There is some concern with the move by certain state governors to eliminate state regulatory boards that licensure may not be as important an issue in the future as it appears to be today. Even with licensure, it may restrict exercise physiologists to a specific scope of clinical practice. There is also the question of why exercise physiologists believe that regulation by certification isn't enough. Certifying exercise physiologists has the advantage over licensure simply because it is not restrictive. Certification increases the likelihood of employability, and it is acknowledged by Medicare and other third-party payers.
Certification is a credible step towards ensuring professional competence.
It is academically based with defined educational credentials. As a result, exercise physiologists are better prepared to perform effectively and efficiency. It is also cost-effective when compared to licensure laws and, in particular, it avoids the problem of not being licensed in a state other than the state in which the exercise physiologist is licensed. In other words, the quest is not to access regulation because there is some hint that the public needs protection from exercise physiologists. The benefits to the public are obviously important, but the point of this article is professional competence.