Health and Kinesiology Professional Certifications
Contributed by Don Burgess, Kara O’Kane, Nicole Beelke,
and Courtney Hartman
Certifications can greatly increase an individual's professional
marketability and value. Certification programs offered by professional
organizations ensure that individuals have the necessary skills
and knowledge to competently plan, understand, communicate and administer
a variety concepts, programs or methods used in the health field.
Why Get Certified?
Certifications help a health professional in many ways. They provide
opportunities for career advancement, freedom for a professional
to specialize in a number of various aspects of the field, opportunities
to build on credentials in order to become a more competent and
experienced professional, and help professionals stay up-to-date
with current trends.
How To Get Certified
There are many organizations that provide a variety of certifications
in all aspects of health. Many organizations provide opportunities
for gaining certifications through online work, workshops, or written
and/or practical examinations. Health professionals should examine
and research exactly which certifications best fit their goals as
professionals, desired area of specialization, and level credibility
in the field.
Health & Kinesiology Certifications
Here is a list of some well-known and well-respected certifications
in health and kinesiology, including information on the organizations
that provide them.
CPR/AED and First Aid
www.redcross.org. CPR,
AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) and First Aid certifications
are vital for each health professional. The basic knowledge provided
is a requirement for many positions. These certifications can
be obtained from local hospitals and/or fire and police departments.
ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine)
www.acsm.org. ACSM advances
and integrates scientific research to provide educational and
practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.
ACSM credentialing provides the best measure of competence in
sports medicine, health, and fitness for clients and employers.
It is the most rigorous in the industry, requiring the highest
level of knowledge and skill and establishing the standard for
all other certifications. Other programs have used ACSM certification
as a model, but none has achieved ACSM's high standard.
CHES (Certified Health Educator Specialist)
www.nchec.org. Health educators
are professionals who design, conduct and evaluate activities
that help improve the health of all people in a variety of settings.
Health educators hold a range of job titles such as patient educators,
health education teachers, trainers, community organizers and
health program managers. Certified Health Education Specialists
(CHES) are those who have met the standards of competence established
by NCHEC and have successfully passed the CHES examination.
NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association)
www.nsca-lift.org. The
NSCA’s Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist®
(CSCS®) and NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®)
certifications were the first nationally accredited certification
programs in the fitness industry. Awarded only after passing a
rigorous and challenging exam administered by an independent examination
service, the credentials are widely respected and internationally
recognized. Having received the full approval of the National
Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the credentials are
regarded as the Credentials of Distinction among fitness professionals.
ADA (American Dietetics Association)
www.eatright.org. The
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) is
ADA's accrediting agency for education programs preparing students
for careers as registered dietitians (RD) or dietetics technicians
(DTR). CADE exists to serve the public by establishing and enforcing
Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards that ensure
the quality and continued improvement of nutrition/dietetics education
programs. Programs meeting those standards are accredited by CADE.
ACE (American Council on Exercise)
www.acefitness.org.
ACE's certification programs are among the most respected in the
fitness industry. The ACE certification exams and study materials
have been developed by leading experts (researchers and practitioners)
in the fitness field. In 2003, the American Council on Exercise
was granted accreditation for all of its certification programs
by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). ACE
is now only one of two certifying organizations in the entire
fitness industry whose programs have been accredited.
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