ACSM CERTIFICATION EARNS NCCA ACCREDITATION
Another Hallmark in Quality Leadership in Credentialing - June 16, 2006
Indianapolis – The Certified Personal TrainerSM credential of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has earned accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). ACSM is also pursuing NCCA accreditation for its other credentials: ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor®, ACSM Exercise Specialist®, and ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist®.
Neal Pire, MA, FACSM chairs the Personal Trainer Credentialing Unit of ACSM's Committee on Certification and Registry Boards. Pire said, "NCCA accreditation of the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer credential is another affirmation of ACSM's long-standing reputation as the 'gold standard' within the fitness industry. With ACSM's new online learning portal (www.acsmlearning.org ) and widely available testing through Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide, earning a legitimate and meaningful professional certification for the personal trainer has never been more accessible."
ACSM's pursuit of independent, third-party accreditation for all its credentials is in line with the recommendation of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) that its member clubs "hire personal trainers who hold at least one current certification from a certifying organization/agency that has obtained third-party accreditation of its certification procedures and protocols from an independent, experienced, and nationally recognized accrediting body."
The single third-party accrediting organization that IHRSA identifies as acceptable is NCCA, which is the accreditation body of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). NCCA is a widely recognized, independent, nongovernmental agency that accredits professional certifications in a variety of professions. NCCA comprehensively 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.
ACSM: Advancing health through science, education and medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 20,000 international, national, and regional members are dedicated to promoting and integrating scientific research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life.
