Kinesiology Degree Programs

Certification · American College of Sports Medicine

ACSM-CEP

ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist

The clinical tier. Reachable from a bachelor’s, but only with 1,200 hours of hands-on clinical experience. A master’s cuts that to 600.

  • Type Certification
  • Degree Bachelor's with clinical hours, or master's
  • Exam fee $350 member
Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor

Edited by Taylor Rupe B.A. Psychology (UW-Seattle), B.S. Computer Science (Oregon State)

A patient on a treadmill wearing chest electrodes and a gas-exchange mask during a graded exercise test
Photograph by Los Muertos Crew on Pexels

What the ACSM-CEP Is

The ACSM-CEP is the ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist credential, awarded by American College of Sports Medicine. It sits on top of bachelor's with clinical hours, or master's, so it is a credential you add to a degree rather than an alternative to one.

It matters most if you are heading for work as an exercise physiologist, where the BLS median is $59,460 a year. The credential does not set your pay. It decides which employers will consider you.

Is the ACSM-CEP Required?

Not a license, but the practical gate for clinical work. Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation employers commonly require it.

Certification and licensure get used interchangeably in this field and they are not the same thing. A license is granted by a state and is legally required to practice. A certification is granted by a professional body and is required by whoever is hiring. The practical effect can be identical, but only one of them carries legal weight, and knowing which you are dealing with tells you who to ask when the rules are unclear.

ACSM-CEP Eligibility Requirements

Read off American College of Sports Medicine’s own page on July 26, 2026. Requirements change, so confirm with the issuing body before you pay anything.

  • Master's degree in clinical exercise physiology or equivalent, plus 600 hours of hands-on clinical experience
  • or a bachelor's degree in exercise science, exercise physiology or equivalent, plus 1,200 hours of hands-on clinical experience
  • Basic Life Support Provider or CPR for the Professional Rescuer certification

How Much Does the ACSM-CEP Cost?

Issuing body
American College of Sports Medicine
Degree required
Bachelor's with clinical hours, or master's
Exam fee
$350 member · $460 non-member

Membership pays for itself here. The member price is $110 lower than the non-member price, so joining American College of Sports Medicine before you register is usually cheaper than not, even counting the membership fee.

A $50 non-refundable application fee is included in the price.

Of the 5 credentials covered on this site, this is the 4th cheapest to sit. The full comparison is on the certifications overview.

Where the ACSM-CEP Applies

Is the ACSM-CEP Worth It?

The honest answer is that it is a hiring requirement rather than a pay rise. Employers in this area screen for it, so not holding it narrows where you can apply, but holding it does not by itself move you up the wage distribution. Weigh the $350 against the roles it unlocks rather than against a salary bump.

ACSM-CEP FAQ

What are the ACSM-CEP requirements?
Master's degree in clinical exercise physiology or equivalent, plus 600 hours of hands-on clinical experience. or a bachelor's degree in exercise science, exercise physiology or equivalent, plus 1,200 hours of hands-on clinical experience. Basic Life Support Provider or CPR for the Professional Rescuer certification. Verified against American College of Sports Medicine on July 26, 2026.
How much does the ACSM-CEP exam cost?
$350 for American College of Sports Medicine members and $460 for non-members, a difference of $110. A $50 non-refundable application fee is included in the price.
Is the ACSM-CEP a license?
Not a license, but the practical gate for clinical work. Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation employers commonly require it.
Do you need a degree for the ACSM-CEP?
Yes. It requires bachelor's with clinical hours, or master's. That requirement is set by American College of Sports Medicine and is checked at application.
What can you earn with the ACSM-CEP?
The credential itself does not set pay. It supports work as an exercise physiologist, where the BLS median is $59,460 a year. Holding a certification is generally a hiring requirement rather than a raise.

Source

Every figure on this page was read from American College of Sports Medicine’s own page for this credential on July 26, 2026. Fees and eligibility rules change, and the issuing body is the only authority on the current requirement, so check it before you pay anything.