The CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist™ certification is now a recommended credential in British Columbia for qualified exercise professionals looking to work in the province’s health care system

February 9, 2023 – Statement from Zach Weston, CSEP CEO

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) welcomes the British Columbia Ministry of Health’s recent decision and recommendation to hire Clinical Exercise Physiologists (CEPs) to support the health human resource requirements of the province.

One of six recommendations outlined in a memorandum and endorsed by the Provincial Health Human Resources Coordination Centre to address labour shortages, the BC Ministry of Health is finalizing a work plan to:

  • “Hire Clinical Exercise Physiologists (CEPs), rather than kinesiologists, as CEPs have standardized education requirements, minimum standard competence, and required practical clinical hours to work in primary care, community care and clinical outpatient services.”

The recommendation to hire Clinical Exercise Physiologists through the Regional Health Authorities and Ministry of Health are a reflection of the quality and rigour of the CSEP Professional Standards Program® and will lead to improved quality of care for the residents of British Columbia. Within the recommendations, the Kinesiology Integrated Project Team highlighted the training and qualifications that are unique to CEPs and recognized the need to ensure they are hired into positions where they can create impact through their expertise.

As part of its strategy, the BC Ministry of Health will also support qualified kinesiology graduates who have an interest in working in the province’s public health-care settings through grants incentivizing them to complete the CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist™ certification. We are excited to learn more about the planned funding in the upcoming provincial budget to support these positions and the additional funds to sponsor Kinesiology degree graduates in obtaining certification as CEPs.

To ensure graduates of kinesiology degree programs are prepared to work in health care settings, the memorandum included the recommendation for the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and Regional Health Authorities to offer clinical, health care-focused program streams and or/clinical practicum courses.

CSEP is very pleased to collaborate with and is committed to supporting the BC Ministry of Health and associated Regional Health Authorities to achieve their objectives and mandate.

What is a CSEP Clinical Exercise PhysiologistTM ?

CSEP-CEPs – exercise physiology professionals widely recognized across Canada and the world – perform assessments, prescribe conditioning exercise, as well as exercise supervision, counseling and healthy lifestyle education in apparently healthy individuals and/or populations with medical conditions, functional limitations or disabilities associated with musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, metabolic, neuromuscular, and aging conditions.

###

Contact

Michel Hachey
Director – Marketing, Communications and Events
mhachey@csep.ca

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!