To address concerns surrounding the upcoming CAAHEP accreditation requirements for ACSM-EP and ACSM-CEP exams, the ACSM Certification Board recognizes two in-process stages along the accreditation pathway to ensure graduating students remain eligible without waiting for full programmatic accreditation.
If your institution is currently working through these updates, understanding these two milestones can help you address any uncertainties and your students navigate their career pathways.
Initiation: Formal Inquiry
This is the official first step to begin the accreditation process through Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This requires simply completing an inquiry form that takes approximately two minutes to complete and is free. After submission, the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) provides the program with a self-study packet. The self-study is an internal review process where the program evaluates and documents how its curriculum, faculty, and resources meet established Exercise Science or Exercise Physiology standards.
Official Review: Request for Accreditation Services (RAS)
The RAS officially requests CAAHEP’s review with institutional leadership approval. This process initiates the CoAES to conduct your program review and site visit within 30 days of submitting a program’s self-study report.
Additional Information
The programmatic accreditation implementation date remains August 15, 2027, and the ACSM Certification Board will formally reassess this policy and implementation data in 2029. The complete policy requirements can be found here: https://acsm.org/updated-acsm-ep-and-acsm-cep-certifications-requirements-and-accreditation/.
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