Kinesiology Degree Programs

Certification · American College of Sports Medicine

ACSM-EP

ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist

The credential a kinesiology bachelor’s is built to qualify you for. It is the only certification here whose stated prerequisite is a degree in this exact field.

  • Type Certification
  • Degree Bachelor'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-EP Is

The ACSM-EP is the ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist credential, awarded by American College of Sports Medicine. It sits on top of bachelor'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-EP Required?

Not a license. Exercise physiology is unlicensed in most states, so this is an employer-recognized credential rather than a legal requirement to work.

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-EP 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.

  • Minimum of a bachelor's degree in exercise science, exercise physiology or kinesiology
  • Current adult CPR/AED certification
  • First Aid certification, added as a requirement starting 2027

How Much Does the ACSM-EP Cost?

Issuing body
American College of Sports Medicine
Degree required
Bachelor'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 3rd cheapest to sit. The full comparison is on the certifications overview.

Where the ACSM-EP Applies

Is the ACSM-EP 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-EP FAQ

What are the ACSM-EP requirements?
Minimum of a bachelor's degree in exercise science, exercise physiology or kinesiology. Current adult CPR/AED certification. First Aid certification, added as a requirement starting 2027. Verified against American College of Sports Medicine on July 26, 2026.
How much does the ACSM-EP 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-EP a license?
Not a license. Exercise physiology is unlicensed in most states, so this is an employer-recognized credential rather than a legal requirement to work.
Do you need a degree for the ACSM-EP?
Yes. It requires bachelor's. That requirement is set by American College of Sports Medicine and is checked at application.
What can you earn with the ACSM-EP?
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.