FAQs

Download the AEP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Exercise Scientists are university-trained, health and fitness professionals that specialise in the exercise-based services for apparently healthy populations (low-to-moderate risk of developing disease or injury) or work across a variety of settings listed below:

Hospital/ Clinical Services:

Clinical hospital laboratory: 12 lead ECG, clinical exercise testing (e.g. Bruce/Balke protocol), cardiac catheter lab, lung function testing, blood tests.

Occupational Rehabilitation:

Injury case management services: workers compensation industry (WorkCover), CTP claims (Lifestyle Care & Support Scheme); sites may be private practice case management providers, insurance companies etc.

• Rehabilitation service providers – design and manage work-related activity programs
• Workplace assessment
• Work/job task analysis
• Manual materials handling
• Conduct client assessments
• Exercise prescription
• Leadership (e.g. client exercise session monitoring and program management)
• Exercise plan evaluation
• Exercise Delivery for Apparently Healthy Clients:
• Sports Science/ Sports Performance:
• Coaching – teams and or individuals, from ‘grass roots’ community levels to elite sports competition
• Strength training and conditioning for sport teams, athletes etc.
• Physiological assessments and/or athlete profiling (e.g. body composition)
• Performance testing and/or talent identification
• Biomechanical assessment and analysis
• Sports first aid/ sports trainer (for sporting teams/events)
• Match/ performance analysis
• Sports drug testing (ASADA)/anti-doping
• Sports camps – for player/athlete or skill development
• Exercise and Sport Science Research:
• Exercise testing/physiological assessment
• Laboratory assistant
• Data collection and analysis
• Calibration of equipment
• Haematology, biochemistry
• Drug screening
• Workplace Health:
• Health risk appraisal and risk management (e.g. lifestyle management programs)
• Recruitment fitness testing and/or training for emergency services (e.g. Fire Brigade or Police Force)
• Occupational/workplace injury risk assessment and risk management
• Workplace health programs/ corporate fitness
• Blood tests/ Anthropometry

If you completed undergraduate university studies in the field of Exercise or Sports Science you may be eligible to apply for Exercise Science / Full membership.

If you completed undergraduate studies not related to Exercise or Sports Science, but have completed postgraduate studies in the field of Exercise and Sports Science you may be eligible to apply for Exercise Science / Full membership.

Yes. You need to have a current and financial ES / full member membership to gain accreditation as an AEP or ASP.

Yes. The ES / full member and AEP application process is different. Gaining membership as an ES / full member does not automatically mean you will be eligible for the AEP membership.

Yes. Applicants who have completed university studies in the appropriate areas can apply at any time.

No. Once approved, you are called an Exercise Scientist. You can work within any of the work settings described above, as well as personal training.

Insurance is not included in your Exercise Science / full membership. Insurance requirements will also depend on your employment circumstances. You may be required to take out professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Information relating to insurance can be found at www.essa.org.au

Applicants who completed university several years ago are required to complete the current application form. Applicants need to demonstrate evidence of working within the industry, in the form of a letter (on company letterhead) to claim 140hours of practicum experience in the field of exercise and sports science. This letter must also briefly describe the services the applicant is claiming as evidence.

Yes. You need to list the relevant unit name, and code of the unit of study (as it appears on your academic transcript) relating to each of the required study areas. Applicants must also attach unit outlines for all units listed.

Applicants will need to obtain their unit of study outlines. Many universities maintain records of past units of study offered. If you are unable to obtain your unit outlines, we may require further evidence to determine the units learning objectives.

In the proforma table, applicants must identify which units of study have been completed that satisfy the study areas listed. Where a unit of study is used more than once to satisfy areas of study, or more than one unit of study is used to satisfy a study area, this will be closely examined by the assessor to ensure that the necessary curriculum has been covered.

If you have not completed a study area under area B or C you need to provide evidence (in the form of a signed letter (on company letterhead) from an employer or supervisor) to show how you have developed the knowledge and skills for that area. These knowledge and skills criteria are detailed in Appendix A of the application form.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have completed a minimum of 140 hours of relevant and appropriately supervised practicum experience.

Yes. Applicants may use practicum undertaken as part of the university’s unit of study toward the 140 hours practicum

All practicum hours claimed from July 1, 2010 require detailed logbooks to be provided to ESSA as evidence. The exercise science/full logbook is available on ESSA’s website.

You will need to organise practicum placement with a university qualified supervisor. An example of an appropriate supervisor for apparently healthy hours would be an Exercise & Sports Science or Human Movement graduate.

Yes. Applicants will need to keep a logbook for all hours claimed from July 1, 2010. To obtain a copy of the ESSA logbook click here

Supervisors can be any university-trained individual with, or capable of attaining, membership with ESSA, at the Exercise Scientist level.

Yes. Some businesses may have the appropriate insurance to cover you undertaking your practicum experience. If they don’t, you should consider short-term public liability and professional indemnity insurance cover. http://www.guildinsurance.com.au/essamembers

Yes. You can use the same hours for both, but when claiming them for AEP application, these hours must be in the area of exercise delivery (assessment, prescription, leadership, health education and support) for apparently healthy clients. Further, you will need to ensure your hours were appropriately supervised, per the AEP guidelines.

To be confirmed

Supervision completed by distance or without direct contact with the supervisor will not be accepted as clinical hours. In this circumstance, you may have to travel.

Yes. Exercise Physiology services include GST except for Medicare Services. ESSA is currently lobbying the government to have GST removed.

Yes, The national award for Exercise Physiologists is called the Health Professionals & Support Services Award 2010. If you are employed by the NSW or QLD government there are separate state awards which may apply.

Yes. You can access journals by logging onto the member only area of the website.

Log on to the member only area of the website to update your details for the AEP search function.

A number of member benefits are available to ESSA members. Please click here for the current list of membership benefits.

This information is available on the member only section of the website.

You need to complete all sections of the Exercise Science / full member application form. Although your course is now recognised as NUCAP, this only applies to the cohort of graduates listed on the application form.

Yes. Applications are accepted by all applicants who have completed relevant university studies.

Yes. The application process is the same for international graduates and Australian graduates. However it is imperative that overseas applicants supply certified transcripts and course outlines, that have been translated by an accredited translator.

Yes. Your application will require a translated academic transcript. Other documents, such as unit outlines also require translation.