Exercise is Medicine® Credential Refresh

Coming in June 2022, ACSM will relaunch the Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) Credential and associated online course to provide more value for both exercise professionals and referring health care providers. Based on focus groups and survey data from health care providers and certified exercise professionals, the structure, requirements and required course content will be updated.   

Doctors and other health care providers told us that they are more likely to trust an exercise professional with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and disease-specific training. Therefore, the EIM Credential will now only be available to those who have earned a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in exercise science or kinesiology.  

Certified pros told us that, given shifts in population demographics, they’d like more information about how to work with older adults and people of any age with common chronic medical conditions including osteoarthritis and knee pain. 

The new interactive EIM online course will include updated information in the following areas: 

• Health care basics, including communication, documentation, scope of practice and HIPAA 
• Exercise prescription for ten common chronic medical conditions, plus older adults 
• Facilitating behavior change, including motivational interviewing (Wellcoaches® collaboration) 
• Exercise Rx in special settings: small-group medical fitness and virtual training/technology 

We received feedback that the current EIM Credential, which contains three levels, has been confusing. Therefore, there will be just one EIM credential. Those wishing to obtain the EIM Credential will need to take the EIM online course. The EIM online course modules will also be available in the future for continuing education on selected topics. 

Those who already possess the EIM Credential will retain their credential. 

The EIM Credential presents an opportunity for professional development and invites exercise professionals to become active members of the Exercise is Medicine® movement. Whether you receive referrals from a health care provider or a client with chronic diseases walks through your door, you’ll be better prepared and recognized for your ability to safely guide that individual to an active lifestyle with the EIM Credential. 

More information will be available soon on the EIM and ACSM websites.  Learn more by attending a session entitled “The Exercise is Medicine Credential — 2022 Refresh” at the ACSM Annual Meeting/EIM World Congress in San Diego on May 31, 2022, at 3:15 p.m. PST.  

Deborah Riebe, Ph.D., FACSM, ACSM-EP
Chair, EIM Credential Committee 

Robyn Stuhr, M.A., ACSM-CEP, RCEP
Vice President, Exercise is Medicine®