Lesson 6 Scope of Practice and Code of Professional Conduct for Fitness Professionals
Overview of Scope of Practice
Definition of Scope of Practice: Simply put, scope of practice represents all things a given professional can do within the legal boundaries of their job title.
Legal Regulation Variations:
Certain professions have strict regulations mandated by law, such as medical doctors or lawyers.
Other professions are more vaguely defined, leaving interpretation up to the individual.
Scope of practice for any given profession frequently varies significantly from country to country or region to region. Activities openly permitted in one area may be completely prohibited simply by crossing a border.
Regulation Through Adjacent Fields:
Professions that lack specific governmental regulation may have their scope of practice defined through their association to other adjacent fields.
Fitness professionals fall into this category. In the United States and many other developed countries, there is often no specific legal registration or regulation surrounding work as a certified personal trainer.
However, other allied health professions possess stringent rules that prohibit certified personal trainers from performing specific health-related activities.
The Example of Nutritional Therapy:
In many regions, nutritional therapy is legally restricted; it can only be provided by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or licensed health care providers.
Conversely, in some areas, no licensure is required for nutritional advice, allowing anyone to offer professional services in this domain.
Professional Responsibility: It is highly important for all fitness professionals to not only understand their own scope of practice but also to fully understand the scope for adjacent allied health professionals. They must stay current on all local laws and regulations pertaining to providing health and wellness services to the public.
Definition and Scope of the Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)
Role Description: Certified personal trainers are fitness professionals who perform individualized assessments and design safe, effective, and scientific-based exercise and conditioning programs.
Client Population: CPTs work with clients who present with no medical or special needs and who have been medically cleared for exercise.
Service Delivery:
They provide guidance to help clients achieve personal health, fitness, and performance goals.
This is achieved through the implementation of exercise programs, the provision of general nutrition information, and suggestions for lifestyle modification.
Mandatory Emergency Preparedness:
CPTs must hold a current emergency cardiac care certification, specifically known as a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
They are required to respond appropriately during emergency situations.
Action Prohibitions and Referrals:
Certified personal trainers do NOT diagnose or treat areas of pain or disease.
They must refer clients to other health care professionals when appropriate.
NASM certified personal trainers are required to abide by the NASM Code of Professional Conduct at all times.
NASM Code of Professional Conduct: Professionalism
Purpose of the Code: NASM has established a code of ethics and guidelines intended to protect both the public and the profession. Candidates are expected, and certified professionals are required, to agree to and follow this code.
General Standards of Service:
Provide optimal professional service and demonstrate excellent client care.
Conduct oneself in a manner that merits the respect of the public, colleagues, and NASM.
Treat each colleague and client with the utmost respect and dignity.
Avoid making false or derogatory assumptions concerning the practices of colleagues and clients.
Use appropriate professional communication in all transactions, whether verbal or nonverbal.
Client Safety and Medical Boundaries:
Provide and maintain an environment that ensures client safety.
The professional must not diagnose or treat illness or injury unless for basic first aid, or unless the professional is legally licensed to do so and is currently working in that capacity.
Professionals must not train clients with a diagnosed health condition unless they have been specifically trained to do so following procedures prescribed and supervised by a valid licensed medical professional, or if they are legally licensed to do so and working in that capacity.
Operational Prerequisites:
A professional must not begin to train a client prior to receiving and reviewing a current health history questionnaire signed by the client.
The professional must hold a current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification from an NASM-approved provider at all times.
Mandatory Referral Criteria: A certified professional must refer a client to an appropriate medical practitioner in at least the following circumstances:
If they become aware of any changes in the client's health status or medication.
If they become aware of an undiagnosed illness, injury, or risk factor.
If they become aware of an unusual client pain or discomfort during a training session that warrants professional care. In this specific case, the trainer must immediately discontinue the session.
If nutritional and supplemental advice is required that exceeds the trainer's scope, the professional must refer to other health care professionals unless specifically trained or credentialed to provide such advice and acting in that capacity.
Personal and Professional Standards:
Maintain a level of personal hygiene appropriate for a health and fitness setting.
Wear clothing that is clean, modest, and professional.
Remain in good standing and maintain current certification status by acquiring all necessary continuing education requirements.
NASM Code of Professional Conduct: Confidentiality
Information Protection: Each certified professional must respect the confidentiality of all client information.
Professional roles require the protection of client confidentiality in conversations, advertisements, and any other arena.
Exceptions are permitted only when agreed upon by the client in writing, when necessary due to a medical occurrence, or when legally required.
Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons:
Professionals must protect the interests of clients who are minors by law or unable to give voluntary consent.
This is done by securing the legal permission of the appropriate third party or guardian.
Record Integrity: Professionals must store and dispose of client records in a secure manner.
NASM Code of Professional Conduct: Legal and Ethical Standards
Jurisdictional Compliance: Professionals must comply with all legal requirements within the applicable jurisdiction, including local, state, federal, and provincial laws, rules, and regulations.
Professional Responsibility:
Accept complete responsibility for all actions.
Maintain accurate and truthful records.
Respect and uphold all existing copyright, trademark, and intellectual property rights laws.
Disciplinary Grounds for Certification Revocation: NASM must revoke or take action against the certification of any individual if they:
Are or have been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or pleaded No Contest to a felony or misdemeanor.
Have been found through a legal process to have been negligent or responsible for injury or harm while performing in their professional capacity.
Have misrepresented their qualifications to provide services, including opinions or advice, to the public.
NASM Code of Professional Conduct: Business Practices
Core Principles: Professionals must practice with honesty, integrity, and lawfulness.
Documentation and Insurance:
Maintain adequate liability insurance.
Maintain adequate and truthful progress notes for each individual client.
Marketing and Representation:
Accurately and truthfully inform the public of services rendered and the qualifications held to render those services.
Honestly and truthfully represent all professional qualifications and affiliations.
Advertise in a manner that is honest and dignified, representing services without the use of provocative or sexual language and/or pictures.
Financial and Administrative Management:
Maintain accurate financial, contract, appointment, and tax records.
Maintain original receipts for a minimum of years.
Workplace Conduct: Professionals must comply with all local, state, federal, and provincial laws, as well as employer rules, regarding harassment and discrimination, with specific mention of sexual harassment.