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ACSM Certification Launched in China
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. ACSM has been certifying health and fitness and clinical professionals for more than 30 years. Earning an ACSM certification is to confirm that you have achieved a level of knowledge backed by the science of ACSM’s gold standard. ACSM has a strong presence on the international stage. Many countries have adopted the ACSM certification system with some of its textbooks and exams being translated into different languages. |
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With a fast-growing economy, people in China are paying more attention to their health. There is a steady increase in the need for more qualified exercise specialists to be able to prescribe and lead a safe yet effective exercise program. However, high quality certifications that are available for assessing the knowledge and skills of those who want to be such specialists are lacking in China. As a long-time ACSM member, fellow, and certified exercise specialist, it has been my belief that various ACSM certifications can provide such benchmark assessment in order to serve the needs of China. |
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After a year of preparation, the first ACSM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) workshop was launched in October at Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China. I was part of ACSM delegates that provided lectures on topics pertaining to the CPT certification, and also helped with simultaneous translation. Fifty-seven individuals participated in the workshop and 27 of them registered for taking the certification exam in English. The background of attendees ranges from personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, dietitian, nurse, rehabilitation specialist, and student. |
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Given the high demand in China, two more ACSM-CPT workshops are currently being planned at different cities, and Wuhan Sports University will also administer the first ACSM-Certified Exercise Physiologist workshop and certification in 2016. |
