Beginners Guide to the CSEP-CEP Certification Process

When I finished my undergraduate degree in New York State, I was considering writing my American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) exam. I learned shortly after that I would have needed 1,200 hours of hands-on experience along with my bachelors degree. Yeah, no thanks.

As I was preparing to come back to Canada, I felt lost. How can I get a job with an American degree that might not be recognized if I can’t get a certification right away? In hindsight, I learned that this is the normal way to do it, but my 21 year-old panicked brain could not understand that. (FYI: the ACSM-CEP is accepted in Canada, it was just not the right choice for me based on their prerequisites)

As I did some research I learned that the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology (CSEP) is considered the gold standard governing body for exercise physiology in Canada (duh, name says it all). Since I had never heard of CSEP before, I didn't know what the prerequisites even were. What if the guidelines are different from ACSM? What if I didn’t meet them? Ultimately, I decided that gaining more experience and schooling in a Canadian academic setting was the best option for me. Luckily, most of you have likely learned about CSEP since your first year of your undergrad. If so, you are in a great spot!

What is the CSEP-CEP?

For those who don’t know, the CSEP-CEP is one of two certifications that can be obtained through CSEP; the other is a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). In short, a CEP broadens their scope of practice as well as their professional liability coverage. Part-way through my MKin degree I was certain I wanted to become a CSEP-CEP and I felt ready to apply and challenge the exams. Little did I know how lengthy and confusing the process was, and so began my journey to get my CSEP-CEP. In this blog you will find all the puzzle pieces put together to hopefully make the process a lot more straightforward so you can spend a lot less time searching on the CSEP-FAQ page and more time gettin’ er done!

*Disclaimer- I have challenged my exams in 2021, if you have noticed any changes to the process since then please feel free to share! For example, as of Dec 2020, they had made a transition of removing athletic populations from the exam. In order to have this specialization through CSEP now, you must take a different theory exam called CSEP High Performance Specialization.

Cost of the CSEP-CEP process

I don't know about you, but I don’t have stacks of cash just lying around. For me, this membership was an investment in my future. I think the true cost of the entire process is rarely discussed and weighing if it makes sense to invest in it for your future goals and career path is important.

CSEP provides in their FAQ a general breakdown of the cost which I have turned into a lovely diagram:

DANG that's steep! So if you are considering becoming a CSEP-CEP it is nice to know what you are truly putting into it. I had no idea how much it would cost and every time I was told to pay for another thing I got frustrated. Knowing the cost in advance can help you save up (I used a low-interest education bank loan which worked best for me).

Note: You can do the application fee and theory exam bundle (save $10 woohoo) and it is not mandatory to do the practical skills review. Also, depending on your place of work, they may cover some of the cost for the exam .

Depending on your comfort and experience with practical skills it may be worthwhile to do practical skills review. For example, coming out of my MKin, I felt confident that I did not need added practice and review on top of what I was already doing for studying. However, if I tried to challenge the exam post-undergrad… my gosh that practical skills review would have been a life saver! Think of it as a way to save money on re-writing the exam if you feel lost with practical skills.

Before you study…

Before you are able to challenge the exams, you must first be considered a candidate. In order to do so, you must complete and submit a CSEP-CEP application by providing the supporting documents listed below. Note that below I mentioned the eight core competencies… this is what makes up a CEP! If you have these, you have a CEP in you.

Supporting Documents

Academic transcripts - Proof of graduating with an undergraduate degree (Kinesiology, Exercise Sciences, Physical Activity, or other programs relating to health and fitness).

• You must show that the course work and/or practical experience you have meets the eight core competencies. This is done by filling out online what classes/experiences relate to each competency and providing proof of taking classes/ having a bachelor’s degree through an academic transcript.
• You have the option to submit your academic transcripts after passing exams, which can be helpful if you are still in school (must fill out an online document still).
• CSEP provides a course map on their website that gives guidance to which classes will meet the given criteria from different universities in Canada. This is also extremely helpful if you have not finished your degree yet to make sure you're on the right path!

Resume - Tailor the resume to exercise physiology related experience (eight core competencies)

Proof of completion of at least 100 hours of practical experience - This can be submitted by a letter from a supervisor or a logbook

• The 100 hours can be accumulated from multiple locations, practicum or work-related. CSEP strongly recommends practical experience with musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiometabolic, and pulmonary conditions This is not mandatory, but it can be helpful to have experience in these areas for the exams themselves and to be a CEP in real life.
• Examples of a logbook can be found here on the CSEP website.

First aid and CPR level C - Proof of this is required after passing exams, but it’s nice to know ahead of time. Must be completed within 1 year of CEP registration and renewed annually after becoming certified.

Mentor’s Tip: The process to gather all the necessary documents and apply takes longer than the time it will take to get approved (roughly two-three weeks CSEP estimates), so make sure you give time for a supervisor to create a letter of recommendation and to perfect your resume.

Challenging the exams

Once you are approved to challenge the exams, it’s time to study if you haven’t started prepping for it! There are two exams: A practical exam and a theory exam. You get to pick which you would prefer to challenge first, but once you take your first exam and pass you have six months to pass the other exam and register to become a CEP. This time frame is great if you have a lot going on and need more time to space it out. Personally, I wanted to write my exams as close together as possible after finishing school so the content was fresh in my brain (I have a goldfish brain, I swear) and while not working at the time. This gave me more time to study each day without the stress of finding work before obtaining my certification. Below is a brief summary of the exams, for a more detailed breakdown on my studying process check out How to study for CSEP-CEP 101 (coming soon!).

Practical Exam:

The practical exam is where candidates demonstrate the required practical skills and knowledge in an applied setting with a CSEP instructor examiner. The exam consists of three scenarios (~40 minutes for each) where the candidate is tested on 19 practical skills under the core competencies. You are only tested once on 17 of the practical skills and two practical skills (under the professionalism umbrella) are observed throughout the entire testing process (no pressure right?).

Theory Exam:

The theory exam is taken at a third-party testing center such as Pearson VUE or online; if you choose the online option, you can write the exam online in the comfort of your home through the Pearson testing system. The exam consists of a three-hour examination period to complete 120 multiple-choice questions that you must score a minimum of 70% on. The questions cover all areas relating to the eight core competencies but there are five case studies, so know your special populations. You are provided a pen and paper for the exam, a calculator and general ACSM equations for submaximal testing, treadmill walking, and etc.

A side purchase consideration:

Late into my application, I found the CSEP-CEP study guide (first edition) which was released a few years back. It gives a layout of the entire process (*cough* cough* what I have done here but in fewer words) and study guide material for the exams.I found it helpful for the study material personally. If you are able to spend $70 it might be worthwhile for you!

What if I don’t pass an exam?

Keep your head up! You are allowed a maximum of two attempts for both the practical and theory exam (you will have to pay for each attempt). If you do not pass your second attempt you must apply for an extension in order to make a third attempt. If you are as protective about your money and time as me, you’ll do it right the first time, if not, the second!

After passing the exams

Once you have passed both exams, congrats, you are not done yet! You must now register for your CSEP-CEP which involves proof of your academic transcripts (if you have not already), first aid and CPR level C (within the past year for the CPR) and saying goodbye to more moola. Once you have, congratulations you are now a CSEP-CEP!

Maintaining Your Membership

Like any governing body, CSEP has certain ways to make sure all members are continuing education and standards to be licensed under them. To maintain your CSEP membership you must:

• Renew annually before March 31. (renewal opens the month of February)
• Earn 30 CSEP Professional Development Credits (CSEP-PDCs) on a two-year cycle during odd years (ei. 2023, 2025, 2027). (There are various ways of obtaining these)
• Hold a current and valid CPR level C that is no more than 12 months old. (Annual CPR recertification is required under your CSEP Professional Liability Insurance!)
• Complete the annual SEP Member's Renewal Survey.

All jokes aside, I am extremely happy to have taken my CSEP-CEP exams and to become a member. Yes, it is an investment of time and money to get through it, but the opportunities that have opened up since having it are priceless!

If you have any questions that weren’t addressed above, feel free to contact any of the mentors! Best of luck through your CEP journey!

Sincerely,

Your Kines Mentor