Become an Inclusive Fitness Specialist with ACSM

Empower Your Career. Transform Lives.

Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of clients with disabilities? The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has partnered with the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) to bring you the Inclusive Fitness Specialist Certificate Course—an online program designed to equip fitness professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to create inclusive, safe, and effective fitness environments for people with disabilities.

Young man in a wheelchair coaching an older woman using a leg press exercise machine

I'm Ready to Take the Course Now!

Why Choose This Course?

Comprehensive Training: Dive into essential topics like disability advocacy, exercise adaptations, and adaptive training protocols. From initial client consultations to specialized exercise prescription, this course covers everything you need to know to effectively work with clients with disabilities.
Recognized Certificate: Upon completion, earn the prestigious Inclusive Fitness Specialist Certificate and gain a competitive edge in the fitness industry.
Earn CECs: Not only will you advance your knowledge, but you'll also earn 18 CECs toward the renewal of your fitness professional certification.
Affordable & Accessible: At just $249, this online course is an investment in your future. ACSM members enjoy a discounted rate of $199.

Course Highlights

Basic review of anatomy and bioenergetics
Understanding disability advocacy and inclusive standards (RESNA (IF), ADA, Universal Design)
Developing skills to accommodate clients with disabilities
Learning adaptive training protocols and specific exercise adaptations
Tailoring exercise prescription for different disability groups

This course is more than just a certification—it's a commitment to inclusive fitness and transforming the lives of those you serve.

Start the Course Today!

What You'll Learn

Understanding the Needs of People with Disabilities: Address health, exercise, and fitness issues specific to this population.
Familiarity with Inclusive Standards: Learn the key standards for fitness centers, including RESNA (IF), ADA, and Universal Design.
Develop Key Skills: Gain the expertise needed to effectively accommodate and train clients with disabilities.
Tailored Exercise Prescription: Understand how exercise prescription differs between disability groups and how to implement it safely and effectively.

Additional Resources

Enhance your learning experience with our collection of infographics and blog posts. These resources provide additional education, insights, and practical tips, making it easier for you to apply what you learn in real-world settings.

Infographic: Training Disabled Clients-Anatomy & Biomechanics. Discusses planes of movement, spinal curvatures, center of gravity and levers

Infographic: Creating Client-Centered Goals. Tips include performing a health assessment, listening to their needs and desires, developing SMARTS goals and how to address barriers to achieving those goals

Infographic: Anaerobic Programming for Clients with Disabilities. Includes information on frequency, intensity, volume, exercise type and exercise order

Infographic: Training Clients with Nonprogressive Brain Injuries. Includes info and training considerations for cerebral palsy, stroke and traumatic brain injury

Infographic: Training Clients with Cancer. Includes training considerations, cancer risk factors, cancer treatment contraindications and cancer-related disabilities

Infographic: Training Clients with Communication Disorders. Includes information and training considerations for low vision or blind, speech impaired or nonverbal, and hard of hearing or deaf

Blogs

Ready to Get Started?

Take the next step in your fitness career. Enroll today and become an Inclusive Fitness Specialist. Transform your passion into a career that makes a difference.

Enroll Today!