Over the past few years, the CCRB Executive Council (CCRB EC) initiated a comprehensive review of ACSM’s certification programs to ensure alignment with current professional standards and best practices in credentialing. As a result, the CCRB EC formally discontinued its specialty certifications and transitioned them into educational certificate programs.
The programs affected by this decision include:
- ACSM/National Physical Activity Society Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist® (ACSM/NPAS-PAPHS)
- ACSM/American Cancer Society Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer® (ACSM/ACS-CET)
- ACSM/National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer® (ACSM/NCHPAD-CIFT)
- ACSM Exercise Test Technologist (ETT)
- ACSM Program Director (PD)
- ACSM Health Fitness Director (HFD)
Additionally, these programs are no longer subject to ongoing psychometric maintenance, such as updated job task analyses or role delineation studies. As such, they can no longer be considered valid indicators of current professional competence. Continuing to renew these credentials could mislead stakeholders and undermine the integrity of ACSM’s certification programs.
To preserve the value of ACSM certifications and uphold public trust, the CCRB EC has implemented the following measures:
- Credential Consolidation – Where appropriate, legacy certifications were merged into actively maintained certifications. For example, the RCEP, CEP and ETT designations were consolidated under the ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP) credential.
- Legacy Recognition Status – A “legacy” designation was established to honor those who previously earned these credentials while clearly indicating they are no longer active nor eligible for recertification.
Effective February 20, 2025, all discontinued certifications are being automatically reclassified as legacy credentials in ACSM’s certification records. There is no action required on your part. Legacy credentials will remain listed in your certification history, and there will be no further requirements for continuing education credits (CECs) or renewal fees.
To view your legacy credential(s), log in to your ACSM account and navigate to “My Certifications.” Legacy credentials will appear under “Past Certifications.” If you wish to purchase a physical copy, please visit here and enter your name or ACSM ID.
If you are having difficulty navigating or finding information on the new ACSM website, please visit the ACSM AMS FAQ page. For all other inquiries, please contact the ACSM Certification Department at certification@acsm.org.
