Updated for 2023: Autism Exercise Specialist Certificate Course
Available now for presale! Modules will begin to launch soon!

12 CECs

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, including social-emotional reciprocity; nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction; and skills for developing, maintaining and understanding relationships. 

Now, thanks to a growing number of studies, we can confidently say that physical activity provides a wide range of benefits for those with autism, including significant gains in social and communication skills. 

Please click here for the full course description.

Learning Objectives:  

The ACSM/EC Autism Exercise Specialist will be able to: 

1. Use standard health assessment tools and, when available, school-based, or private assessments, to develop the foundation of client’s exercise program;
2. Develop exercise programs and demonstrate exercises by applying evidence-based teaching strategies for those with autism;
3. Lead and motivate individuals in both an individual and group setting;
4. Use various instructional (e.g., visual supports, videos, technology) strategies to promote physical activity;
5. Create a positive exercise experience and enhance physical fitness and overall well-being; and
6. Advocate the value of exercise for the autistic community.

Course Outline/Table of Contents: 

• Module 1: Welcome to the Course. 

• Module 2: Overview of Autism. 

• Module 3: Evidence-Based Practices for Autism. 

• Module 4: Modified Client Consultation & Assessment. 

• Module 5: Autism Exercise Program Design. 

• Module 6: Adapting the Exercise Session and Session Management. 

All available course content will be presented to you electronically upon completion of your purchase. This includes all videos, handouts, and certificates (certificates awarded upon successful completion of the course). 

This course expires one year (365 days) from the date of purchase. You must complete all of the course content prior to the expiration date. ACSM will not offer refunds, transfers, or course credits for uncompleted courses prior to their expiration date, or for duplicate purchases. ACSM does not allow substitutions, refunds or credits for this course.  

For questions related to your online CEC courses or purchases, email onlinelearning@acsm.org. 

Membership Discount 

Join ACSM and save up to 50% on select CEC quizzes by contacting our membership department at membership@acsm.org.  Membership dues updates may take a minimum of 24 hrs. to be reflected in your account. 

3 CECs

The Do It Right column publishes three times per year in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal®. Written by an expert, each column takes a deep dive into a single exercise, providing step-by-step info, proper form, cueing and modifications with the help of tutorial videos, photos and descriptive text. 

Unsure about an exercise? Learn how to Do It Right. 

This course bundle covers four Do It Right columns: 

1) Bilateral scapular retraction and shoulder external rotation with resistance bands 
2) The bench press 
3) The shoulder prone I 

This course includes online ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal® Do it Right columns and a corresponding online quiz.

All course content will be presented to you electronically upon completion of your purchase. This includes all articles, quizzes and certificates (certificates awarded upon successful completion of the quizzes). ACSM will not offer refunds, transfers or course credits for not completing courses prior to their expiration date or for duplicate purchases. 

ACSM does not allow substitutions, refunds or credits for this course.  

For questions related to your online CEC courses or purchases, email onlinelearning@acsm.org. 

Membership Discount 

Join ACSM and save 50% on CEC quizzes by contacting our membership department at membership@acsm.org.  Membership dues updates may take a minimum of 24 hrs. to be reflected in your account. 

4 CECs

The Do It Right column publishes three times per year in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal®. Written by an expert, each column takes a deep dive into a single exercise, providing step-by-step info, proper form, cueing and modifications with the help of tutorial videos, photos and descriptive text. 

Unsure about an exercise? Learn how to Do It Right. 

This course bundle covers four Do It Right columns: 

1) The prone scaption above 90 degrees in external rotation (the prone Y)  
2) The prone shoulder full can (the prone T)  
3) Pull-ups 
4) The hang power clean  

This course includes online ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal® Do it Right columns and a corresponding online quiz.

All course content will be presented to you electronically upon completion of your purchase. This includes all articles, quizzes and certificates (certificates awarded upon successful completion of the quizzes). ACSM will not offer refunds, transfers or course credits for not completing courses prior to their expiration date or for duplicate purchases. 

ACSM does not allow substitutions, refunds or credits for this course.  

For questions related to your online CEC courses or purchases, email onlinelearning@acsm.org. 

Membership Discount 

Join ACSM and save 50% on CEC quizzes by contacting our membership department at membership@acsm.org.  Membership dues updates may take a minimum of 24 hrs. to be reflected in your account. 

The Nutritionist's View column publishes three times per year (January/February, May/June, and September/October) in ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal®. This column is written by a nutrition expert and covers an important nutrition topic in each column with the intent to provide practical information the health and fitness professional can put into immediate practice.

This continuing education course combines various Nutritionist's View columns on essential topics such eating well as we age, medium-chain triglycerides on health, and capsaicin and exercise performance. Those wishing to learn more about hot nutrition topics in the industry won't want to miss out on this continuing education opportunity.

This CEC course includes the following Nutrionist's View columns

By Stella Lucia Volpe, Ph.D., RDN, FACSM, ACSM-CEP

• Capsaicin and Exercise Performance
• Eating Well as We Age
• Medium-Chain Triglycerides and Health

Notice

This course includes online ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal® Nutritionist's View columns and a corresponding online quiz.

All course content will be presented to you electronically upon completion of your purchase. This includes all articles, quizzes, and certificates (certificates awarded upon successful completion of the quizzes).

No substitutions or refunds will be allowed for this CEC course.

For questions related to your online CEC courses or purchases, please email onlinelearning@acsm.org.

Available Course Credits

ACSM 3.00 CEC

Course Procedure

Add this course bundle to your cart.

Please note, do not change the quantity (below) for your transaction.  It must remain at 1. Multiple courses cannot be purchased. Courses are not able to be assigned to anyone other than the account holder. 

You have the option to continue shopping or to proceed to checkout.

Be sure you are signed in and submit your order. Once your transaction is complete, you will receive an email confirmation with directions for accessing your course.

To earn your CECs, you will view the course content, pass the quiz (you must earn 70% or better to pass), and print your certificate of completion.

Join ACSM and save 50% on these CEC quizzes by contacting our membership department at membership@acsm.org.  Membership dues updates may take a minimum of 24 hrs. to be reflected in your account.

By David Geslak, ACSM EP-C

An ACSM/Exercise Connection Autism Exercise Specialist certificate holder is an exercise professional, physical or adapted physical education teacher, physical therapist, recreational therapist, or special education professional (see below) who understands the needs and strategies used with autism when implementing an individual or group exercise program in a gym, home, or classroom setting.

The Autism Exercise Specialist CEC course is the prerequisite to the Autism Exercise Specialist Certificate. The CEC course involves completing Online Modules, which will establish the foundational framework of understanding autism, evidence-based teaching practices, and exercise program design to prepare you to work with those on the autism spectrum.

Once you receive the Certificate of Completion for the CEC course, you have earned 6.00 ACSM CECs and are now qualified to take the in-person workshop for the Autism Exercise Specialist Certificate. More information about the in-person workshops can be found at AutismExerciseSpecialist.com.

Learning Objectives:

The ACSM/EC Autism Exercise Specialist will be able to:

• use standard health assessment tools and when available, school-based or private assessments, to develop the foundation of client's exercise program,

• develop exercise programs and demonstrate exercises by applying evidence-based teaching strategies for those with autism,

• lead and motivate individuals in both an individual and group setting,

• use various instructional strategies (e.g., visual supports, videos, technology) to promote physical activity,

• create a positive exercise experience and enhance social skills, and

• communicate to autism parents, special educators, and other professionals the value of exercise for the autism community.

Qualifications needed to earn the certificate:

NCCA-accredited exercise professionals or licensed occupations whose primary role is to lead exercise programs for individuals with autism

• Adapted Physical Education Teacher
• Physical Education Teachers
• Nurses
• Special Education Teachers
• Physical Therapists & PTA’s
• Occupational Therapists & COTA’s
• Recreational Therapists
• Speech-Language Pathologists • Behavioral Specialists (e.g., BCBA)

*Must have current license and be in good standing

The webinar videos within this course were created and edited by Max Gulias, an Exercise Connection staff member, who has autism.

Notice

This course includes a demographic survey, online videos, PowerPoints, journal articles, a corresponding online quiz, and a course evaluation.

All course content will be presented to you electronically upon completion of your purchase. This includes all viewing and reading material, quizzes, and certificates (certificates awarded upon successful completion of the quizzes).

No substitutions will be allowed for this CEC course. CEC course only. This course is not an ACSM certification. Access to this content is available for 1 year (365 days) from the date of purchase.

For questions related to your online CEC courses or purchases, please email onlinelearning@acsm.org.

Available Course Credits

ACSM 6.00 (Online Modules)

Course Procedure

Add this course to your cart.

You have the option to continue shopping or to proceed to checkout.

Be sure you are signed in and submit your order.

Once your transaction is complete, you will receive an email confirmation with directions for accessing your course.

To earn your CECs, you will view the course content, pass the quiz (you must earn 80% or better to pass), and print your Certificate of Completion.

To earn the Autism Exercise Specialist Certificate, go to AutismExerciseSpecialist.com to register for the in-person or virtual workshop. You will need to upload a copy of your Certificate of Completion from this CEC course during the registration process. During the in-person or virtual workshop, you must complete and pass the in-person workshop case study exam. (You must earn 80% or better to pass).