Fitness Organizations Launch a Registry for Consumers and Insurers

View All Section Pages

Health Tips Search

Search:

02/25/2014

New searchable database easily connects reputably certified exercise professionals with those who seek their services

DALLAS, TEXAS (February 25, 2014) — In its first major move to advance exercise professionals as health providers, an all-new coalition of the nation’s top fitness certification organizations launched its U.S. Registry of Exercise Professionals (USREPS) today. Now, fitness facilities, healthcare providers, health advocacy organizations, insurers, and consumers can identify and verify certified professionals in their local communities, using the nation’s first searchable database.

The introduction of the USREPS registry is the product of the Coalition for the Registration of Exercise Professionals (CREP, pronounced C Rep). The CREP organization, a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation headquartered in Olathe, KS, will maintain USREPS and advocate on behalf of exercise professionals that hold current, NCCA-accredited exercise certifications and those that support them. Current member organizations of CREP include:

• American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• The Cooper Institute (CI)
• National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF)
• National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA)
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• Pilates Method Alliance (PMA)

USREPS provides the best opportunity to establish a regulatory standard that recognizes exercise professionals as health providers. "We believe registered exercise professionals will continue to change lives in fitness settings and see increasing opportunities to provide prevention and wellness services in the healthcare context," said Sue Beckham, PhD, Director of Adult Education.

The USREPS registry provides assurance of the validity of an individual’s credentials and ensures ongoing competence related to those credentials through accepted best practices consistent with other allied health professions. This significant resource offers a cost-effective, strategic means for states considering regulation of the exercise professional to establish and verify eligibility for a license or right to practice.

"State legislators who have introduced legislation that would regulate exercise professional roles have challenged us as credentialing organizations to develop an industry solution to address their concerns around consumer protection. USREPS provides an interface for state regulatory boards to vet qualified candidates for licensure without the added burden of a redundant state examination," said Beckham. "States could also adopt it as a statewide standard for registration of exercise professionals."

Among other benefits of USREPS, membership-based fitness facilities and other organizations that hire exercise professionals now have a single destination to easily verify uniformly qualified candidates. "USREPS represents a single source where none previously existed," said Beckham. "It will now be vastly easier for health clubs and other exercise facilities to utilize exercise professionals who hold a current, NCCA-accredited certification."
USREPS can be accessed at www.USREPS.org. Visitors to USREPS can search for exercise professionals via both first and last name. Each individual’s record includes the NCCA-accredited certification(s) that he or she holds and the duration for which the certification is valid. Visitors to USREPS also can query all NCCA-accredited certified exercise professionals in their local area, such as by ZIP code or state.

CREP Mission: To secure recognition of registered exercise professionals as health providers, in order to make structured physical activity accessible and safe for all.

About The Cooper Institute®
Established in 1970 by Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, The Cooper Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated worldwide to preventive medicine research and education, housing one of the world’s largest databases on exercise and health. Each year The Cooper Institute develops engaged learners in fitness and health with its courses and nationally accredited Personal Trainer Certification exam. The Cooper Institute offers web-based tools for schools to track and report on youth fitness and nutrition: FITNESSGRAM® and NutriGram®. As a separate entity from the Cooper Aerobics family of businesses, The Cooper Institute solely relies on the generosity of corporate and individual donors and partners to fund its mission. For more information, visit CooperInstitute.org.