The adult fitness and exercise science concentration in the Human Performance, Sports and Leisure Studies Department has earned the endorsement of the American College of Sports Medicine.

There are 100 different certifying organizations related to fitness, according to HPSL Professor Joe Quatrochi, but he says that the ACSM is the gold standard of certification. Quatrochi is the coordinator of the adult fitness and exercise science major.

"The ACSM is nationally and internationally recognized as the top certifying body," Quatrochi said. "For our curriculum to be ACSM-endorsed, it had to adhere to about 180 KSA (knowledge, skills and abilities) objectives." He added that Metro's program is the first four-year program in the state to receive ACSM endorsement.

In addition to further establishing Metro's program as meeting high-level professional standards, the endorsement means that graduates are automatically qualified to sit for the ACSM health/fitness instructor certification exam.

That exam is being offered tomorrow and Friday at Metro; it is the second year that the HPSL Department has been chosen one of approximately 25 sites nationwide to host it. According to Quatrochi, 50 candidates from around the country will be here to take the written test on Thursday. Forty-eight will take the practical assessment tests on Friday.
Prior to the exams, some candidates will participate in a workshop taught by Quatrochi that reviews the KSA objectives.

ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world, with more than 20,000 members internationally.