Canada.
