Clinical Exercise Physiologist

Become a Critical Part of a Healthcare Team as an ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist

ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologists (ACSM-CEP^®) help to increase the likelihood of long-term physical, social and economic independence of patients through individualized patient education, behavior change and primary and secondary prevention strategies.

Become an ACSM-CEP^® in Three Simple Steps

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Do you Meet the Qualifications?

Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology or equivalent and 600 hours of hands-on clinical experience
OR
Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, or equivalent and 1,200 hours of hands-on clinical experience
Basic Life Support Provider or CPR for the Professional Rescuer certification (important update here)

Starting in 2027, all ACSM certifications will require first aid training.

Prepare to take the Exam

You can create your own preparation plan, or let us guide you through the process! Whichever option you chose, ACSM has the tools to support you. Just scroll down!

Register for the Exam

The ACSM Certification exam can be taken in-person at a Pearson VUE testing center, or take it online from the comfort of your own home, office or workplace! Additionally, ACSM members get a discounted rate on all ACSM Certification exams.

Ready to schedule your exam?
Register Today!

Prepare for Your ACSM-CEP^®Exam | A Guided Approach

While these resources are not required preparation materials and should not be interpreted as constituting the sole source of all ACSM exam questions, candidates may find them useful when preparing for the exam. Each candidate should develop his or her own personal reading list and study-plan based on individual needs and knowledge.

Step One: Submit Your Completed Application Form

ACSM-CEP^® exam candidates must submit a completed application form and required documentation before they will be able to register for the exam. This ensures that exam candidates meet all certification qualifications.

Start Application Clinical Experience Log Template

Samples

Course Descriptions

Sample A Sample B

Sample C Sample D

Clinical Hours

Sample A Sample B

Sample C Sample D

Step Two: Download the Exam Content Outline

The exam content outline is the blueprint for your certification examination. Every question on the exam is associated with one of the knowledge or skill statements that are found in the exam content outline.

Exam Content Outline

Step Three: Join the Official Facebook Study Group

Join thousands of candidates in preparing for the ACSM-EP on Facebook. Learn from what others have done to pass their exams, ask your questions in a welcoming community and help support others during the study process.

Join Today

Step Four: Create Your Study Plan

There are two recommended texts for preparation for the ACSM-CEP^® exam. Optimize your preparation by combining resources from both texts.

ACSM certification review

ACSM’s Certification Review, 6th Edition

ACSM's Certification Review is the official review book for the exam. This review combines career-specific information with assessment tools and application-based exercises to boost test-taking confidence and help users ensure a seamless transition to practice.

Purchase

ACSM's Clinical Exercise Physiology

ACSM’s Clinical Exercise Physiology

This book offers research-based coverage of more than 35 conditions commonly seen in practice—from a host of cardiovascular disorders to immunological/hematological disorders.

Purchase

acsm-guidelines-for-exercise-testing-and-prescription-11th-edition

ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription

This book delivers scientifically based standards on exercise testing and prescription to the certification candidate, the professional, and the student. This manual gives succinct summaries of recommended procedures for exercise testing and exercise prescription in healthy and diseased patients.

Purchase

ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist Certification Prep Course

ACSM-CEP® Prep Course

Prepare for the exam with this online course. Learn at your own pace with audio and PowerPoint presentations. Each of the 27 modules, grouped into five sections, covers a specific portion of the exam-preparation materials, so you know what resources to go to if you need additional information.

Purchase

Have questions? Consult the ACSM Candidate Handbook:

Download the Handbook

Schedule Your Exam

Once you are ready to commit to a testing date you can schedule your ACSM-CEP^® Certification exam. ACSM Certification exams are administered by Pearson VUE.

Take Your Exam In-Person

Take the ACSM-CEP^® certification exam at any participating Pearson VUE testing location.

Register

Take Your Exam Online

Take the ACSM-CEP^® Certification exam from the comfort of your own home, school or office in an online, proctored environment..

Register

Exam Costs

ACSM Member Candidates	$339
ACSM Non-Member Candidates	$449
Re-Test	$225

Not a member?
Join Now & Save!

Access the Special Accommodations Request Form

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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 $35.00 (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.

Candidates who fail to arrive within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time are considered a No-Show 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. Candidates will be charged a $75.00 (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.

Candidates who fail to arrive within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time are considered a No-Show and will forfeit their exam fee.