The clinical exercise profession was once identified with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (RCEP) credential, representing distinguished expertise in the field. The inception of the ACSM RCEP examination occurred in 1999 and required an earned master’s degree. Two decades later, in 2018, the ACSM Committee on Certification and Registry Board (CCRB) made the decision to discontinue the RCEP certification and merge examination content with the ACSM-Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) certification exam. This merger reduced to only a single clinical exercise physiology credential offered by ACSM and changed the minimum degree requirements to an earned bachelor’s degree (1,2). For clinicians who earned the original RCEP certification, much frustration ensued from persistent confusion of language and requirements used to describe minimum standards for clinical exercise professionals. For instance, over the period offering the ACSM RCEP certification, there were also multiple name changes with other ACSM certifications. The Exercise Specialist certification changed names and became Clinical Exercise Specialist, which then underwent yet another change and became the current CEP. The nonclinical certification, Health Fitness Specialist, also experienced a change in 2014 and became the Exercise Physiologist-Certified and now termed ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP). These revised name changes sought to better describe skills and abilities. Using the correct credential terminology will improve our professional identities (3). To help meet the needs among RCEP professionals, the Clinical Exercise Physiology Association (CEPA) responded to ACSM’s CCRB discontinuation of the certification by developing the CEPA Registry. This Registry was designed to maintain a database for both RCEP and ACSM-CEP certified professionals with a goal of preserving professional identities in an organized manner that was solely dedicated to CEPs.

Despite credentialling fluctuations, it has been established that CEPs are allied health professionals who are academically and clinically trained to administer exercise testing, develop lifestyle modification programming, and supervise exercise for individuals with a large variety of chronic diseases and health conditions. CEPs possess a unique range of skills and the knowledge to evaluate acute and chronic responses to exercise in apparently healthy people and those with chronic disease and to implement behavior change techniques promoting adherence to healthy lifestyles (47). CEPs are a valuable resource to support patient-centric lifestyle goals helping to enhance quality of life.

Today, the CEPA shares another update to enhance the recognition of CEPs. CEPA is announcing the discontinuation of the CEPA Registry because now all clinical exercise professionals have been transitioned into the US Registry of Exercise Professionals (USREPS) (8). Additionally, the CEPA has unveiled a new CEP fellowship recognition program. Fellowship provides the opportunity for qualifying CEPs to achieve recognition for their commitment and service to the clinical exercise profession. The CEPA Fellowship seeks to support professionalization and advancement of the CEP career by setting core objectives:

  • (a)

    recognize outstanding service to the field of clinical exercise physiology, solely those who have earned and maintained the Clinical Exercise Physiology credential (ACSM-CEP or previous ACSM RCEP designation),

  • (b)

    acknowledge distinguished professional achievement quantified by specific criteria requirements itemized in the fellow application, and

  • (c)

    encourage service to CEPA along with ongoing documented membership to the CEPA organization.

As allied health professionals striving for excellence and distinction in our field, we are excited to begin bestowing CEPA Fellow (FCEPA) to qualifying CEPs. Recognizing commitment and service to the clinical exercise physiology profession will be identified with designatory letters FCEPA. CEPA Fellowship criteria along with the specific application process for the first cohort of fellows is available on the CEPA Website (acsm-cepa.org). Additionally, we would like to remind all RCEPs to use the postnominal initials ACSM-CEP in their signature. Momentum to advocate and raise awareness for the unique training provided by CEPs requires uniformity in the title we use to represent the profession. An example of how to properly display these credentials in your signature line includes postnominal initials or writing out the full term of the professional title. An example of the correct order listing credentials could appear as either format (including the future earning of FCEPA):

Laura A. Richardson, PhD, ACSM-CEP, FACSM, FCEPA

Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist

or

Laura A. Richardson, PhD, ACSM-CEP, RCEP, FACSM, FCEPA

It is important to note that “Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist” and “RCEP” is reserved for those whose ACSM-CEP is in good standing (i.e., continuously active credential). Those who have a lapsed certification or expired certification may not use the designation.

Although numerous changes in certification exams and names have occurred for CEPs, we believe important progress is being made, and this is a pivotal step in the professionalization journey. The CEPA looks forward to supporting and recognizing CEPs for their commitment to the profession with the new fellowship program.

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