As we undergo the changes that allow others to recognize us, their perception of us will become more accurate. As the accuracy of that perception grows, so then do the expectations that will be placed on exercise physiologists. It seems that we almost put the cart before the horse in respect to expectations. Students and graduates alike expect to find jobs with reasonable pay and professional recognition. However, not until the founding of ASEP did an individual organization step forward to address the expectations that exercise physiologists must live up to.
Professionalism is a mindset.
If you believe that you can do something and you do it well, you are an expert. If others believe you to be an expert, you are probably considered a professional. One way to be know that we deserve the respect we get as professionals is to have academic standards and professional criteria for calling ourselves exercise physiologists. ASEP s established Code of Ethics and a standardized curriculum plan are a very good start. It is not my intent to get into the common disagreement of whom is an exercise physiologist.