CSEP-CPT Scope of Practice
The CSEP-CPT Scope of Practice defines the actions and activities that CSEP Certified Personal Trainers® are qualified and insured to perform under their defined certification.
Effective as of August 2019.
The CSEP Certified Personal Trainer® (CSEP-CPT) is a professional with, at minimum, the equivalent of two years of full-time study (or 60 credits) of University/College coursework in the field of Human Kinetics, Kinesiology, Physicial Education, Fitness and Health Promotion, or Exercise Science, from an accredited post-secondary institution. A CSEP-CPT works with apparently healthy individuals or those with a stable health condition who are able to exercise independently.
The CSEP-CPT:
Conducts pre-participation health screening assessments on all clients using evidence-informed tools, and gathers information about physical activity and lifestyle behaviours.
Administers various fitness assessments on clients including submaximal aerobic fitness, musculoskeletal fitness (muscular strength, endurance, power, flexibility and balance), and anthropometry.
Gathers and applies information about the physical activity, fitness, and lifestyle of a client or group of clients to design, implement, and monitor client-tailored submaximal exercise programs for healthier living.
Recognizes their own area of expertise and refers clients who fall outside that expertise to a CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist™ (CSEP-CEP), physician, or other appropriate health care provider.
A CSEP-CPT is NOT sanctioned by CSEP to:
Utilize any assessment protocols or design exercise programs that require maximal aerobic or anaerobic effort.*
Assess muscular strength using maximal 1RM assessment protocols or design programs based on resistance loads exceeding 90% of the predicted 1RM. *
Use an ECG for any purpose
Administer fitness assessments, or design, implement and monitor client-tailored exercise prescription strategies for populations with unstable medical conditions or more than one medical condition, or that the CSEP-CPT feels ill- equipped to address.
*If the CSEP-CPT has successfully completed the CSEP High Performance Specialization™, they may use maximal assessment protocols (including maximal 1RM) and design programs that require maximal aerobic or anaerobic effort for apparently healthy clients.
