ACSM

Candidate
Handbook
Committee on
Certification and
Registry Boards
(CCRB)
I. General Information In-Person Testing | Personal Belongings..................................... 13
Who is ACSM?................................................................................................... 3 In-Person Testing | Comfort Aids....................................................... 13
Statement of Non-Discrimination........................................................ 3 In-Person Testing | Approved Exam Supplies.......................... 14
Programmatic and Personnel Accreditation.............................. 3 In-Person Testing | Pre-Test Tutorial................................................ 14
II. Certification In-Person Testing | Breaks....................................................................... 14
Professional Certifications........................................................................ 4
In-Person Testing | Special
Eligibility Requirements..........................................................................4-6 Accommodations.......................................................................................... 14
III. Examination Both Testing Environments|
Exam Preparation.............................................................................................7 No Shows/Late Arrivals............................................................................ 14

Exam Content Outlines................................................................................7 Both Testing Environments |

Identification Requirements................................................................... 14
Exam Fees..............................................................................................................7
V. Scoring and Exam Policies
Exam Scheduling.........................................................................................7-8
Non-Disclosure Agreement and
Exam Application and Scheduling Code of Ethics Compliance................................................................... 15
(ACSM-CEP ONLY)...................................................................................7-8
Exam Rescheduling and Cancellation Policy........................... 15
Special Accommodations......................................................................... 8
Retest Policy....................................................................................................... 15
IV. Test Day
Score Reports................................................................................................... 15
Testing Environment Options................................................................. 9
Certification Confidentiality.................................................................... 16
Online Exams (OnVue)......................................................................... 9-12
Candidate Misconduct.............................................................................. 16
Online Exam | International Availability............................................ 9
Irregular Behavior........................................................................................... 16
Online Exams | Breaks.................................................................................. 9
ACSM ProFinder and Professional Registries..........................17
Online Exams | Special
Accommodations Availability................................................................. 9 Exam Registration Audit............................................................................17

Online Exams | Candidate Rules Agreement............................. 9 VI. Appendix

A: Appeals for Denied Eligibility........................................................... 18
Online Exams | Personal Belongings................................................ 9
B: Special Accommodations Request Form.....................19-21
Online Exams | Check In...........................................................................10
C: Exam Content Outlines: GEI, CPT, EP, CEP........................ 22
Online Exams | Starting the Exam ....................................................10
D: CEP Content Requirements...........................................................23
Both Testing Methods | No Show/Late Arrival........................10
E: Code of Ethics....................................................................................23-24
Online Exams | Exam Supplies..............................................................11
F: Public Disclosure of Affiliation Policy......................................... 24
Online Exams | Technical Requirements.......................................11
G: Privacy Policy.....................................................................................24-26
Online Exams | Alerting the Proctor................................................. 12
H: Non-Disclosure Agreement............................................................26
Online Exams | Alerting the Candidate.......................................... 12
I: ACSM Abbreviations.......................................................................27-29
Online Exams | Assistance During the Exam........................... 12
J: ACSM Equation and Calculations...............................................30
Online Exams | Prohibited Behaviors.............................................. 12
K: GETP 11 ed Highlights...................................................................31-33
Online Exams | Lost Internet Connection.................................... 12
L: ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise
In-Person Testing............................................................................................ 13
Physiologist® Application................................................................ 34-35
In-Person Testing | Testing Environment...................................... 13
In-Person Testing | Candidate Rules Agreement.................. 13

2 ACSM Candidate Handbook

 Representing 70 occupations within the sports medicine field, ACSM is the only
organization that offers a 360-degree view of the profession. From academicians to
students and from personal trainers to physicians, our association of sports medicine,
exercise science, and health and fitness professionals seeks to help people worldwide live
Section I: longer, healthier lives.
The ACSM Committee on Certification and Registry Boards (CCRB) oversees ACSM’s

General certification programs. The CCRB is an independent body within ACSM that develops and
administers ACSM certification programs.

Information All certified American College of Sports Medicine Credentialed Professionals (ACSMCP)
must agree to abide by the established Code of Ethics (see Appendix E). This code is
intended to establish and maintain a high level of ethical conduct, as defined by standards
by which an ACSMCP may determine the appropriateness of conduct. Any existing

Who is ACSM?
professional, licensure or certification affiliations that ACSMCPs have with governmental,
local, state or national agencies or organizations will take precedence relative to any
disciplinary matters that pertain to practice or professional conduct.
The American College of Statement of Non-Discrimination
Sports Medicine (ACSM)
The American College of Sports Medicine strives to comply with all applicable federal and
serves as the largest state laws. It does not knowingly violate such laws in its employment activities, membership
sports medicine and policies, membership programs, educational activities, certification matters or program
exercise science funding, nor knowingly discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual
organization in the preference, military status, age, national or ethnic origin, disability or handicap. It attempts to
make its programs equally accessible to all persons regardless of disability.
world. With more than 16,000
members and 34,000 certified Programmatic and Personnel Accreditation
professionals worldwide, Accreditation is a process in which a third party independently verifies that, among
ACSM remains dedicated to others, a program or organization can uphold its obligations to adequately support its
stakeholders and/or keep the public safe. In general, there are two main accreditation
advancing and integrating
types that are germane to the exercise and fitness industry: (1) programmatic accreditation
scientific research to provide and (2) personnel accreditation. Each accreditation type uniquely contributes to the
educational and practical development, assessment and growth of exercise professionals. ACSM believes that
applications of exercise formalized exercise science education and continuing professional development are
cornerstones of competent exercise professionals.
science and sports medicine.
Programmatic accreditation ensures that education programs adequately
prepare candidates and students for the workforce. Academic accrediting
agencies develop evaluation criteria in accordance with standards
and conduct evaluations to assess whether those criteria are met. The Committee on
Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) was established in April 2004 under
the auspices of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
(CAAHEP). Programmatic accreditation through CAAHEP is specifically intended for
Exercise Science or related departments (Physical Education, Kinesiology, etc.) with a
professional preparation tract designed for students seeking employment opportunities in
the health, fitness and exercise industry.
Personnel accreditation provides impartial, third-party validation that a
certification program has met recognized international credentialing
standards for development, implementation and maintenance of certification
programs. Professional competency is validated through written and/or
performance assessments, and it is independent of formalized education or training.
National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) is an independent, non-
governmental agency that accredits certification programs in a variety of professions to
ensure the health, welfare and safety of the public. The NCCA reviews the certification
organization’s procedures, protocols and operations, and determines if the certification
properly discriminates between those who are qualified and those who are not qualified
to be awarded the respective credential. The ACSM-CPT®, ACSM-EP® and ACSM-CEP®
certification programs earned initial accreditation by the NCCA between 2006 and 2007.
ACSM is currently in the process of earning NCCA accreditation for the Certified Group
Exercise Instructor® (ACSM-GEI®) program.

ACSM Candidate Handbook 3

 Certified Group Exercise Instructor® (ACSM-GEI®)
ACSM-GEIs are fitness professionals who safely teach, lead and motivate individuals
through intentionally designed, effective exercise classes. These instructors provide safe

Section II: instruction across many class types and equipment sets, from choreographed fitness
classes to HIIT and beyond.

Certification
Certified Personal Trainer® (ACSM-CPT®)
The ACSM Certified Personal Trainer® (ACSM-CPT®) is qualified to plan and implement
exercise programs for healthy individuals or those who have medical clearance to
exercise. The ACSM-CPT® facilitates motivation and adherence, as well as develops and
Professional administers programs designed to enhance muscular strength, endurance, flexibility,
cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition and/or any of the motor skill-related
Certifications components of physical fitness.
Certified Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-EP®)
ACSM develops and An ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-EP®) works with apparently healthy
administers four clients and those with medically controlled diseases to establish safe and effective
exercise and healthy lifestyle behaviors to optimize both health and quality of life. The
certification ACSM-EP® conducts preparticipation health screenings, submaximal graded exercise
programs, each with tests, strength, flexibility and body composition assessments.
a unique population and/ Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-CEP®)
or programming focus. The An ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-CEP®) is a health professional
professional certifications who utilizes prescribed exercise and basic health behavior interventions, as well as
assure that candidates and promotes physical activity for individuals with chronic diseases or conditions. The ACSM-
certificants (1) comply with CEP® provides primary and secondary prevention strategies designed to improve,
maintain or attenuate declines in fitness and health in populations ranging from children to
eligibility requirements and older adults. The ACSM-CEP® provides exercise screening, exercise and fitness testing,
(2) meet a minimum level of exercise prescriptions, exercise and physical activity counseling, exercise supervision,
competence (i.e., knowledge exercise and health education/promotion, and measurement and evaluation of exercise
and skills) attributed to a and physical activity-related outcome measures.
specific ACSM credential. The Eligibility Requirements
roles of the core certification To earn an ACSM certification, candidates must meet the eligibility requirements and pass
programs are described at right. the certification examination. ACSM certifications are valid for three years, expiring on
December 31. As stated in the ACSM Code of Ethics (see Appendix E), ACSM Certified
Professionals agree to maintain their credential through continuing education. The
purpose of periodic recertification is to ensure ACSMCPs are current with up-to-date
research, professional standards/practice and guidelines in the fitness, health care and/or
allied health industries.
Candidates must meet the outlined established eligibility requirements to register or apply
for a certification exam.

ACSM Certified Group Exercise Instructor®(ACSM-GEI®) Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent

• Possess current adult CPR/AED certification that has a live/in-person practical
skills examination component (i.e., American Heart Association or the American
Red Cross)

ACSM Certified Personal Trainer® (ACSM-CPT®) Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent

• Possess current adult CPR/AED certification that has a live/in-person practical
skills examination component (i.e., American Heart Association or the American
Red Cross)

4 ACSM Candidate Handbook

ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-EP®) Eligibility Requirements ACSM-CEP Pathway A and B
• At least a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Exercise Science (or equivalent)
Documentation Requirements
from a regionally accredited college/university. Candidates are eligible to take
the examination in the last semester of their degree program. An equivalent
o Copy of current certification
major refers to the completion of a degree that includes a minimum of 21
in Basic Life Support Provider
semester or 28 quarter hours of exercise science courses and clearly identifies
(BLS) or CPR for the Professional
the following content:
Rescuer certification (with hands-

Section II: Certification

• Exercise Physiology (minimum 3.0 credit, stand-alone course, or on practical skills component)
equivalent)
o Clinical experience log
• Strength and Conditioning (course[s] includes principles of strength and
conditioning; a 1 credit hour activity course on strength training does not o Official transcript
qualify)
o Additional supporting documents
• Applied Kinesiology or Biomechanics (not applicable for graduates of
• Anatomy and Physiology (combined or separate courses) CAAHEP/CoAES programs):
• Exercise Testing and Prescription (course[s] must include exercise testing oP
 rogram curriculum
and prescription for healthy populations and special considerations such
as children, older adults, pregnancy, diseased populations, etc.) oC
 ourse descriptions (syllabi
and learning objectives may
• Special Populations (course[s] must include pathophysiology on a
be requested if the description
range of conditions, including CVD, pulmonary, metabolic, older adults,
lacks sufficient detail. See
pregnancy, etc.)
Appendix D for CEP Content
• Health Risk Appraisal (course[s] must include information on risk Requirements.)
stratification or classification given a variety of health conditions)
oC
 ourse content
• There is no petition or appeals process for non-exercise science-based
degree programs nor consideration made for past experience. oD
 ocument formal preparation
• Possess current adult CPR/AED certification that has a live/in-person in the primary job task
practical skills examination component (i.e., American Heart Association or the analysis content areas of
American Red Cross) clinical exercise testing and
prescription, advanced
exercise physiology and
ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-CEP®) Eligibility clinical exercise physiology/
Requirements [Pathway A OR Pathway B] pathophysiology. (See
Appendix D for course content
•P
 athway A
requirements by primary job
• Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology or equivalent from a task.)
regionally accredited college/university
• Minimum of 600 hours of clinical experience in a clinical exercise program
(e.g., cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation programs, exercise testing, exercise
prescription, electrocardiography, patient education and counseling,
disease management of cardiac, pulmonary and metabolic diseases)
• Current certification in Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) or CPR for
the Professional Rescuer certification (with hands-on practical skills
component)
•P
 athway B
• Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology or
Kinesiology from a regionally accredited college/university
• Minimum of 1,200 hours of clinical experience in a clinical exercise
program (e.g., cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation programs, exercise
testing, exercise prescription, electrocardiography, patient education and
counseling, disease management of cardiac, pulmonary and metabolic
diseases)
• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR for the
Professional Rescuer certification (with hands-on practical skills
component)

ACSM Candidate Handbook 5

 CEP Eligibility (continued)

Experience Requisites
1. Due to the ongoingCEPimpact of the pandemic
Applicable Experienceon clinical internships, the ACSM Certification Board has again extended
CEP Non-applicable Experiencethe amended
requirements for taking the ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) exam. ACSM-CEP candidates may now sit
for the exam ifhours
1. Clinical they have at least
related to: 50% of their clinical internship hours completed when they
1. Observation apply. Outstanding clinical hours must be
hours
submitted within 12 months from the time of passing their exam. This is in effect until the end of December 2022.
Section II: Certification

a. clinical assessment 2. Non-clinical experience

2. ACSM-CEP b. exercise testing
candidates 3. Hours(Master’
are required to provide documented clinical experience with athletes or apparently
s prepared – 600 hours;healthy population
Bachelor’s prepared
– 1,200c. exercise
hours). prescription
Clinical 4. aPersonal
experiential hours must be gained exclusively from training
clinical setting. Additional restrictions and experience
d. exercise
requisites training
are provided in the Candidate Handbook pages 5-6. Clinical hours may be earned through internships, volunteer hours and/
or worke.experience.
electrocardiography
Virtual, hands-on counseling hours are accepted. Virtual counseling hours must document active participation
f. patient
in exercise education
counseling, and counseling
prescription, and support. No more than 50% of required clinical experience hours can be attributed to virtual
g. disease management of cardiovascular, pulmonary,
counseling.
Experience Requisites
metabolic, orthopedic/musculoskeletal,
neuromuscular, neoplastic, immunologic and
hematologic disorders Experience
CEP Applicable CEP Non-applicable Experience
2. Assisted or direct role in providing services for:
a. exercise
1. Clinical hours assessment
related to: 1. Observation hours
b. exercise
a. clinical prescription
assessment 2. Non-clinical experience
c.
b. supervision
exercise testing 3. Hours with athletes or apparently healthy population
d. counseling
c. exercise prescription 4. Personal training
e.
d. education
exercise training
e. electrocardiography
f. patient education and counseling
g. disease management of cardiovascular, pulmonary,
metabolic, orthopedic/musculoskeletal,
neuromuscular, neoplastic, immunologic and
hematologic disorders
2. Assisted or direct role in providing services for:
a. exercise assessment
b. exercise prescription
c. supervision
d. counseling
e. education

ACSM-CEP Recommended Distribution of Clinical Experience Hours

Pathway A: Pathway B:
Condition or Disease
Master’s Hours Bachelor’s Hours
Cardiovascular 180 360
Pulmonary 40 80
Obesity/Metabolic 150 300
Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal 40 80
Neoplastic 40 80
Frailty 40 80
Behavior Change/Education 70 140
Neuromuscular 40 80
Total: 600 1,200

6 ACSM Candidate Handbook

 ACSM study materials can be found online: https://www.acsm.org/certification/
get-certified.
ACSM resources are not required and should not be interpreted as the sole source for ACSM

Section III: exams. Candidates may find ACSM study resources useful when preparing for the exam.
Candidates should develop their study plan based on their knowledge, experience and
specific needs.

Examination Exam Content Outlines

Each ACSM certification exam has an exam content outline that organizes knowledge

Exam
and skills into major content domains and job tasks. The job of an exercise professional
ranges from simple to complicated tasks. Much in the same way, the ACSM exams

Preparation are written at different levels of cognitive complexity. Cognitive complexity is a way of
describing the extent to which a candidate should know or be able to do something. A
low level of cognitive processing is simple recall of information whereas a higher level of
With thousands of new candidates cognitive processing includes analysis, evaluation and judgment. ACSM uses three levels
applying for ACSM certification every of cognitive challenge: recall, application and synthesis. The exam content outlines can be
year, no single exam preparation solution found in Appendix C.
fits every busy lifestyle. Every exam
candidate is different in terms of learning Exam Fees (effective January Exam
1, 2023)
Fees
style and price point. As such, ACSM
offers several optional Certification ACSM Member Candidate Non-ACSM Member Candidate Re-test

resources from live events ACSM-GEI 2022: $239 / 2023: $299 2022: $299 / 2023: $399 2022: $155 / 2023: $199
to textbooks and flash cards
to help candidates prepare. ACSM-CPT 2022: $279 / 2023: $299 2022: $349 / 2023: $399 2022: $175 / 2023: $199

These resources can be combined into ACSM-EP 2022: $279 / 2023: $339 2022: $349 / 2023: $449 2022: $175 / 2023: $225
a preparation plan that meets the needs
ACSM-CEP 2022: $279 / 2023: $339 2022: $349 / 2023: $449 2022: $175 / 2023: $225
of a candidate based on their academic
background and practical experience. * prices in USD
While these materials also help Exam Scheduling
candidates prepare for the corresponding
ACSM certification exam, candidates ACSM has partnered with Pearson VUE for exam administration to ensure candidates
who choose to use and/or purchase may take an exam at a convenient time and location. Pearson VUE administers exams at
preparatory materials are not guaranteed a more than 5,000 computer-based testing centers across the globe. Dates and location are
passing score on any ACSM examination. subject to availability.

ACSM-GEI, ACSM-CPT, and ACSM-EP Registration Process

Candidates may schedule their exam using one of the following options:
• ONLINE: https://home.pearsonvue.com/acsm
• PHONE REGISTRATION: 888-883-2276
New exam candidates are required to create an account with Pearson VUE. After logging
in to the Pearson VUE account, candidates will then select the appropriate exam, date and
testing location.
For eligibility questions, contact ACSM at (317) 637-9200 or [email protected].
For questions directly related to exam scheduling, rescheduling or canceling, call Pearson
VUE at 888-883-2276 or visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/acsm.

ACSM-CEP Application & Registration Process

ACSM-CEP exam applicants must submit a completed application and supporting
documents to ACSM via email at [email protected]. The required documents are
outlined in the Exam Eligibility section (pages 5-6). The CEP Application form can be found
in Appendix L.
If a candidate fails to meet the ACSM-CEP eligibility criteria, the exam application fee will
be fully refunded, and the candidate may reapply once the eligibility requirements are met.

ACSM Candidate Handbook 7

 If a candidate’s application is approved, ACSM will issue an exam Special Accommodations
voucher code to the ACSM-CEP exam candidate. A candidate
must have the voucher to schedule the ACSM-CEP exam with ACSM complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Pearson VUE. (ADA). To ensure equal opportunities for all qualified persons,
the CCRB will make reasonable testing accommodations for
Candidates approved to schedule their exam may use one of the certification candidates when appropriate and consistent with
following options: such legal requirements. The CCRB will consider requests for
• ONLINE: https://home.pearsonvue.com/acsm testing accommodations related to any ACSM certification exam
from candidates with a documented disability that substantially
Section III: Examination

• PHONE REGISTRATION: 888-883-2276 limits the candidate’s sensory, manual, speaking or other functional
New exam candidates are required to create an account with skills, including a disability that impairs significantly the candidate’s
Pearson VUE. After logging in to the Pearson VUE account, ability to arrive at, read or otherwise complete, the examination.
candidates will then select the appropriate exam, date, testing These accommodations may include additional time to complete
location and apply the exam voucher code. the exam or use of approved auxiliary aids and/or services. If a
candidate has questions or needs the auxiliary aids or services
For eligibility and application questions, contact ACSM at (317) identified in the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact
637-9200 or [email protected]. ACSM at (317) 637-9200 or [email protected].
For questions directly related to exam scheduling, rescheduling Candidates who require special accommodations must submit the
or canceling, call Pearson VUE at this U.S.-based phone number Special Accommodations Request Form (Appendix B) a minimum
888-883-2276 or visit https://home.pearsonvue.com/acsm. of 30 days prior to a scheduled examination date.

8 ACSM Candidate Handbook

 Online Exams (OnVUE)
An overview of the online testing experience can be viewed online at
https://home.pearsonvue.com/acsm/onvue
Section IV-1: Review the PearsonVue Online Testing Guide for an all-inclusive guide to taking the exam
online as well as the Online Test Taker Decision tree (see page 12).

Testing Day International Availability

OnVUE testing is not currently offered in the following countries: China, Cuba, India, Iran,
Online Exams Japan, Korea and Sudan.

Breaks
Online proctored exams do not include breaks. Candidates who leave their computer
Testing for any reason during the exam will have their exam automatically terminated by the
proctor. Candidates are prohibited to continue testing. Candidates who have their exams
Environment terminated forfeit their exam registration and must reschedule their exam (including retest

Options
fees) for a future date.

Special Accommodations Availability

ACSM certification exams are Due to the nature and restrictions of online proctoring, additional time and other
delivered by Person VUE and may accommodations are not available. If accommodations are needed, standard testing at a
testing center is required.
be taken in the following methods:
Candidate Rules Agreement
1. Live, remote-proctored exam
Policies covering OnVUE testing differ from those that apply to test center delivery
(online exam)
because candidates must agree to allow themselves to be recorded in their own space
2. In-person proctored testing and to have artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technology techniques applied.
Candidates must complete the registration process for OnVUE exams through the
center
Pearson VUE candidate website home.pearsonvue.com/acsm. Candidates must accept
and uphold various policies to schedule and complete the examination.
Prior to starting the exam, candidates will be asked to read and electronically sign a
Candidate Rules Agreement.

Personal Belongings
During the exam, candidates may not access the following types of personal items: mobile
phones, headphones or headsets (wired or Bluetooth), handheld computers or other
electronic devices, pagers, watches, wallets, purses, hats (or other head coverings), bags,
coats, books, notes or any other materials not specifically approved. Watches must be
removed and placed out of sight/reach during the exam.
During the exam session, candidates are not allowed to use exam-specific materials or
scratch paper, erasable whiteboards or any other physical writing object, such as a pen,
marker or pencil.
Water in a clear glass is allowed during testing; however, eating, smoking and chewing gum
are prohibited.

ACSM Candidate Handbook 9

 Check In No Show & Late Arrival
Candidates have two options for checking in during the exam day. Candidates should make every effort to access the online exam at
least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time.
1. Through the confirmation, reschedule or reminder
emails, candidates can click the “Check-in to start If a candidate signs in more than 15 minutes after the scheduled
exam” link if they are within 30 minutes prior to or up to appointment time, it is up to the discretion of the exam proctor
Section IV-1: Test Day Online Exams

15 minutes past the appointment time. whether the candidate may still take the exam (either immediately
or later the same day).
2. Click the “Sign in now” button on the Pearson VUE
webpage. The exam the candidate is scheduled to take If the proctor is unable to accommodate a late-arriving candidate,
will appear under “Open Online Exams” once logged in the candidate will not be able to take the test that day. The
to their account. Select the exam link and then select candidate will need to re-register for the exam and pay the exam
“Check-in.” If the “Check-in” button is not available fee again. The candidate’s results will be automatically entered in
within 15 minutes of the exam appointment time, please the testing system as “no show.”
contact the Pearson VUE customer service team for
If a candidate does not show for an exam at all, the candidate will
assistance.
be listed as a “no show” and will forfeit all fees associated with this
With either start process, candidates will be asked to download appointment. Candidates may reschedule a new appointment but
OnVUE, the online proctoring software. Follow the prompts in the will be responsible for rescheduling costs.
application to complete the required check in steps. Candidates
must have acceptable identification available so that the proctor Identification Requirements
can verify their identity. Candidates must provide two forms of proper identification (ID) – a
Candidates must shut down any non-essential applications such primary and a secondary ID. IDs must be an original document and
as email, chat, calendars and messaging applications. Candidates a not a photocopy or a fax. Candidates will not be allowed to sit for
should pay particular attention to any applications that may pop up the exam if the proper ID is not provided.
unprompted reminders or messages during the exam. • A primary ID must contain a permanently affixed photo
Candidates will be placed in a queue and connected with the next of the candidate, along with the candidate’s signature,
available proctor to begin their exam. The check in process takes and must be valid (not expired). Acceptable primary IDs
approximately 15 minutes for candidates who have previously are listed in the table below.
completed a system test. To allow time for the check in procedure, • A secondary ID must contain the candidate’s signature.
please be ready when the check in window opens 30 minutes prior Acceptable secondary IDs are listed in the table below.
to the exam start time.
IDs are considered to be valid (non-expired) as long as they do not
Starting the Exam contain an expiration date that has passed. If there is no expiration
date on an ID, it is considered to be valid. The candidate must sign
Once candidates have completed all required check in steps,
the ID before accessing the online exam; it is not acceptable for the
candidates will see a page that states, “You are almost done
candidate to sign the ID when checking in.
with the check-in process.” Please be patient as Pearson VUE is
checking in candidates who are also in queue. Most candidates
Acceptable forms of ID
will have their exam launched by a proctor within 15 minutes of the
exam appointment. If a candidate is experiencing a longer delay, Primary ID (picture and signature, not expired) Secondary ID (signature, not expired)

there may be a problem with the photos or internet connection. If • Government-issued driver’s license • U.S. Social Security card

there is an issue with the submitted photos, a proctor will attempt to • Employee ID or work badge • Bank automatic-teller machine (ATM) card
• School ID • Any form of ID on the Primary lists
reach the candidate via chat or mobile phone. The incoming phone
• Passport
number may be unfamiliar but please answer so Pearson VUE can • Military ID
help you. If Pearson VUE has not contacted the candidate within • Alien registration card (green card, permanent
30 minutes, the connection between the candidate and proctor resident visa)
• Credit card*
may have been lost and Pearson VUE was unable to reach out to • Other government-issued ID, such as a
help resolve this issue. Please contact the Pearson VUE customer state/country identification card

service team via chat for required assistance. * A note about credit cards: A credit card can be used as a primary form of ID only if it contains both a photo and a
signature and is not expired. Most credit cards do not meet these requirements. Any credit card can be used as a
secondary form of ID, as long as it contains a signature and is not expired. This includes major credit cards, such as
VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. It also includes department store and gasoline credit cards.

10 ACSM Candidate Handbook

Exam Supplies With the online whiteboard, you can:
During the OnVUE exam, candidates may have the option to use • Draw different shapes and lines.
a built-in digital whiteboard feature to take notes. Physical scratch • Pan across the whiteboard, zoom in/out to use different
paper or note boards are not allowed when taking an OnVUE areas on the same whiteboard screen.
exam.

Section IV-1: Test Day Online Exams

• Erase/clear to start something new. Work will be
accessible in every section during the entire exam.
• Resize or move the whiteboard around the screen.
It is strongly recommended that candidates familiarize themselves
with the whiteboard before starting the exam. Additional details,
limitation and a practice whiteboard can be found online at https://
home.pearsonvue.com/onvue/whiteboard.
A standard or scientific calculator will be provided within the
.
exam. The metabolic equations for gross VO2 in metric units will
be supplied within appropriate exams (see Appendix J). All other
formulas (e.g., heart rate calculations, body mass index, waist-to-
hip ratio) to complete an answer will not be provided within the
exam.
Technical Requirements
OnVUE supports both Windows and Mac operating systems. As of
August 2021, the following operating system requirements are:
Supported Operating Systems:
• Windows 10 (64-bit) (excluding ‘S Mode’)
• Windows 8.1 (64-bit) (all editions except ‘RT’)
• Mac OS 10.13 and above (excluding beta versions)
• Note: Windows Operating Systems must pass Genuine
Windows Validation.
Strictly Prohibited Operating Systems:
• Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 7
• All Linux/Unix based Operating Systems
It is the candidate’s responsibility to review the technical
requirements to ensure the system is compatible with the online
proctoring software. If the candidate’s system does not meet
Pearson VUE’s requirements and causes a problem during the
exam, candidates will have to reschedule at their own cost.
Most issues can be avoided by completing a system test and
ensuring that all system requirements are met in advance of
testing. Common issues include an unreliable internet connection
and third-party applications trying to run during the exam. ACSM
strongly recommends that candidates confirm that all applications
have been closed and that there is a sufficient and reliable internet
connection prior to testing
ACSM strongly recommends using a personal computer (not
issued from an employer) and a wired, ethernet connection.
The two most frequent causes of technical issues with online
proctored exams are (1) testing on a work computer and (2) an
unreliable internet connection. Firewalls or security settings from
work computers may restrict the software from operating properly.
Unreliable internet connections (wireless network, VPN, mobile
hotspot) may lead to disconnections.
A complete list of the current requirements and specifications can
be found online at https://home.pearsonvue.com/acsm/onvue.
ACSM Candidate Handbook 11
 Alerting the Proctor Assistance During the Exam
In OnVUE, the chat function allows candidates to connect with the Candidates may not receive any assistance from individuals while
proctor. taking the exam, and candidates may not allow other individuals to
see the computer screen that presents the exam questions.
If another person enters the room while the candidate is testing
Section IV-1: Test Day Online Exams

and/or is visible within their camera screen, the exam will be

terminated.
The proctor cannot answer questions related to exam content.
Alerting the Candidate Prohibited Behaviors
ACSM asks candidates to keep their mobile phones nearby Similar to proctors at a testing center, online proctors ensure
(but not in arm’s reach) in case the proctor needs to alert them. If testing rules are followed, but they also must ensure candidates
the candidate’s phone starts ringing or beeping during an exam, follow some additional protocols for an online proctored exam.
candidates should ignore the notifications. If the proctor questions Examples of prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited
the candidate about the noise, candidates should explain that it to, failing to follow proctor’s instructions, looking off the screen,
was their phone ringing. If candidates have an alarm or reminder mumbling or speaking aloud, covering the mouth or face, using
that goes off on their phone, they will be allowed to turn off the unauthorized materials (e.g., mobile phones, headphones,
alarm. recording equipment, writing materials), interacting with third
Proctors may interrupt candidates if there is any suspicious parties intentionally or unintentionally, or leaning outside the view
behavior or rule violations and take appropriate actions. of the webcam. If a proctor identifies any prohibited behavior, they
Sometimes it is to offer a reminder (no talking), and sometimes it will instruct the candidate to stop. If the prohibited behavior is not
is to investigate something in the testing area (show me the room, stopped the testing session will be terminated.
desk, etc.). Lost Internet Connection
If the connection with the proctor is lost, a proctor will try to
contact the candidate either through the computer or by phone
to see what happened and offer help in restarting the exam. If the
candidate does not respond to the proctor, the testing session will
be terminated. The proctor will also create a case for the candidate
in the Pearson VUE system, outlining what happened and standard
protocols regarding test revocation will be followed. If, during the
exam, a proctor asks the candidate to restart or the candidate
loses connection to their exam, the candidate can resume testing
by relaunching the application through their downloads by
following these steps:
1. Locate the downloads folder and reopen the OnVUE
application.
2. Recomplete any requested check-in steps and then
click next. The exam should reload and begin. If the
exam does not relaunch, please contact the Pearson
VUE customer service team via chat for additional
support.

12 ACSM Candidate Handbook

 In-Person Testing
On the day of the exam appointment, candidates are encouraged to arrive at least 15
minutes prior to their appointment. Review the test center location information in the
Section IV-2: appointment confirmation email sent by Pearson VUE. Check-in procedures include
verifying candidate ID, signature, biometric data and abiding with the testing facility’s
Candidate Rules Agreement.
Testing Day Testing Environment

In-Person Candidates should dress accordingly for comfort in a wide range of room temperatures.

Candidate Rules Agreement

Exams Prior to being seated for an exam, candidates will be asked to read and sign a Candidate
Rules Agreement and return it to the test administrator.

Personal Belongings
Candidates are discouraged from bringing any personal belongings to the testing center,
since these items must be stored in a secure space and are not permitted in the testing
room. Candidates are not allowed to bring any items into the testing room.
The following are examples of items NOT allowed in the testing room (and must be stored
outside the testing room):
• Purses
• Wallets
• Coats or jackets
• Briefcases
• Mobile phones
• Backpacks
• Pagers
• Watches
• Calculators
• Pens and pencils belonging to the candidate (only supplied writing instruments
are allowed)
• Dictionaries, including language translation dictionaries
• Food, drink or tobacco
• Notes, notebooks, study guides

Comfort Aids
Certain items defined as “minor comfort aids” may be allowed in the testing room as long as
the item is checked by the test center administrator before they are brought into the testing
room. These include:
• Tissues (i.e., Kleenex)
• Cough drops
• Support pillow (including neck pillow worn by people with neck injuries)
• Sweater or sweatshirt
• Eyeglasses
• Hearing aids or earplugs
A candidate must provide his or her own comfort aids. These are not considered to be
accommodations and therefore do not need to be pre-approved by Pearson VUE or
ACSM.

ACSM Candidate Handbook 13

 Eyedrops, water bottles, asthma inhalers, diabetic testing No Show/Late Arrival
equipment and other medical devices are not allowed in
the testing room unless the candidate has been granted an Candidates should make every effort to arrive at the testing center
accommodation for the item in advance. Candidates should follow at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment time.
Section IV-2: Testing Day In-Person Exams

the accommodations policy for consideration of a comfort aid (see If a candidate arrives late but within 15 minutes of the scheduled
Appendix B). appointment time and the test center administrator is not able
to seat the candidate for the exam, the candidate will have the
Approved Exam Supplies opportunity to reschedule the exam without penalty.
The candidate will be provided with an erasable notepad and
If a candidate arrives more than 15 minutes after the scheduled
erasable pen, or blank notepaper. Scratch paper of any kind is
appointment time, it is up to the discretion of the testing center
never permitted in the testing room. Candidates are not allowed
whether the candidate may still take the exam (either immediately
to use their own paper; notebooks or notepads of any kind are not
or later the same day).
allowed.
If the test center is unable to accommodate a late-arriving
Candidates are not permitted to bring their own writing
candidate, the candidate will not be able to take the test that day.
instruments into the testing room. The testing center will provide
The candidate will need to re-register for the exam and pay the
any pens or pencils that are required for the exam. Candidates are
exam fee again. The candidate’s results will be automatically
not permitted to write on the erasable note boards or notepaper
entered in the testing system as “no show.”
until after the exam has been started.
If a candidate does not arrive for an exam at all, the candidate will
A standard or scientific calculator will be provided within the exam.
be listed as a “no show” and will forfeit all fees associated with this
Metabolic equations will be supplied within appropriate exams
appointment. Candidates may reschedule a new appointment but
(see Appendix J). All other formulas (e.g., heart rate calculations,
will be responsible for rescheduling costs.
body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio) to complete an answer will not
be provided within the exam. Identification Requirements
Pre-Test Tutorial Candidates must provide two forms of proper identification (ID) – a
primary and a secondary ID. IDs must be an original document and
A short pre-test tutorial is provided to allow candidates to become
a not a photocopy or a fax. Candidates will not be seated for the
familiar with the mouse, selecting answer choices, and/or marking
exam if the proper ID is not provided.
items for review. Time allocated for the tutorial is separate from the
exam time. • A primary ID must contain a permanently affixed photo
of the candidate, along with the candidate’s signature,
Breaks and must be valid (not expired). Acceptable primary IDs
If the candidate requires a break during the exam, the timing of are listed in the table below.
the exam will not stop. The candidate’s ID may be checked upon • A secondary ID must contain the candidate’s signature.
returning to the exam room. Acceptable secondary IDs are listed in the table below.
Special Accommodations IDs are considered to be valid (non-expired) as long as they do not
Candidates may request, in advance, reasonable contain an expiration date that has passed. If there is no expiration
accommodations. See Appendix B for the form and additional date on an ID, it is considered to be valid. The candidate must sign
details. the ID before arriving at the testing center; it is not acceptable for
the candidate to sign the ID when checking in.

Acceptable forms of ID

Primary ID (picture and signature, not expired) Secondary ID (signature, not expired)

• Government-issued driver’s license • U.S. Social Security card

• Employee ID or work badge • Bank automatic-teller machine (ATM) card
• School ID • Any form of ID on the Primary lists
• Passport
• Military ID
• Alien registration card (green card, permanent
resident visa)
• Credit card*
• Other government-issued ID, such as a
state/country identification card

* A note about credit cards: A credit card can be used as a primary form of ID only if it contains both a photo and a
signature and is not expired. Most credit cards do not meet these requirements. Any credit card can be used as a
secondary form of ID, as long as it contains a signature and is not expired. This includes major credit cards, such as
VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. It also includes department store and gasoline credit cards.

14 ACSM Candidate Handbook

 Non-Disclosure Agreement and Ethics Code Compliance
Prior to starting the exam, either at a testing center or using OnVUE, candidates will be
asked to agree with the terms described in both the ACSM non-disclosure agreement
Section V: (NDA) (see Appendix H) and the Code of Ethics for ACSMCPs (see Appendix E).
Candidates who do not accept the terms of these statements will not be allowed to
proceed with the exam.
Scoring Exam Rescheduling and Cancellation Policy

and Exam All requests to cancel or transfer exams must be made either by calling Pearson VUE at
the U.S. based phone number 888-883-2276 or in your account at www.pearsonvue.com/

Policies
acsm.
Reschedule Policy
Candidates who wish to reschedule their exam must contact Pearson VUE one business
day/a full 24 hours prior to the exam appointment. Candidates will be charged $35 USD
each time an exam is rescheduled. Candidates who reschedule an exam less than one
business day in advance, or fail to appear for the exam, will forfeit their exam fee. If the
candidate does not arrive within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, then the candidate
is considered a no show, has forfeited the exam and will forfeit their exam fee.
Cancellation Policy
Candidates who wish to cancel their exam must contact Pearson VUE one business day
prior to their exam appointment and pay a $75 USD cancellation fee. Candidates who
cancel an exam less than one business day in advance or fail to appear for the exam will
forfeit their exam fee.
If the candidate does not arrive within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, then the
candidate is considered a no show, has forfeited the exam and will forfeit their exam fee.

Retest Policy
Current: Retest candidates will receive a retest voucher on the score report from
Pearson VUE.
Candidates may retake the exam 15 days following a failed attempt. Candidates must wait
at least 15 days to retake an exam from the most recent date the exam was taken. Re-test
candidates will receive a re-test voucher code on the score report from Pearson VUE.
Candidates may retake the exam at a discounted rate of $175.
Effective July 1, 2022: Candidates may take the exam up to 4 times in a 12-month period.
Candidates may retake the exam 15 days following a failed attempt. Candidates must wait
at least 15 days to retake an exam from the most recent date the exam was taken. Re-test
candidates will receive a re-test voucher code on the score report from Pearson VUE.
Candidates may retake the exam at a discounted rate of $175. If a passing score is not
achieved in 4 exam attempts in 12 months, the candidate must wait 12 months after the 4th
attempt to retake the exam. Candidates do not need to resubmit eligibility documentation
unless their CPR/AED certification has lapsed. All candidates will begin with zero attempts
beginning July 1, 2022..

Score Reports
Candidates receive their exam score and pass/fail status immediately upon submission
of their completed examination, including all applicable testing materials. Only the score
determines pass/fail status. Domain level performance is only provided as a guide for failed
candidates to identify areas of strength and weakness should they choose to take the
examination in the future.
ACSM’s CCRB reserves the right to void exam results, pending receipt, investigation and
confirmation of any subsequent incident reports regarding irregular behavior, either from a
candidate or Pearson VUE testing center staff.
Additional information on scoring methodology can be found on the ACSM website:
https://www.acsm.org/certification/about.

ACSM Candidate Handbook 15

 Certification Confidentiality All ACSM CCRB exam content and items are proprietary and
strictly confidential, and the unauthorized retention, possession,
Examination scores are confidential and will not be disclosed copying, distribution, disclosure, discussion or receipt of any
unless specific written permission to do so is provided by the examination question, in whole or in part, by written, electronic,
candidate prior to the exam, a specific written request (see oral or other form of communication, including but not limited to
Appendix G) to do so is received by the candidate after completion emailing, copying or printing electronic files, and reconstruction
Section V: Scoring and Exam Policies

of the exam, or by subpoena or court order. Candidates must also through memorization and/or dictation, before, during or after
indicate in writing the specific person or organization to whom the an examination, is strictly prohibited. In addition to constituting
scores should be disclosed. irregular behavior subject to disciplinary action such as revocation
ACSM verifies, upon request, the status of all individuals that have of certification or eligibility for future certification for a specified
passed their respective examination and maintain their current period of time, such activities violate ACSM’s proprietary rights,
certification status. including copyrights, and may subject violators to legal action.
ACSM allows all currently certified individuals to make their contact Exam applicants or examinees can be disqualified from taking or
information available to public searches. continuing to sit for an examination, or from receiving examination
scores, and may be required to retake an examination if, at its
Candidate Misconduct sole discretion, the ACSM CCRB Executive Council (CCRB
Action taken against candidates who create disturbances or EC) determines through proctor observation, statistical analysis
conduct themselves in a manner that may jeopardize the security or any other means available to it, that said exam applicants or
of an exam or the comfort of other candidates may include removal examinees were engaged in collaborative, disruptive or other
from the certification program. Misconduct includes, but is not irregular behavior before, during the administration of, or following
limited to, the following behaviors: the examination, or if the ACSM CCRB EC determines that the
integrity or validity of the examination otherwise is in question.
• Using unauthorized materials in the testing room
In some instances, while the evidence of irregularity is sufficiently
• Taking an exam for someone else strong to cast doubt upon the validity of scores, such evidence
• Causing disruptions of any kind may not enable the ACSM CCRB EC to identify the particular
individuals involved. In any such circumstances, the ACSM CCRB
• Attempting to remove exam questions or responses EC reserves the right to withhold the scores of all candidates,
from the testing room including candidates not directly implicated in the irregularity
• Tampering with computer hardware or software and, if necessary, to require all candidates to take an additional
examination at a later date under conditions which will ensure the
Irregular Behavior validity of all scores.
The ACSM CCRB defines irregular behavior as any behavior Anyone who has information or evidence that irregular behavior
that undermines or threatens the integrity of the application, has occurred should submit a written, signed statement to
assessment or certification processes of ACSM, whether it occurs the ACSM CCRB EC as described in the “Complaints” policy,
before, during or after an exam. detailing the incident with copies of any supporting evidence or
documentation.
Irregular behavior may include, but is not limited to, having or
seeking access to exam materials before the exam; impersonating If the ACSM CCRB EC determines that allegations of irregular
an examinee or engaging someone else to take the exam by proxy; behavior are true, the organization may impose sanctions
copying answers from someone else or allowing one’s answers against the offending individual which may include temporary or
to be copied; copying or memorizing and reproducing test items; permanent loss of eligibility for exams or certification, revocation
altering or misrepresenting scores; stealing exam materials; of an existing certificate, suspension of certification, invalidation of
possessing unauthorized materials during a computer-based scores, or other sanctions as deemed appropriate. Such sanctions
exam (e.g., recording devices, photographic materials, printed also may include legal action against the offending individual.
reference material) or other such behavior which may cast doubt
The ACSM CCRB EC shall maintain a record of all appeals, take
on the exam results of that or another person. It may also include
appropriate action regarding the appeal in a timely manner, and
making false representations during the application process or
document the actions taken. Candidates or certificants who
in connection with certification status, altering or falsifying ACSM
perceive a lack of due process may appeal to the ACSM CCRB EC
certificates or other documents, or making the false representation
(see Appendix A).
that one is certified by ACSM by using the legally protected identity
marks.

16 ACSM Candidate Handbook

ACSM ProFinder and Professional Registries Exam Registration Audit
After obtaining certification, ACSM certificants are automatically All candidates who successfully complete an ACSM certification
listed in the ACSM ProFinder and USREPS. Clinical Exercise exam are subject to an audit to confirm their eligibility and/or the
Physiologists must apply to CEPA to join the CEP Registry. status of their CPR certification.

Section V: Scoring and Exam Policies

Candidates who received a passing score on any ACSM
ACSM’s ProFinder is a professional certification exam in the previous month may be audited to verify
directory that provides certificants free current CPR certification. If contacted in this regard, candidates
exposure to employers, potential clients must provide documentation of their current CPR status within 30
and a network of like-minded professionals. Whether an days of the request by ACSM.
employer is looking for their next reputable staff member or an
individual is seeking the finest professionals in health fitness Every month, 15% of candidates who received a passing score in
training, they’ll find their ACSM Pro here. Certificants may opt- the previous month for the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist
out of ProFinder in their My ACSM portal account or by emailing credential will be audited for completion of an academic degree
[email protected]. using a third-party vendor. If a degree cannot be confirmed
using the third-party vendor, ACSM will contact the candidate
and request an official transcript noting the completed degree.
The U.S. Registry of Exercise Professionals
Transcripts must be submitted within 30 days of the ACSM
(USREPS) is an online registry at USreps.
request.
org where consumers and employers can identify professionals
in the United States who hold current, NCCA-accredited ACSM reserves the right to revoke the credential of any individual
exercise certifications. People can also use the registry to who cannot verify their eligibility and/or their current CPR
identify highly qualified exercise professionals in their area who certification as part of the ACSM audit verification process.
can provide the leadership and expertise they need to reach ACSM will contact the audited candidate by email; therefore, it is
their health, fitness or performance goals. ACSM certifications imperative that candidates keep their contact information updated
listed in USREPS include the Certified Personal Trainer, with ACSM.
Certified Exercise Physiologist and Certified Clinical Exercise
Physiologist. Certificants may opt-out of USREPS by emailing
[email protected].

The ACSM and Clinical

Exercise Physiology
Association (CEPA) co-
developed a CEP Registry to identify allied health care
professionals trained to assess, design and implement exercise/
fitness programs for individuals with chronic health conditions
(e.g., heart disease, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, renal disease,
etc.). The purpose of the CEP Registry is to: (1) positively
verify the certification of actively practicing Clinical Exercise
Physiologists; (2) recognize the professional experience
of Clinical Exercise Physiologists; (3) distinguish areas of
specialization; and (4) identify the location of Clinical
Exercise Physiologists by city and state. CEPA’s website is
www.acsm-cepa.org/.

ACSM Candidate Handbook 17

 Appendix A
Appeals for Denied Eligibility

Section VI: ACSM reserves the right to reject any application that does not meet the specified eligibility
requirements. The request for reconsideration must be submitted in writing to the ACSM

Appendices
National Director of Certification. The request must demonstrate equivalence to the
current eligibility requirements.
The national director of certification will review the request within 10 days. If the issue can
be resolved at the staff level the National Director of Certification will decide and notify the
CCRB of the result.
If an exam eligibility is rejected by the national director of certification, the candidate may
request an eligibility review by the CCRB Executive Committee (EC). Within 30 days, the
CCRB EC will appoint a Reconsideration Committee to review the request. The committee
will review the request and provide a recommendation to the CCRB EC within 45 days. The
decision made by the CCRB EC will be final. The candidate will be notified within 15 days of
the CCRB EC’s decision.
Submit all eligibility appeals for review via email, fax, or mail to:
ACSM Certification Department
401 W. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (317)-634-7817

18 ACSM Candidate Handbook

Appendix B
Special Accommodations Request Form
Request for Testing Accommodations
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). To ensure equal
opportunities for all qualified persons, ACSM will make reasonable testing accommodations for certification candidates when appropriate
and consistent with such legal requirements. ACSM will consider requests for testing accommodations related to any ACSM Certification
exams from certification candidates with a documented disability that substantially limits the candidate’s sensory, manual, speaking or

Section VI: Appendix

other functional skills, including a disability that impairs significantly the candidate’s ability to arrive at, read or otherwise complete the
examination. These accommodations can include additional time to complete the exam or use of approved auxiliary aids.
ACSM requires that each candidate requesting a testing accommodation complete and submit this form by email within 30 days prior
to the scheduling of a certification exam. A physician or other qualified professional who has made an individualized assessment related
to the candidate’s disability must provide the required information concerning the disability and the requested accommodation. A
qualified professional is a licensed or otherwise properly credentialed individual who possesses expertise in the disability for which an
accommodation is sought. The information and any documentation that the candidate provides regarding his/her disability and the need
for accommodation(s) will be treated as confidential.
NOTE: Candidates may take breaks taken at testing centers at any time during the exam; however, the exam timer will continue to run during
breaks. Therefore, extended time should be considered for candidates who require frequent or extended breaks related to their disability.
NOTE: Accommodations cannot be added to an already-scheduled exam. Please do not schedule your exam until your accommodations are
approved. If you have already scheduled your exam, please CANCEL it and follow the instructions after accommodations are approved.

Certification Candidate Information

Candidate’s Name:
(First Middle Initial Last)

ACSM ID:

Home Address:

City, State, Zip:

Telephone Number:

Email Address:

ACSM Candidate Handbook 19

 Certification Past Accommodations History
Have you previously received test accommodations during any of the following?

Certification or Licensure Examinations q Yes q No

Vocational Training or Higher Education q Yes q No

Elementary or Secondary School q Yes q No

Section VI: Appendix

NOTE: For each “YES” response above, please attach a detailed description of your accommodation history to this form, including but not
limited to:
• The disability related to the accommodation,
• The accommodation provided,
• The organization providing the accommodation,
• The name of the examination for which the accommodation was provided,
• The date the examination and accommodation were provided. Please indicate if the candidate took the exam multiple times but did not
receive accommodations for all administrations of the exam.

Qualified Professional Providing Diagnosis

Professional’s Name:
(First Middle Initial Last)

Business Address:

City, State, Zip:

Telephone Number:

Email Address:

Professional Title:
(e.g., Medical Doctor, Licensed Psychologist)

License Number and State Issuing License:

Professional Credential and Organization Issuing Credential:

Description of Disability
Disability Related to the Accommodation Request:

Date of Most Recent Professional Diagnosis:

Diagnostic Methods Used:

Diagnostic Results:

20 ACSM Candidate Handbook

 Requested Accommodation(s)
Please list all accommodations you are requesting

q 1.5 x Exam Time q Magnified Screen Text q Reader

q 2.0 x Exam Time q Separate Room q Recorder

q Enlarged Font q Other: (please describe)

Section VI: Appendix

Certification Exam
Please check the certification exam you would like accommodations for

q ACSM Certified Personal Trainer q ACSM Certified Group Exercise Instructor

q ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist q ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist

q ACSM/NPAS Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist

Signature of Qualified Professional:

By signing below, I verify that the information provided on this form and in the attached accommodations plan and documentation (if any) is
complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Signature of Qualified Professional Date

Signature of Candidate:
By signing below, I verify that the information provided on this form and in the attached accommodations plan and documentation (if
any) is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I authorize the release and disclosure of diagnostic information by health
care providers, or other professionals having such information, for the purpose of allowing ACSM to make a determination regarding
my request for a testing accommodation. I understand that ACSM will employ reasonable methods to help ensure that the information
provided regarding my disability and request for accommodation is treated as confidential.

Signature of Candidate Date

Submit the completed form and attachments to [email protected].

ACSM Candidate Handbook 21

 Appendix C ACSM-EP
The ACSM-EP® exam has a seat time of 210 minutes and consists
Exam Content Outlines of 140 items; of which 125 items are scored and 15 are non-scored.
ACSM-GEI The percentages listed in the table below indicate the proportion of
scored questions representing each performance domain.
The ACSM-GEI® exam has a seat time of 165 minutes and consists
of 115 items, of which 100 items are scored and 15 are non-scored. Performance Domains (2021) Domain Weights
The percentages listed in the table below indicate the proportion
Health and Fitness Assessment 35%
of questions representing each performance domain. The
Section VI: Appendix

Exercise Prescription and Implementation 35%

performance domains are:
Exercise Counseling and Behavior Modification 25%

Performance Domains (2021) Domain Weights Risk Management and Professional Responsibilities 5%

Class Design 30%

Leadership 25%
The complete ACSM-EP exam content outline can be found
Instruction 30%
here: https://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/certification-
documents/ep/acsm-certified-exercise-physiologist-exam-
Professional Responsibilities 15%
content-outline-2022.pdf?sfvrsn=e5e0860f_2

The complete ACSM-GEI exam content outline can be found ACSM-CEP

here: https://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/certification-
The ACSM-CEP® exam has a seat time of 210 minutes and
documents/gei/acsm-certified-group-exercise-instructor-
consists of 115 items; of which 100 items are scored and 15 are
exam-content-outline31037441e6eb45c0abd182751da78e72.
non-scored. The percentages listed in the table below indicate the
pdf?sfvrsn=55e831f3_4
proportion of scored questions representing each performance
domain.
ACSM-CPT
Performance Domains (2021) Domain Weights
The ACSM-CPT® exam has a seat time of 150 minutes and
Patient Assessment 20%
consists of 135 items; of which 120 items are scored and 15 are
Exercise Testing 19%
non-scored. The percentages listed in the table below indicate the
proportion of questions representing each performance domain. Exercise Prescription 23%

Exercise Training and Leadership 23%

Performance Domains (2021) Domain Weights
Education and Behavior Change 10%
Initial Client Consultation and Assessment 25%
Legal and Professional Responsibilities 5%
Exercise Programming and Implementation 45%

Exercise Leadership and Client Education 20%

The complete ACSM-CEP exam content outline can be found
here: https://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/certification-
Legal and Professional Responsibilities 10%
documents/cep/acsm-certified-clinical-exercise-physiologist-
The complete ACSM-CPT exam content outline can be found exam-content-outline-2022.pdf?sfvrsn=b82a2e21_2
here: https://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/certification-
documents/cpt/acsm-certified-personal-trainer-exam-content-
outline-2022.pdf?sfvrsn=e9c99cf6_4

22 ACSM Candidate Handbook

Appendix D Appendix E
CEP Content Requirements ACSM Certification Code of Ethics
1. Clinical Exercise Testing and Prescription [APPROVED by the CCRB Executive Council, May 2005/APPROVED by the
ACSM Board of Trustees, June 2005]
i. Pre-exercise screening procedures
PURPOSE
ii. Indications and contraindications for exercise testing
This Code of Ethics is intended to aid all certified and registered
iii. Exercise testing procedures and protocols American College of Sports Medicine Credentialed Professionals

Section VI: Appendix

iv. Interpretation of the exercise response (ACSMCP) to establish and maintain a high level of ethical
conduct, as defined by standards by which an ACSMCP may
v. Exercise prescription for clinical diseases or conditions determine the appropriateness of his or her conduct. Any existing
(e.g., cardiovascular, pulmonary, obesity/metabolic, professional, licensure or certification affiliations that ACSMCPs
orthopedic/musculoskeletal, neoplastic, frailty, have with governmental, local, state or national agencies or
neuromuscular) organizations will take precedence relative to any disciplinary
2. Advanced Exercise Physiology matters that pertain to practice or professional conduct.

i. Musculoskeletal system, structure and plasticity This Code applies to all ACMCPs, regardless of ACSM
membership status (to include members and non-members). Any
ii. Cardiopulmonary structure, function and dynamics cases in violation of this Code will be referred to the ACSM CCRB
iii. Nervous system and neuromuscular function Executive Council and the CCRB Ethics subcommittee, and
if appropriate, the ACSM Committee on Ethics and Professional
iv. Macronutrient metabolism, bioenergetics, and Conduct as well.
mitochondrial biogenesis
PRINCIPLES and STANDARDS
v. Endocrine and immune systems
Responsibility to the Public
vi. Integrated exercise responses
• ACSMCPs shall be dedicated to providing competent
vii. Environmental exercise physiology and legally permissible services within the scope of
the Knowledge and Skills (KSs) of their respective
3. Clinical Exercise Physiology/Pathophysiology
credential. These services shall be provided with
i. Pathophysiology of common cardiovascular diseases, integrity, competence, diligence, and compassion.
obstructive and restrictive pulmonary diseases,
• ACSMCPs provide exercise information in a manner
metabolic diseases, neoplastic, immunologic/
that is consistent with evidence-based science and
hematologic disorders and neuromuscular diseases
medicine.
ii. ECG interpretation involving the recognition of the most
• ACSMCPs respect the rights of clients, colleagues,
common abnormalities
and health professionals, and shall safeguard client
iii. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of confidences within the boundaries of the law.
commonly prescribed drugs (e.g., antibiotics/antivirals,
• Information relating to the ACSMCP/client relationship
anti-inflammatory drugs, pain medications, muscle
is confidential and may not be communicated to a third
relaxers, asthma medications, antihistamines, GI
party not involved in that client’s care without the prior
tract medications, hypertension and heart disease
written consent of the client or as required by law.
medications, antipsychotic medications, diabetes
medication) • ACSMCPs are truthful about their qualifications and
the limitations of their expertise and provide services
consistent with their competencies.
Responsibility to the Profession
• ACSMCPs maintain high professional standards.
As such, an ACSMCP should never represent him/
herself, either directly or indirectly, as anything other
than an ACSMCP unless he/she holds other license/
certification that allows him/her to do so.
• ACSMCPs practice within the scope of their knowledge,
skills, and abilities. ACSMCPs will not provide services
that are limited by state law to provision by another
health care professional only.

ACSM Candidate Handbook 23

 • An ACSMCP must remain in good standing relative to Consent
governmental requirements as a condition of continued By consenting to this privacy notice you give us permission to
Credentialing. process your personal data specifically for the purposes identified.
• ACSMCPs take credit, including authorship, only for Consent is required for ACSM to process both types of personal
work they have actually performed and give credit to the data (administrative and marketing), but it must be explicitly given.
contributions of others as warranted. If/where we ask you for sensitive personal data we will always tell
• Consistent with the requirements of their certification you why and how the information will be used.
or registration, ACSMCPs must complete approved, You may withdraw consent at any time by
Section VI: Appendix

additional educational course work aimed at maintaining contacting [email protected], requesting a copy of the Data
and advancing their knowledge and skills. Subject Consent Withdrawal Form. This must be completed and
PRINCIPLES and STANDARDS FOR CANDIDATES OF THE submitted back to ACSM at the same email address listed above
CERTIFICATION EXAM where it will be processed in line with our Withdrawal of Consent
Procedure.
Candidates applying for a Credentialing examination must comply
with all eligibility requirements and to the best of their abilities, Information Collection and Use
accurately complete the application process. In addition, the ACSM collects information from our website users, members and
candidate must refrain from any and all behavior that could be non-members. In this section of our privacy policy, we will describe
interpreted as “irregular” (please refer to the policy on irregular the type of information we collect and how we use it to provide
behavior). better services to our members. 
Appendix F Membership and Event Registration
When applying for membership or event registration through our
Public Disclosure of Affiliation Policy website, users are required to give their contact information (such
Any ACSM Certified Professional (ACSMCP) may disclose as name, mailing address, email address and phone number). We
their affiliation with ACSM Credentialing in any context, oral also may collect demographic information (such as title, company
or documented, provided it is currently accurate. In doing so, information and areas of interest, etc.). For internal purposes, we
no ACSMCP may imply ACSM endorsement of whatever is use this information to communicate with members and provide
associated in context with the disclosure, unless expressly requested services, and, for our website visitors, to provide a
authorized by the ACSM. Disclosure of affiliation in connection more personalized experience on our sites. We use aggregate
with a commercial venture may be made provided the disclosure demographic information about our audience to improve our
is made in a professionally dignified manner, is not false, misleading service, for marketing purposes and/or industry reporting
or deceptive, and does not imply licensure or the attainment of purposes.
specialty or diploma status. For our services that require payment (such as membership
ACSMCPs may list their affiliation with ACSM Credentialing on dues, events, products and journals), we also collect credit card
their business cards without prior authorization from ACSM. information (such as card holder name, credit card number, billing
Institutions employing an ACSMCP may inform the public of an address, credit card security code and expiration date), which is
affiliation as a matter of public discourse or presentation. used for billing purposes only, and is not otherwise shared.
Surveys
Appendix G
From time to time we invite users to provide information via
Privacy Policy surveys. Participation in these surveys is completely voluntary, and
the user therefore has a choice whether to disclose requested
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SPORTS MEDICINE, INC. (ACSM) contact information (such as name and mailing address) and
recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy of information demographic information (such as zip code or job title). In addition
provided by users of our website, certified individuals, event to other uses set forth in this policy, contact information collected in
registrants, recipients of our email newsletters and all of our connection with surveys is used to monitor or improve the use and
members. We created this policy with a fundamental respect satisfaction of the site.
for our users’ right to privacy and to guide our relationships with
our users. ACSM is committed to ensuring that your privacy is Interactive Features
protected. We will only use the information that we collect about At our site, we offer interactive and community features such
you lawfully. We also adhere to the principles relating to the as discussion forums found in the communities section of the
obtaining and processing of Personal Data which are set out in the “Members Only” page. Note that all personal information sent or
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and are responsible posted via such features becomes public information for which we
for compliance with the data protection principles listed here. are not responsible. Discussion forums are regulated by the “Terms
This privacy statement discloses the privacy practices for all and Use” located on the communities page.
products and services of ACSM. A current list of our membership
categories, certification levels and events can be found at
https://www.acsm.org/membership.

24 ACSM Candidate Handbook

Tell-A-Friend implementation of GA. Disabling cookies on your internet browser
If users elect to use our referral service for informing a friend about will stop GA from tracking any part of your visit to pages within this
our sites and services, we may ask them for the friend’s name, job website.
title and email address. ACSM will store and use this information to Some of our publishers or sponsors use cookies on our sites in
send the friend an invitation. This information may also be used to announcements. However, we have no access to or control over
provide information about our company and related products and these publishers’ or sponsors’ cookies; we urge users to read their
services. The friend may contact us as specified in the tell-a-friend privacy policies for information.
message to request that no further communications be sent.
For our internal purposes, we gather date, time, browser type,

Section VI: Appendix

Communications with Us navigation history and IP address of all visitors to our site. This
We have features where users can submit information to us (such information does not contain information that can identify users
as our feedback forms or committee interest forms). Letters to the personally. We use this information for our internal security audit
editor and similar submissions may be made public. Requests for log, trend analysis and system administration, and to gather broad
service, support or information may be forwarded as needed to demographic information about our user base for aggregate use.
best respond to a specific request. We may retain emails and other
We may combine demographic information supplied by a member
information sent to us for our internal administrative purposes and
at the time of application with site usage data to provide general
to help us to serve customers better.
profiles, in aggregate non-personally identifiable form, about our
Communications from Us: Service Updates, Special Offers users and their preferences in the content of the site. We may share
In order to best serve our members, we may send updates that this composite information with our sponsors or publishers to help
contain important information about our sites and services. For them better understand our services.
example, we send new members a welcome message, and verify Your Rights
password and username for our password-protected sites. We
At any point while we are in possession of or processing your
may also communicate with a user to provide requested services
personal data, you have the following rights:
and for account-related issues via email, phone or regular mail.
• Right of access – you have the right to request a copy of
We offer our users the option to receive information about our
the information that we hold about you.
organization, related products, services and special events. Users
can choose not to receive these communications, as set forth in • Right of rectification – you have a right to correct data
our Permission section below. that we hold about you that is inaccurate or incomplete.
Automatic Data Collection • Right to be forgotten – in certain circumstances you can
Our websites have features that automatically collect information ask for the data we hold about you to be erased from our
from users, to deliver content specific to users’ interests and to records.
honor their preferences. This information assists us in creating sites • Right to restriction of processing – where certain
that will serve the needs of our users. conditions apply to have a right to restrict the
We use “cookies,” a piece of data stored on the user’s hard drive processing.
containing information about the user. Cookies benefit the user • Right of portability – you have the right to have the data
by requiring login only once, thereby saving time while on our site. we hold about you transferred to another organization.
If users reject the cookies, they may be limited in the use of some
areas of our site or the website display quality. Additionally, we may • Right to object – you have the right to object to certain
note some of the pages the user visits on our site through the use types of processing such as direct marketing.
of pixel tags (also called clear gifs). The use of cookies and pixels • Right to object to automated processing, including
enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance profiling – you also have the right to be subject to the
the experience on our sites. legal effects of automated processing or profiling.
Like most websites, this site uses Google Analytics (GA) to track • In the event that ACSM refuses your request under
user interaction. We use the data from GA to determine how many rights of access, we will provide you with a reason as to
people are using our site, how people find and use our webpages, why. You have the right to complain as outlined in clause
and to visualize user journeys through the website. 6 below.
Although GA records data, such as your geographical location, Complaints
device, internet browser and operating system, none of this
In the event that you wish to make a complaint about how your
information makes you personally identifiable to ACSM. Your
personal data is being processed by ACSM (or third parties), or
computer’s IP address is also recorded by GA and presents a
how your complaint has been handled, you have the right to lodge
potential way for you to be personally identified; however, Google
a complaint directly with ACSM’s data protection representative.
does not grant ACSM access to this information. We consider
Google to be a third-party data processor.
GA makes use of cookies, details of which can be found on
Google’s developer guides. Our website uses the analytics.js

ACSM Candidate Handbook 25

 Supervisory contact: Links
Katie Feltman Our websites contain links to other sites. ACSM is not responsible
Chief Operating Officer for the privacy practices or content of such other sites. We
[email protected] encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and
to read the statements of each website to which we may link that
Sharing Your Information
may collect personally identifiable information. As well, we are not
When we offer co-branded, customized or sponsored products responsible for the misuse of ACSM’s name, products or services
and services, or when we join with other parties to provide specific listed on other sites.
products or services, we may share (provide and receive) personal
Section VI: Appendix

information with them. Unless prohibited by law, we do not share Notification and Changes
credit card information with such third parties. These sponsors will If we change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on
use the information according to their own privacy policies, and we the ACSM website so our users are aware of what information
urge participants to read those policies before registering. we collect, how we use it and under which circumstances, if any,
we disclose it. Users should check this policy frequently to keep
On occasion, we may rent lists of targeted names and offline and
abreast of any changes.
online contact information for marketing purposes to reputable
third parties whose products or services we think you might find For questions about this privacy statement, or questions
of interest. We give users the option of not having their name or concerning the practices of this site or any dealings with American
contact information disclosed to third parties, as set forth in the College of Sports Medicine, Inc. contact:
Permission section below.
Corporate Communications
We may share aggregate information, which is not personally American College of Sports Medicine, Inc.
identifiable, with others. This information may include usage and 401 W. Michigan Street
demographic data, but it will not include personal information. Indianapolis, IN 46202
Correction/Updating Information [email protected]
(317) 637-9200
Certificants may update their personally identifiable information
(such as a change in address, email, or phone number), by logging Appendix H
in to the members only portion of our website. For assistance,
contact certification at [email protected]. Non-disclosure Agreement and General Terms of Use for
Permission Exams Developed for the American College of Sports
Medicine Committee on Certification and Registry Boards
Our users are given the opportunity to choose whether to receive
information from our sponsors, publishers and/or us, not directly This exam is American College of Sports Medicine confidential
related to the registered services. Users also have the opportunity and is protected by trade secret law. It is made available to you, the
to choose whether to have personal information shared with third examinee, solely for the purpose of becoming certified in the area
parties for marketing purposes. Instructions for how to exercise referenced in the title of this exam. You are expressly prohibited
from disclosing, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting this exam,
this choice are contained in emails sent by us, on our product
in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, verbal or written,
websites and in each of our publications. Should you wish to not
electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the prior
have your information shared with ACSM approved third parties,
express written permission of the American College of Sports
please e-mail ACSM at [email protected]. Please note that
Medicine.
we will endeavor to implement requests within a reasonable time;
although, for a reasonable time users may continue to receive
mailings, etc., transmitted based on information released prior to
the implementation of the request. Users will continue to receive
information directly related to their registered services, so they
always are kept informed.
Security
We use industry-standard encryption technologies when
transferring and receiving your information. Additionally, we
implement commercially reasonable security measures at
our physical facilities to protect against loss or misuse of your
information.

26 ACSM Candidate Handbook

 Appendix I
Abbreviations

AACVPR American Association of Cardiovascular and COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
CP cerebral palsy
ABI ankle/brachial pressure index
CPET cardiopulmonary exercise test
ACC American College of Cardiology

Section VI: Appendix

CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation
ACE-I angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
CR cardiac rehabilitation
ACS Acute coronary syndrome
CRF cardiorespiratory fitness
ACSM American College of Sports Medicine
CVD cardiovascular disease
ACSM-CEP ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist
CWR constant work rate
ACSM-CPT ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
Db body density
ACSM-EP ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist
DBP diastolic blood pressure
ACSM-GEI ACSM Certified Group Exercise Instructor
DBS deep brain stimulation
ADL activities of daily living
DM diabetes mellitus
ADT androgen deprivation therapy
DOMS delayed onset muscle soreness
AEDs automated external defibrillators
DS Down syndrome
AHA American Heart Association
DVR dynamic variable resistance
AHFS American Hospital Formulary Service
DXA dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
EAS European Atherosclerosis Society
AMI acute myocardial infarction
ECG electrocardiogram (electrocardiographic)
AMS acute mountain sickness
EDSS Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale
ARBs angiotensin II receptor blockers
EE energy expenditure
ART antiretroviral therapy
EI energy intake
AS ankylosing spondylitis
EIB exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
ATP III Adult Treatment Panel III
ESRD end-stage renal disease
AV atrioventricular
ETT exercise tolerance test
BIA bioelectrical impedance analysis
Ex Rx exercise prescription
BMD bone mineral density
FES-LCE functional electrical stimulation-leg cycle
BMI body mass index ergometry
BMT bone marrow transplantation FEV1.0 forced expiratory volume in one second
BP blood pressure FFBd fat-free body density
CABG(S) coronary artery bypass graft (surgery) FFM fat-free mass
CAD coronary artery disease FITT Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type
CCB calcium channel blockers FM fat mass
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention FN false negative
CHF congestive heart failure FP false positive
CKD chronic kidney disease FPG fasting plasma glucose
CM cardiomyopathy FRAX Fracture Risk Algorithm
CNS central nervous system

ACSM Candidate Handbook 27

 FRIEND Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise LVAD left ventricular assist device
National Database
LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction
FVC forced vital capacity
LVH left ventricular hypertrophy
GFR glomerular filtration rate
MAP mean arterial pressure
GOLD Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung
MET metabolic equivalent
Disease
Metsyn metabolic syndrome
GXT graded exercise test
Section VI: Appendix

MI myocardial infarction
HACE high-altitude cerebral edema
MS multiple sclerosis
HAPE high-altitude pulmonary edema
MSI musculoskeletal injury
HbA1C glycolated hemoglobin
MVC maximal voluntary contraction
HBM health belief model
6-MWT 6-min walk test
HDL-C high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
NCEP National Cholesterol Education Program
HFpEF heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
NFCI nonfreezing cold injuries
HFrEF heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
NHANES National Health and Nutrition Examination
HIIT high intensity interval training
Survey
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and
NHLBI National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Accountability Act
NOTF National Obesity Task Force
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
NSAIDs nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
HMG-CoA hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A
NYHA New York Heart Association
HR heart rate
OA osteoarthritis
HRmax maximal heart rate
OGTT oral glucose tolerance test
HRpeak peak heart rate
OUES oxygen uptake efficiency slope
HRR heart rate reserve
PR pulmonary rehabilitation
HRrest resting heart rate
PVC premature ventricular
HSCT hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Q· contraction cardiac output
ICD implantable cardioverter defibrillator
PA physical activity
ID intellectual disability
PAD peripheral artery disease
IDF International Diabetes Federation
PaCO2 partial pressure of carbon dioxide
IFG impaired fasting glucose
PAH pulmonary arterial hypertension
IGT impaired glucose tolerance
PaO2 partial pressure of arterial oxygen
IHD ischemic heart disease
PAR-Q+ Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
IMT inspiratory muscle training
for Everyone
ISH International Society of Hypertension
PCI percutaneous coronary intervention
IVCD intraventricular conduction delay
PD Parkinson disease
JTA job task analysis
PG plasma glucose
KSs knowledge and skills
PNF proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
LABS Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery
PR pulmonary rehabilitation
LBP low back pain
PVC premature ventricular contraction
LDL-C low-density lipoprotein cholesterol .
Q cardiac output
L-G-L Lown-Ganong-Levine
QTc QT corrected for heart rate

28 ACSM Candidate Handbook

RA rheumatoid arthritis THR target heart rate
RER respiratory exchange ratio TN true negative
RHR resting heart rate TP true positive
1-RM one repetition maximum TPB theory of planned behavior
ROM range of motion TTM transtheoretical model
RPE rating of perceived exertion VAT ventilatory-derived anaerobic threshold
.

Section VI: Appendix

RVH right ventricular hypertrophy VCO2 volume of carbon dioxide per minute
.
SaO2 percent saturation of arterial oxygen VE expired ventilation per minute
SBP systolic blood pressure VF ventricular fibrillation
.
SCD sudden cardiac death VO2 volume of oxygen consumed per minute
.
SCI spinal cord injury VO2max maximal volume of oxygen consumed per
minute (maximal oxygen uptake, maximal
SCT social cognitive theory
oxygen consumption)
SD standard deviation .
VO2peak peak oxygen uptake
SDT self-determination theory .
VO2R oxygen uptake reserve
SEE standard error of the estimate .
%VO2R percentage of oxygen uptake reserve
SEM social ecological model
VT ventilatory threshold
SIT sprint interval training
WBGT wet-bulb globe temperature
SpO2 percent saturation of arterial oxygen
WCT Wind Chill Temperature Index
SPPB Short Physical Performance Battery
WHR waist-to-hip ratio
T1DM Type 1 diabetes mellitus
W-P-W Wolff-Parkinson-White
T2DM Type 2 diabetes mellitus
TG triglycerides

ACSM Candidate Handbook 29

 Appendix J
ACSM Equation and Calculations
METABOLIC CALCUATIONS and METHODS for PRESCRIBING EXERCISE
Section VI: Appendix

30 ACSM Candidate Handbook

Appendix K
GETP 11th Ed. Highlights
ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (GETP) 11th edition was publilshed in 2020. The ACSM Certification exams will
reflect changes in GETP beginning July 1, 2022.
The significant revisions and additions from the 10th to 11th editions are outlined below. A high-level summary is also available online: https://
www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/publications-files/acsm-getp11_summary-of-significant-revisions.pdf?sfvrsn=26695e49_6.

Section VI: Appendix

Candidates must be familiar with the following:
• 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines
• The HR max calculation that should be used for the examination prior to July 1, 2022 is 220-Age.
On or after July 1, 2022, the HR max calculation will be 207 – (0.7 x age). Refer to Chapter 5 in 11th edition.
• ACOG Guidelines 2019

KEY FOR CANDIDATES

BLUE FYI
ORANGE Substantial update

Chapter GETP 11 Page # GETP 10 GETP 11 Comments

1 1 x Definition of Physical Fitness has been modified from GETP10

2 47 x Obesity renamed BMI/waist girth; hypertension now blood pressure; Dyslipidemia now
lipids, DM now blood glucose
2 50 x Table 2.3 updated BP guidelines now included. AHA/ACC AND JNC guidelines both
provided.
2 51 x Table 2.4 updated and significantly different; no total cholesterol desired values

3 103 x Table 3.15 added ROM in degrees at selected joints by Age & Sex

3 102 x Sit and reach removed. Updated information.

3 103-105 x New section on balance added

5 142 x Back to FITT; secondary mention of VP

5 149 x HR max 220-Age no longer recommended. Use one of the alternatives provided.

5 150 x New concept: 2 min of moderate exercise = 1 min of vigorous

6 167 x New 2018 PAGA information on youth PA intensity

6 172 X 5 classifications of low back pain added

6 181 x New information on mobility assessments in older adults

6 182 x Table 6.4 New

6 184 x New information added to FITT Table; Power training: 6–10 repetitions with high velocity

6 188 x Test classification change: If a submaximal exercise test is warranted, the test should be
performed with physician supervision after the woman has been medically evaluated
for contraindications to exercise

6 188 x New information added on aerobic exercise during pregnancy

6 192 x New subsection-Exercise Types to Consider

6 192 x New subsection-Exercise Types to Avoid

ACSM Candidate Handbook 31

 Chapter GETP 11 Page # GETP 10 GETP 11 Comments

6 193 x Special Considerations Section revised

6 193 x New subsection-Exercise During Postpartum

8 235 x Flexibility FITT time recommendations have been changed

8 234 X Exercise training considerations are almost all new (a few bullets are the same -
adverse event threshold and RPE recommendations)
Section VI: Appendix

8 239 X FITT aerobic intensity and time recommendations updated

8 239 X FITT resistance time recommendations changed from 2 sets to 1-2 sets

8 240 X 3-7 MET/wk changed to 7+

8 255 X FITT table changes in Resistance training frequency from 2-3d/wk to at least 2d/wk

8 261 X FITT resistance training frequency changed from 2-3 d/wk to at least 2 d/wk

8 262 X Information on page 262-266 is all new - pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung
disease, cystic fibrosis, lung transplant, muscle fitness for lung disease

9 279-280 New information concerning HbA1c and aerobic and resistance training

9 280 x Minor changes to the FITT table: “Flexibility and Balance”, “No more than 2
consecutive days without activity”, “based on subjective experience of “moderate”
to “very hard”, “to improve strength”, Balance exercises: light to moderate intensity”,
“Continuous activity or HIIT”.

9 281 x Updated bullet point under “Exercise Training Considerations.” During combined
training, completing resistance training prior to aerobic training may lower the risk of
post-exercise hypoglycemia in individuals with T1DM. HIIT training, combining both
anaerobic and aerobic exercise, may have a similar effect.

9 283 X Updated bullet point under “Special Considerations”

9 283 X Updated bullet point under “Special Considerations.” For those with diabetes, pre-
exercise optimal blood glucose levels are between 90 and 250 mg/dL (5.0 and 13.9
mmol/L). The ADA provides guidelines on carbohydrate ingestion based upon pre-
exercise blood glucose levels.

9 287 x Updated table; Under the FITT table, under “Resistance”, “< 50% 1-RM to improve
muscle endurance” was removed

9 288 x Updated recommendation. It is important to be familiar with both the ACC/AHA and
JNC7 BP thresholds and classifications as these changes may result in slight
variations in prevalence and control rates and/or influence patient education.
See Table 2.3 for both sets of criteria.

9 290 x Updated information under “Exercise Prescription.” Emerging research suggests that
dynamic resistance exercise results in BP reductions equal to or greater in magnitude
to those experienced following aerobic exercise (96). Therefore, the ExRx for
individuals for hypertension no longer place an emphasis on aerobic exercise alone, but
rather encourage a variety of multi-modal exercises that reflect personal preference.
Individuals with hypertension are recommended to engage in aerobic or resistance
exercise alone or aerobic and resistance exercise combined (i.e., concurrent exercise)
on most, preferably all, days of the week to total 90 min to 150 min per week (96). In
addition, neuromotor exercise should be performed ≥2–3 d . wk–1 at low to moderate
intensity for ≥20-30 min per session and include exercise involving motor skills and/or
functional body weight and flexibility exercise such as yoga, pilates, and tai chi (96).

10 318 x FITT table for Cancer has been updated to reflect 2018 guidelines

32 ACSM Candidate Handbook

 Chapter GETP 11 Page # GETP 10 GETP 11 Comments

10 319 x Cancer specific exercise considerations provided, new section

11 379 X Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity is new content; 379-382

11 382 X Alzheimer’s Disease is new content; 382-387

11 387 X Anxiety and Depression is new content; 387-392

Section VI: Appendix

11 392 X Autism Spectrum Disorder is new content; 392-396

11 398 X A new gross motor classification system (Table 11.3) has replaced the CPISRA
functional classification system (Table 11.4 in GETP10)

11 406 X New information on strength, flexibility, balance and body composition testing

11 407 X Detailed information on why those with ID have lower CRF

11 408 X FITT - Aerobic frequency changed to ≥ 3 d/wk; Intensity changed to 40%-80% of

VO2max instead of VO2R

11 408 X FITT- Resistance intensity changed to 10-12 reps to begin and progression is not to
70%-80%

11 408 X FITT - Flexibility is now “preferred daily”

11 408 X Added HIIT and interval training information for ID

11 419 X FITT aerobic frequency changes to 3-4 d/wk; intensity recommendations have
significant changes

11 419 X FITT resistance intensity and time recommendations changed

11 419 X Neuromotor Recommendations added to FITT box

12 442 X New Box 12.1. HIIT use caution with sedentary due to unpleasant affective responses

12 450 x Added Dual Processing Theories

12 453 X New Implementation Intentions

12 454 X Added information about apps and wearable devices

12 455 X New Affect Regulation section

12 462 X Added section for individuals with mental illness

ACSM Candidate Handbook 33

 Appendix L

ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist® Application

Please indicate your name as you would like it to appear on your certificate. ACSM files will
reflect this name and address. Please do not abbreviate.
Section VI: Appendix

q Dr. q Mr. q Ms. ACSM ID: ____________________________________________________________________

Eligibility Requirements
First Name _____________________________________________________ M.I. ___________________________
• Clinical Exercise
Physiology Master’s Last Name _______________________________________________________________________________________
degree and 600 hours of
documented hands-on q Home Address ________________________________________________________________________________
experience
City __________________________ State________________________ Zip ___________________________
OR
• Exercise Science, Exercise q Work Address _________________________________________________________________________________
Physiology Bachelor’s
degree and 1,200 hours City __________________________ State________________________ Zip ___________________________
of documented hands-on
experience Business Telephone _____________________________________________________________________________
AND Home Telephone ________________________________________________________________________________
• Current Certification as a
Basic Life Support Provider Email Address ___________________________________________________________________________________
or CPR for the Professional
Rescuer* Date of Birth________ Gender: q Female q Male q Non-Binary q Prefer not to say
*Note: CPR/BLS is mandated for
College/University Attended _____________________________________________________________________
both of the above stipulations.

Degree and Major relevant to requirements_______________________________________________________

Submit the application to:
ACSM National Center, Graduation Date or Expected Year of Graduation_________________________________________________
Department 6022, Carol
Other current certifications ______________________________________________________________________
Stream, IL 60122-6022
[email protected]

Exam Fees q Enclosed with the application is a check/money order

payable to ACSM (ACSM Fed ID# 23-6390952).
Exam Fee $349 All payments must be in U.S. dollars ($25 fee for
ACSM Member Discount $279 returned checks).
CAAHEP/CoAES Please charge above fees to my
Program Discount $210 q MasterCard® q Visa® q Discover® q American Express®
*No other discounts Card number |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|
Total $______ Expiration Date: |__|__|/|__|__| Security Code: |__|__|__|
_______________________________________
Signature authorizes ACSM to charge credit card.

Signature of Applicant _________________________________________ Date __________________________

I, by the signature affixed above, understand that continued CPR certification is a necessary component of, and
requirement for, valid ACSM certification; and I confirm that I have met all of the minimum requirements for this level of
credential and will provide proof if necessary. I have completed the application to the best of my knowledge and the
information is accurate and true. I have read, understand, and agree to the registration transfer and cancellation
policies, which can be found in the ACSM Certification Candidate Handbook. I confirm that the information submitted in the
application accurately summarizes my clinical experience in preparation to qualify for the ACSM-CEP® examination.
I understand that falsification of this information could result in the revocation of the ACSM-CEP® credential.

34 ACSM Candidate Handbook

 Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist® Application

Clinical Experience Documentation Requirements

Application
Instructions: Outline clinical experience by including setting with facility name and actual
Requirements
contact hours by condition. Please specify any hands-on experience in a clinical/hospital setting
o Application Form where you are completing clinical exercise testing, clinical exercise prescription and clinical
exercise training, as well as reading EKGs.
o Official copy of college/

Section VI: Appendix

university transcript 1. Due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic on clinical internships, the ACSM Certification
noting degree Board has again extended the amended requirements for taking the ACSM Certified Clinical
completion Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) exam. ACSM-CEP candidates may now sit for the
o Summary description exam if they have at least 50% of their clinical internship hours completed when they apply.
of the program of study Outstanding clinical hours must be submitted within 12 months from the time of passing their
with the list of required exam. This is in effect until the end of December 2022.
courses with course 2. ACSM-CEP candidates are required to provide documented clinical experience (Master’s
descriptions as written in prepared – 600 hours; Bachelor’s prepared – 1,200 hours). Clinical experiential hours must
the course catalog (not be gained exclusively from a clinical setting. Additional restrictions and experience requisites
applicable for graduates are provided in the Candidate Handbook pages 5-6. Clinical hours may be earned through
of CAAHEP/CoAES internships, volunteer hours and/or work experience. Virtual, hands-on counseling hours are
programs) accepted. Virtual counseling hours must document active participation in exercise counseling,
o Clinical experience prescription, and support. No more than 50% of required clinical experience hours can be
documentation attributed to virtual counseling.

o Copy of BLS or CPR for

the professional rescuer Name of Facility: Location:
certification Identify the name of the
Supervisor Name:
facility and supervisor
Once approved, contact information. Supervisor Email:
candidates register for
the exam pearsonvue. Listing of Hours: Only Start date:
com/acsm. If special list actual dates/hours
accommodations are End date:
worked.
required, refer to the Total hands-on hours at this location:
Candidate Handbook for
details. Type of Experience: o Professional o Student/Internship o Volunteer
If the applicant does
not meet the eligibility Type of Setting: o Hospital o Outpatient Clinic o Exercise Testing Lab o Other
requirements, exam fees
will be fully refunded. Briefly describe
experience: Include
a paragraph of
experience, attach job/
internship description,
attach resume/CV, etc.

ACSM Candidate Handbook 35