Frequently Asked Questions | ACSM Certification

Candidates must provide two forms of proper identification. Candidates will not be seated for the exam if the proper ID is not provided. 

The primary ID must contain a permanently affixed photograph and a signature and must be valid (not expired). An ID must be an original document and not a photocopy or a fax.

• A primary ID must contain a permanently affixed photo of the candidate, along with the candidate’s signature. Acceptable primary IDs are listed in the table below.
• A secondary ID must contain the candidate’s signature. Acceptable secondary IDs are listed in the table below.

IDs are considered to be valid (non-expired) as long as they do not 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 the ID before arriving at the testing center; it is not acceptable for the candidate to sign the ID when checking in.

The following are acceptable forms of identification:

* 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.

Candidates are not allowed to bring any items into the testing room.

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.

Personal belongings that must be stored

The following are examples of items NOT allowed in the testing room:

• Purses
• Wallets
• Coats or jackets
• Briefcases
• Cell phones
• Backpacks
• Pagers
• Watches
• Calculators
• Pens and pencils belonging to the candidate (Only writing instruments supplied by the testing center are allowed.)
• Dictionaries, including language translation dictionaries (Many candidates try to take these into the testing room; they are not permitted unless specifically allowed by an exam sponsor.)
• Food, drinks or tobacco
• Notes, notebooks, study guides

The candidates will be provided with an erasable noteboard and erasable pen, or blank notepaper. Scratch paper of any kind is never permitted in the testing room. Candidates are not allowed to use their own paper or notebooks, and notepads of any kind are not allowed.

Candidates are not permitted to bring their own writing instruments into the testing room. The testing center must provide any pens or pencils that are required for an exam. Candidates are not permitted to write on the erasable noteboards or notepaper until after the exam has been started.

A standard or scientific calculator will be provided within the exam. The Metabolic Equations for Gross VO₂ in Metric Units table will be supplied within appropriate exams. All other formula (e.g., heart rate calculations, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio) to complete an answer will not be provided within the exam.

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, such as Kleenex
• Cough drops
• Pillow for supporting neck, back or injured limb
• Sweater or sweatshirt
• Eyeglasses and hearing aids
• Earplugs
• Neck braces or collars (worn by people with neck injuries)

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.

Eyedrops, water bottles, asthma inhalers, diabetic testing equipment and other medical devices are not allowed in the testing room unless the candidate has been granted an accommodation for the item in advance. Candidates should follow the accommodations policy for consideration of a comfort aid.

Prior to starting the exam, candidates will be asked to agree with the terms described in both the ACSM non-disclosure agreement (NDA), and the Code of Ethics for ACSM Certified Professionals. Candidates who do not accept the terms of these statements will not be allowed to proceed with the exam.

If the candidate requires a break during the exam, the timing of the exam will not stop.  The candidate’s ID may be checked upon returning to the exam room. 

Candidates should make every effort to arrive at the testing center at least 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment time.

If a candidate arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled appointment time and the test center administrator is not able to seat the candidate for the exam, the candidate will have the opportunity to reschedule the exam without penalty. Because the appointment time has already passed, the test center administrator will not be able to reschedule the candidate.

If a candidate arrives more than 15 minutes after the scheduled appointment time, it is up to the discretion of the testing center as to whether or not the candidate may still take the exam (either immediately or later the same day).

If the test center is unable to accommodate a late-arriving candidate, the candidate will be unable to take the test that day.  The candidate will need to register for the exam and pay the exam fee again. The candidate’s results will be automatically entered in the testing system as “no show.”

If a candidate does not arrive for an exam at all, the candidate will be listed as a “no show” and will forfeit all fees associated with this appointment. Candidates may reschedule a new appointment, but will be responsible for rescheduling costs.

Action taken against candidates who create disturbances or conduct themselves in a manner that may jeopardize the security of an exam or the comfort of other candidates may include removal from the certification program.

Misconduct includes the following behaviors:

• using unauthorized materials in the testing room
• taking an exam for someone else
• causing disruptions of any kind
• attempting to remove exam questions or responses from the testing room
• tampering with computer hardware or software

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (PL 101‐336) is a sweeping civil rights law which is intended to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities in all aspects of life. The American College of Sports Medicine examination program embraces the law in both letter and spirit. Title I of the ADA states "Employers [certifying bodies] should conduct a job analysis to determine the essential functions of each job (knowledge and skills‐ KSs). When an individual with a disability meets legitimate educational, skill, and experience qualifications for a position [credential examination] the employer must make a reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to, reassignment of non‐essential tasks, providing auxiliary aids or services, removing architectural barriers in the workplace..." Title III includes a provision for "changing rules or practices" for individuals with disabilities who meet essential eligibility requirements. Reasonable accommodations for the purpose of conducting an ACSM credential examination may include text magnification, assistive listening devices, readers, and extended time. 

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) wishes to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently from other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services. If a candidate needs the auxiliary aids or services identified in the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact ACSM’s Certification Department at (317) 637‐9200. 

The special accommodation request form can be found in Appendix C. 

All requests for special accommodations for an ACSM credentialing exam must be by made emailing the completed accommodations request to certification@acsm.org or mailing the completed form to ACSM Certification Department, 401 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202‐3233.

One MUST get special accommodations approved prior to scheduling an exam. If you have an exam already scheduled, we cannot retroactively add accommodations. You must cancel that exam and wait until accommodations are approved and THEN schedule your exam (instructions will be given upon approval).

The ACSM Committee on Certification and Registry Boards (CCRB) defines irregular behavior as any behavior that undermines or threatens the integrity of the application, assessment, or certification processes of ACSM CCRB, whether it occurs before, during or after an exam.

Irregular behavior may include, but is not limited to, having or seeking access to exam materials before the exam, impersonating an examinee or engaging someone else to take the exam by proxy, copying answers from someone else or allowing one’s answers to be copied, copying or memorizing and reproducing test items, altering or misrepresenting scores, stealing exam materials, possessing unauthorized materials during a computer-based exam (e.g., recording devices, photographic materials, printed reference material) or other such behavior which may cast doubt on the exam results of that or another person. It may also include making false representations during the application process or in connection with certification status, altering or falsifying ACSM certificates or other documents, or making the false representation that one is certified by ACSM by using the legally-protected identity marks.

The content of all ACSM CCRB exams and its items are proprietary and strictly confidential, and the unauthorized retention, possession, copying, distribution, disclosure, discussion, or receipt of any examination question, in whole or in part, by written, electronic, oral or other form of communication, including but not limited to e-mailing, copying or printing of electronic files, and reconstruction through memorization and/or dictation, before, during, or after an examination, is strictly prohibited. In addition to constituting irregular behavior subject to disciplinary action such as revocation of certification or revocation of eligibility for future certification for a specified period of time, such activities violate ACSM’s proprietary rights, including copyrights, and may subject violators to legal action.

Exam applicants or examinees can be disqualified from taking or continuing to sit for an examination, or from receiving examination scores, and may be required to retake an examination if, at its sole discretion, the ACSM CCRB Executive Council (CCRB EC) determines through proctor observation, statistical analysis or any other means available to it, that said exam applicants or examinees were engaged in collaborative, disruptive, or other irregular behavior before, during the administration of, or following, the examination, or if the ACSM CCRB EC determines that the integrity or validity of the examination otherwise is in question.

In some instances, while the evidence of irregularity is sufficiently strong to cast doubt upon the validity of scores, such evidence may not enable the ACSM CCRB EC to identify the particular individuals involved. In any such circumstances, the ACSM CCRB EC reserves the right to withhold the scores of all candidates, including candidates not directly implicated in the irregularity and, if necessary, to require all candidates to take an additional examination at a later date under conditions which will ensure the validity of all scores.

Anyone who has information or evidence that irregular behavior has occurred should submit a written, signed statement to the ACSM CCRB EC as describe in the “Complaints” policy, detailing the incident with copies of any supporting evidence or documentation.

If the ACSM CCRB EC determines that allegations of irregular behavior are true, the organization may impose sanctions against the offending individual, which may include temporary or permanent loss of eligibility for exams or certification, revocation of an existing certificate, suspension of certification, invalidation of scores, or other sanctions as deemed appropriate. Such sanctions also may include legal action against the offending individual.

The CCRB EC shall maintain a record of all appeals, take appropriate action regarding the appeal in a timely manner, and document the actions taken. Candidates or certificants who perceive a lack of due process may appeal to the CCRB EC.

Metabolic Calculations for the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) and ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) exams will be provided. Candidates should select the "Exhibit" tab within the exam to access the calculations.

Metabolic Calculations for Estimation of Energy Expenditure (V̇O_2max [mL ∙ kg^-1 ∙ min^-1])

Walking

V̇O₂ (mL∙ kg^-1∙min^-1) = (0.1 ∙ S) + (1.8∙S∙G) + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1

Running

V̇O₂ (mL∙ kg^-1∙min^-1) = (0.2 ∙ S) + (0.9∙S∙G) + 3.5 mL∙ kg^-1∙min^-1

Stepping

V̇O₂ (mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1) = (0.2 ∙ f) + (1.33 ∙ 1.8 ∙ H ∙ f) + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1

Leg Cycling

V̇O₂ (mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1) = 1.8 (work rate)/(BM) + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1 + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1

Arm Cycling

V̇O₂ (mL∙ kg^-1∙min^-1) = 3 (work rate)/(BM) + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1

V̇O₂ = gross oxygen consumption (mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1)

S = speed (m∙min^-1)

BM = body mass (kg)

Score reports will be distributed when a candidate returns all testing materials, including the erasable noteboard, and all other sign-out procedures have been completed.

Each score report will be digitally embossed to verify the authenticity of the report. The digital embossing is a unique set of codes that can be used to verify the authenticity of the report and a registration number and a validation number appear on the bottom of each score report. Candidates can visit Pearson VUE’s authentication Web site: www.pearsonvue.com/authenticate and enter the unique set of codes and find out whether or not the score report is valid. Verification is available approximately 48 hours after completion of the exam.

Candidates receive their exam scaled score and pass/fail status immediately upon submission of their completed examination. Only the scaled 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.

All candidates who successfully complete an ACSM certification exam are subject to an audit to confirm their eligibility, and/or the status of their CPR certification.

Every month, 15% of candidates who received a passing score in the previous month for the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist credential will be audited for completion of an academic degree 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.  Transcripts must be submitted within 30 days of the request by ACSM.

ACSM will contact the audited candidate by email, therefore it is imperative that candidates keep their contact information updated with ACSM. ACSM will issue a digital credential to those who successfully complete their audit.

Additionally, candidates who received a passing score on any ACSM certification exam in the previous month may be audited to verify current CPR certification. If contacted in this regard, candidates must provide documentation of their current CPR status within 30 days of the request by ACSM.

ACSM reserves the right to revoke the credential of any individual that cannot verify their eligibility and/or their current CPR certification as part of the ACSM audit verification process.

Unlike taking a college class where you need to get a certain percent of exam questions correct to pass or have your exam score compared to others (i.e., bell curve), testing companies like ACSM use what’s called a compensatory scoring model. ACSM examinations are scored according to procedures accepted by the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education. The candidate’s score is derived from the number of questions answered correctly, and is then converted to a scaled score ranging from 200 to 800 points, with the passing point set at a scaled score of 550 points. Candidates who earn a scaled score of 550 or above points are awarded the ACSM certification for which they tested.

All test forms for an examination are built to a standardized test blueprint; see I.F. Using an exam specification ensures that test forms are comparable in content coverage, that test content is weighted in accordance with the requirements for competent performance, and that all forms of the examinations adhere to standards for content validity. However, the scored items for an exam change over time. This is done to ensure the content is up-to-date and relevant, and to enhance test security. Since items differ in terms of how ease or difficulty, exam forms may not be equally difficult. As a result, ACSM conducts reviews of the exam forms to ensure that the passing score required is adjusted (also known as equating) so that it is equivalent across the different exam forms. Equating ensures that the passing scaled score of 550 means that exam candidates met the same level of knowledge, skill, or ability regardless of which exam form is taken.

All requests to cancel or transfer exams must be made either by calling Pearson Vue at this US based phone number 888-883-2276 or in your account at www.pearsonvue.com/acsm. 

Reschedule Policy

Candidates who wish to reschedule their exam must contact Pearson VUE one business day 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 and 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 and has forfeited the exam and will forfeit their exam fee.

Re-test candidates will receive a re-test voucher code on the score report from Pearson VUE. Candidates may retake the exam fifteen (15) days following a failed attempt.

Change Effective: July 1, 2022 
Candidates may take the exam up to four times in a 12-month period. If a passing score is not achieved in four exam attempts in 12 months, the candidate must wait 12 months after the fourth attempt to retake the exam. Candidates do not need to resubmit eligibility documentation unless their CPR/AED certification has lapsed. All candidates begin with zero attempts.

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

Online proctored exams do not include a scheduled break. Candidates who leave their computer for any reason during your exam the proctor will automatically terminate the exams. Candidates will be unable to continue testing.

Water in a clear glass is allowed during testing; however, eating, smoking, and chewing gum are prohibited.

Due to the nature and restrictions of online proctoring, additional time and other accommodations are not available. If you have special accommodations, standard testing at a testing center is advised. 

Metabolic Calculations for the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP) and ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) exams will be provided. Candidates should select the "Exhibit" tab within the exam to access the calculations.

Metabolic Calculations for Estimation of Energy Expenditure (V̇O_2max [mL ∙ kg^-1 ∙ min^-1])

Walking

V̇O₂ (mL∙ kg^-1∙min^-1) = (0.1 ∙ S) + (1.8∙S∙G) + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1

Running

V̇O₂ (mL∙ kg^-1∙min^-1) = (0.2 ∙ S) + (0.9∙S∙G) + 3.5 mL∙ kg^-1∙min^-1

Stepping

V̇O₂ (mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1) = (0.2 ∙ f) + (1.33 ∙ 1.8 ∙ H ∙ f) + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1

Leg Cycling

V̇O₂ (mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1) = 1.8 (work rate)/(BM) + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1 + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1

Arm Cycling

V̇O₂ (mL∙ kg^-1∙min^-1) = 3 (work rate)/(BM) + 3.5 mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1

V̇O₂ = gross oxygen consumption (mL∙kg^-1∙min^-1)

S = speed (m∙min^-1)

BM = body mass (kg)

During the online exam, you 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.

During the exam session, you 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.

Watches must be removed and placed out of sight/reach during the exam.

During your OnVUE exam, you may have the option to use a built-in digital whiteboard feature to do scratch work or take notes. Physical scratch paper or note boards are not allowed when taking an OnVUE exam.

In OnVUE, there is a chat function that candidates would use to get the proctors attention.

Candidates are not be able to use any paper or pencil or dry erase boards. Pearson VUE provides a product called WHITEBOARD.

Candidates must sign in to the web account to schedule their exam. After selecting the exam, choose the “home or office” option. Follow the remaining prompts to complete the scheduling process. After successfully scheduling the exam appointment, candidates will be sent a confirmation email that will provide the appointment details and key information to know for the exam.

Candidates cannot use a computer with a firewall.  Candidates may get through the self-check-in process, but will have difficulty launching the exam. A good strong internet connection that is consistent will be needed for successful testing.