The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a sports medicine and exercise science membership organization. Founded in 1954, ACSM holds conferences, publishes books and journals, and offers certification programs for personal trainers and exercise physiologists.
History
The American College of Sports Medicine was founded in 1954[2] as the "Federation of Sports Medicine" in New York City at the Hotel Statler on April 22, as part of the afternoon program of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (AAHPER). The following year, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) was officially incorporated, and 11 individuals were designated as founders. This group was composed of seven men and one woman with careers in physical education, as well as three physicians. The physical educators were Clifford Brownell, Ph.D. Ernst Jok, M.D., Peter Karpovich, M.D., Leonard Larson, Ph.D. Grover Mueller, M.S., Neils Neilson, Ph.D, Josephine Rathbone, Ph.D. and Arthur Steinhaus, Ph.D. Although they had training in physical education or were employed in departments of physical education, Jokl, Larson, Karpovich, and Steinhaus were primarily involved in research dealing with the physiology of exercise. The physicians were Louis Bishop, M.D., Albert Hyman, M.D., and Joseph Wolffe, M.D. All three were practicing cardiologists.
ACSM's Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines
ACSM's Introduction to Exercise Science
ACSM's Nutrition for Exercise Science
ACSM's Resources for the Exercise Physiologist
ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer
ACSM's Foundations of Strength Training and Conditioning
Certifications
ACSM offers four different certifications for fitness and clinical exercise professionals, and a number of credential and specialty certificate programs.
ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
ACSM Certified Group Exercise Instructor
ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist
ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Exercise is Medicine Credential
Autism Exercise Specialist
Foundation
The American College of Sports Medicine Foundation[12] is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with and developed to support the American College of Sports Medicine, Inc. Each year the ACSM Foundation awards more than $100,000 in research awards and scholarships.