ACSM Health Fitness Specialist Certification
The American College of Sports Medicine’s Health Fitness Specialist (ACSM HFS) certification is considered by many to be the premier certification in the health and fitness industry.
ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist Scope of Practice
The ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist (HFS) is a degreed health and fitness professional qualified to pursue a career in university, corporate, commercial, hospital and community settings. The HFS is skilled in the following:
- Conducting risk stratification.
- Conducting physical fitness assessments and interpreting results.
- Constructing appropriate exercise prescriptions for healthy adults and individuals with controlled conditions released for independent physical activity.
- Motivating apparently healthy individuals with medically controlled diseases to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors.
- Motivating individuals to begin and continue with their healthy behaviors.
About the HFS Exam
The test consists for 125 questions and has a 3.5 hour time limit. In 2008, the national pass rate for the exam was 60 percent. It is recommended that students study and prep for four to six weeks prior to taking the exam. The exam fee is $275, but since the Liberty Exercise Science Program is accredited our students can enter a voucher code upon registration and can take the test for $175 (contact Dr. Schoffstall for the voucher code prior to registration). The exam consists of the following areas:
|
Competency Area |
% of exam |
|
Exercise Prescription and Programming |
31 % |
|
Exercise Physiology and Related Exercise Science |
23 % |
|
Health Appraisal and Fitness Exercise Testing |
12 % |
|
Nutrition and Weight Management |
8 % |
|
Program Administration, Quality Assurance, and Outcome Assessment |
8 % |
|
Safety, Injury Prevention and Emergency Procedures |
7 % |
|
Pathophysiology and Risk Factors |
5 % |
|
Human Behavior |
4 % |
|
Electrocardiography and Diagnostic Techniques |
1 % |
|
Medical and Surgical Management |
1 % |
Resources
-
ACSM Sample Exam Tutorial
This tutorial will give you an idea of how the test is administered. -
One Student’s Thoughts on the ACSM HFS Exam
Advice for students who are preparing to take the ACSM HFS exam from one who has taken the exam. - How to sign-up for the ACSM HFS exam
Recommended books for the ACSM HFS exam
- ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 8th edition. (2010). Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. (ISBN: 0-7817-6903-5)
- ACSM’s Certification Review, 3rd edition. (2009). Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. (ISBN: 0-7817-6901-9)
- Swain, D. & Leutholz, B. (2007). Exercise Prescription: A Case Study Approach to the ACSM Guidelines, 2nd edition. Human Kinetics. (ISBN: 9780736066808)
