New credential created for Canadian strength and conditioning coaches

February 22, 2024

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) and the Canadian Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCA) have collaborated to introduce a new evidence-informed credential for Canadian strength and conditioning coaches.

The Certified Strength and Conditioning Professional (CSCP) credential will provide a clear path for professionals interested in this sector to pursue premier training, ongoing development and a preferred qualification for employers hiring strength and conditioning coaches across Canada.

With the requirements for obtaining popular strength and conditioning credentials ever-changing, which may result in challenges for graduates of Canadian schools to qualify for existing US-based certifications, the new credential will be more accessible.

“Canada has long been home to some of the best and brightest in the world of strength and conditioning, and now these professionals will have a Canadian option to recognize their specific skills and expertise in this field,” – Zach Weston, CSEP CEO.

The inclusion of the CSEP High Performance Specialization™ (CSEP-HPS™) as a fundamental component of this new credential further recognizes CSEP as the Gold Standard in Exercise Science and Personal Training in Canada.

To become a CSCP, offered through the CSCA, candidates will have two primary pathways to pursue:

• For new strength and conditioning candidates, the required completion of the CSEP-HPS™ will serve to verify their foundational theoretical knowledge in this sector. After candidates complete the CSEP-HPS™, they will need to complete a CSCA mentorship program, which will follow a newly developed evaluation framework.

• Current CSEP Professional Members (CSEP Certified Personal Trainers® and CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologists™) are eligible to pursue the CSEP-HPS™ and add the new credential by completing the CSCA Strength and Conditioning mentorship program. The scope of practice of the credential within those of either a CSEP-CPT® or CSEP-CEP™ – holding the CSEP-HPS™ – are covered under CSEP’s member Professional Liability Insurance Policy, which offers worldwide coverage for working with elite and professional athletes.

For more information about the Certified Strength and Conditioning Professional credential, visit the Frequently Asked Questions or contact membership@canadianstrengthca.com

About the Canadian Strength and Conditioning Association

The CSCA was founded in 2018 and shares information to support the professional growth of strength and conditioning coaches in Canada. It also serves as a means for strength and conditioning coaches to share, collaborate and connect with fellow coaches in varied sectors including, but not limited to, public schools, universities and colleges, high performance sport, independent operators, and community centre employed individuals from coast to coast.

About the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology was founded in 1967 with a current mission to champion excellence in the application, certification and advancement of evidence-informed exercise science research and practice. CSEP’s vision is the health, fitness and athletic performance of all Canadians is optimized through the science of exercise.

About the CSEP High Performance Specialization™

The CSEP-HPS was launched in 2019 after rigorous development with leading experts in the fields of strength and conditioning, sport nutrition, sport physiology, exercise metabolism, occupational biomechanics, and sport psychology. It was recently reviewed by CSEP members, the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sports Institute Network and the CSCA to ensure new evidence was incorporated.