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The professional certification in exercise physiology, the EPC, is an academic process in which an exercise physiologist proves that he or she has the academic knowledge and hands-on laboratory experience to perform as a healthcare professional. The professional proof comes in the form of the EPC, which is earned by passing an exam that is written with a hands-on component. The EPC is supervised by both The Center for Exercise Physiologyonline and the American Society of Exercise Physiologists. Both organizations monitor and uphold prescribed standards for the profession of exercise physiology.

The EPC assures employers, customers, students, and the public that the certificate holder is competent and professional. And, from the ASEP perspective, it is very important to emphasize that the EPC is a requirement to practice exercise physiology in the United States. Other examples of this thinking include doctors, teachers, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), and pilots, although their practice guidelines are linked to licensure.

What’s in it for You? Well, it is very simple. The EPC professional certification demonstrates to employers and clients that you are committed to your profession and that you are well-trained. It gives them confidence in your abilities and hands-on skills.

Recently, while talking with a colleague from another university, I was surprised that he thought exercise physiologists had a philosophy of exercise physiology. You might expect that exercise physiology is founded on a philosophy, but that isn’t the case at all. Or, I should say that it isn’t true, at least not a well-developed sense of what is exercise physiology much less who is an exercise physiologist. Isn’t it shocking to discover that exercise physiologists outside of the ASEP organization have no clue?

As I stated many times in PEPonline articles, a thorough assessment of what is being taught to doctorate students. If, as it seems more than likely, university exercise physiology departments are churning out research sophisticated but intellectually stunted graduates that don’t understand the underpinnings of exercise physiology, then urgent reforms to the curriculum are required because such people aren’t really educated exercise physiologists at all.

It is imperative that students in exercise physiology doctorate programs have a strong foundation in the philosophy of exercise physiology. When they graduate they can promote the professionalism of exercise physiology, but only if they are educated to the philosophy of exercise physiology.

Why not develop a professionalism course to be taught to all exercise physiologists? Why not emphasize the ASEP leadership’s efforts to transition exercise physiology from the 20th century to the 21st century? Also, why not do the same at all levels of the students’ education, undergraduate and graduate? All students of exercise physiology lack knowledge of what is professionalism, who is a professional, and why professional organizations, like ASEP, are important?

It is time to start thinking right about a philosophy of exercise physiology.

Why are exercise physiologists afraid of commitment? In particular, why don’t they join the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) and commit to a permanent change in its direction?

Indeed, it’s hard to find any college professor who is an exercise physiologist willing to break the bonds they’ve formed with other organizations. Do any exercise physiologists seriously think that exercise physiology will survive outside of its own professional organization? By their actions, one would think they are simply dreaming up new ways to keep doing the same old things.

In sharp contrast, the pro-growth measures (such as the DPT) passed by physical therapists year after year continues to support their professional development. This is simply not the case with exercise physiologists. No one seems to get it; that’s right, no one gets that exercise physiologists need ASEP.

This is not the way to establish trust with students. They need to know that exercise science is not exercise physiology. This may sound simple but it isn’t. Honesty is imperative or everyone loses. This posting is not about being negative. It’s all about the future and laying out a positive, proactive, and optimistic future.

The ASEP leaders have focused their time and efforts on what they can do about the future. That is why they created first the national organization, then, the exercise physiology code of ethics, accreditation, board certification, standards of practice, and much more. Why did they do it? The answer is simple: They did it for “everyone who wants to be an exercise physiologist.”

The ASEP leaders have a clear path of where they are going, and they understand how to get there. In short, they are not afraid of commitment. They also know what they are accountable for and what the membership expects of them. This is why they have worked to make sure others explicitly know how the organizational goals, plans and expectations.

Now is the time to act. It is time to take action. Share ASEP with someone.

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change. — Charles Darwin

If there is one thing every student of exercise physiology should remember, I would like it to be that YOU are in much greater control than you realized. YOU have the power to shape the profession of exercise physiology. But, YOU must exercise demonstrate that influence rather than giving it up to others or to other organizations.

Here, “influence” begins with making a commitment. This is the first step. Change is a process, not an event – so if you’re look to influence exercise physiology towards the ASEP perspective, then, you want to start the process. Think about it. Are you willing to begin? How much are you willing to do?

Why not get involved with the ASEP effort to move exercise physiology into the 21st century? After all, sports medicine isn’t exercise physiology, and neither is exercise science. It is even sadder to think personal trainers are exercise physiologists. Much of this kind of thinking, if not all of it, is the curse of continuing to celebrate failed thinking that lacks the vision of exercise physiology as a healthcare profession.

Strangely, though, it is also humorous. It captures my interest and thereby helps me to learn more about why professionalism and credibility are important when embracing exercise physiology. In fact, I have learned that without a philosophy or plan for the future of “exercise physiology” – there is little hope of meaningful success. This is as bad as it gets. Far from humorous however, unfortunately, it weakens the role of academics in helping young adults access financially stable and credible career opportunities.

What can you do about your professors and their behavior, particularly that of ignoring or punishing any discussion of the ASEP organization? You might decide to join ASEP to work with others towards the professionalism of exercise physiology. You might rethink how you regard your thinking – how it influences you and causes you to behave. There is absolutely nothing wrong thinking that ASEP has its place in the world of professions. So, trust your opinions or your decisions, and you will be more apt to feel good about what you believe is the right thing to do.