BooneThink

It is a fact: Students will not recognize the differences between certifications if they cannot see them in action. You know this from your own experience as an ASEP faculty member. It is self-evident in the few official sites that offer the examination. So, how do the ASEP leaders create a clear and simple connection between the ASEP Board Certification (the EPC exam) and the profession of exercise physiology?

Picture this: It is Monday afternoon and you have headed for the classroom to talk about the EPC exam. As you walk towards the front of the class, you are thinking, “Hmmm. Where do I begin?” As soon as you come to a stop in front of the class, you start looking at the students and begin saying, “The EPC exam is a board certification that earns the candidate the professional title — Exercise Physiologist.” It holds the EPC accountable to the ASEP code of ethics and standards of practice. The exercise physiologist is therefore held accountable in the practice of exercise physiology. Held to a higher standard, the EPC exercise physiologist is recognized for his or her credibility and integrity as a healthcare professional.

“Hmmm,” you think, “Accountability and credibility!” Both are important to professional development. Right? Now that you sense being on the right track, you are excited about the upcoming EPC exam, and you start to ask questions, “How many are you planning on sitting for the exam this Friday?” Slowly the hands pop up. In back of the classroom, you hear Greg say, “I am.” And others do the same. By the time a few minutes pass, 80% of the class has committed to taking the test. You think that is good, but wonder a bit: “Why aren’t Tara, Erin, and Beth taking the test?” Perhaps, it is a decision on their part that does not make sense to you.

In many ways, in the “real world” of exercise physiology, there are very few EPCs. The differences between a fitness certification and a professional certification have not been discussed beyond the walls of the classroom. However unsettling, the reality sets in, you are forced to push even harder. “Hello students, wake up! It is important to sit for this test while you are academically prepared. Typically, people wait until they forget much of what they learned in school and, of course, life becomes filled with all kinds of others issues and concerns. With any luck, taking the test now is your best shot for success.”

Yes, the painful truth is that most people in the public sector do not yet know about the value and importance of the EPC certification. And, yes, there are exercise physiologists who argue that the ASEP certification is meaningless. It is obvious they are not ASEP members. Worst of all, they are entirely out of touch with the reality of the 21st century view of exercise physiology. In fact, they are so lost in the inertia of traditional sports medicine thinking that it is essentially correct to believe they will remain that way the rest of their lives.

On the other hand, those of us who are willing to look to the future tend to think students like change. The belief that everything will remain as it always has been is a myth. Change is good. Change is inevitable. Change is expected of professionals, as well as growth. There is no substitute for it. If you observe other healthcare professionals, you know that change is a good thing. Maybe we better do some serious thinking in this regards. Maybe you can hear me saying: “Hello students, try to resist the temptation to side with non-ASEP members. Try to resist the temptation to jump to any conclusions until you have talked to an ASEP member.” In short, think! Yes, by all means, start thinking about your future and what it means to be a professional.

A GREAT deal of what is called “professional” such as the “fitness professional” is little more than what most people have for decades referred to as “activity instructors” – it has nothing to do with the EPC and accountability as exercise physiologists.  This is especially true of the field of fitness and so-called exercise specialist.  The collaboration of sport medicine personalities who understand what it means to feed their bottom line is sympathetic to keeping students thinking about non-EPC certifications.  Hence, the non-exercise physiologist, who is, practically speaking, a kind of persuasion specialist for the non-EPC suffers from individual bias against exercise physiology.  This haphazard pattern of being involved in a field where exercise consistent with medical treatment, mainly in the form of proliferation of meaningless personal trainer and fitness certifications, is why no one should endorse a non-EPC certification.

Of central importance is the ASEP deliberate work and inquiry into the professionalism of exercise physiology, which has been neglected far too long.  The consequences of this neglect are now obvious with the hundreds of meaningless certifications that keep repeating themselves over and over again.  In the face of this dilemma, ASEP has stepped up to the plate of accountability with the EPC certification.  The formulation of the idea started with when the ASEP leaders said enough is enough, “We must start thinking about a better way.”  Then, what was required was action, which has been the ruling principle throughout the development of the ASEP infrastructure.  It is the quest for professionalism and, yes, the quest to educate students to be responsible caretakers of exercise physiology.