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Home Study Courses

Finding continuing education correspondence courses that are appropriate for certified fitness professionals can be frustrating. Once you find one, the quality may be poor and the cost outrageous. Exercise ETC changes all this. We have dozens of correspondence education programs available for you to choose from! Now is your chance to earn your CEC's at home, at your own pace, and more affordably than you thought possible!

How It Works

When you order a correspondence (home study) program from us you will receive a textbook and a separate examination booklet. Your book will be sent to you via the United States Postal Service. A link to your test is embedded in your receipt and will be emailed to you as soon as you place your order. To access your test, scroll down on your receipt. When you see the underlined test title, click on the title to open the test. Then you can either print it out or save it to your hard drive -- or both!

When you are ready, complete the open-book, multiple choice examination by writing your answers (A, B, C or D) in your test booklet or on a separate sheet of paper. When you are done, simply transfer your answers onto our website for free, instant grading. Then, assuming you get 70% correct, you can instantly print out your certificate of completion.

It’s that simple!

eCourses: Our Home Study Courses Have Gone Digital!

Save Time, Save Money, Save the Environment

Many of our most popular home study courses are now available in a 100% digital format, meaning you can access your textbook on your smart phone, tablet, laptop or PC – or all of the above! When you order one of our new eCourses you will immediately receive an email with a link to access your eBook and your eTest, giving you instant access to both. Better yet, there are no shipping charges when you purchase an eCourse. Our brand new e-Courses make the continuing education process faster and cheaper than ever before!

How It Works

Accessing your eBook is fast, simple and convenient! When you order your eBook we will instantly send you an access code and a link to the publisher. Click on that link, enter your email address and a passcode (that you will create) and then enter your keycode: Your eBook will download instantly as a PDF file. Then, using your email address and passcode you can access your book on any or all of your devices: laptop, PC, smart phone and tablet (both Ios and Android.) To see how the process works: click here

Don't need the book? Buy only the test!

We want to help you save money! That’s why all of our home study courses give you the option of buying just the test without also buying the required textbook from us. This means if you already have the book, you can order only the test and enjoy significant savings. Where else can you get the book? Our titles are often available for free at your local library, or maybe a friend or coworker can loan you their copy. And of course you can always buy a “used” copy from amazon.com (Just make sure that the copy of the book you use matches the picture of the book on our website; editions and tests change frequently.) Or try this: if you and a colleague want to share the same book, you can do that too. (Just remember that you and your friend must each buy a separate copy of the test.) The other benefit of choosing the “Test Only” option is you will pay no shipping charges –because your test will be emailed to you instantly — saving you even more money!

If you're in a real hurry you can always buy the required text as an e-book directly from our publisher, Human Kinetics Publishing, and you'll receive a PDF version of the book instantly via e-mail. Just remember that if you choose this option you are only buying the e-book; to get CE credit you must still buy the test separately from Exercise ETC.

To access these special savings remember to select the “Test Only” icon.

Challenge The Test

If you have significant experience or education in a specific area you can always try to “challenge the test.” This means you’ll try to take the test without reading the book. If you don’t pass, you can take the test as often as you like with no additional charge and if it’s too much of a challenge, you can always buy the book later.

Item Writing Protocol

All exams and quizzes are developed by Exercise ETC's staff of trained item writers. All of our item writers have either a Master's degree or a PhD in the subject matter relevant to the exam or quiz they are developing and have been trained in Exercise ETC's style of systematic item writing and test construction. In addition, a final review and approval of all exams and quizzes is conducted by an administrator with a Master's or PhD in Education or Higher Education Administration.

CE awards are calculated based on the Mergener Formula, a standardized method that computes CE awards based on the length and complexity of a book as well as the number of items on the test.

Course Completion Deadlines

After you receive your course, you must submit your answer sheet to us by December 31 of the next calendar year. Programs that are submitted too long after purchase may no longer be accepted by your certifying organization; this is to ensure that the material you are studying always contains the most recent, up to date information available! In rare cases, a certification may change the CE awards or approval status for a specific program. In the unlikely event this would occur, Exercise ETC will issue you an in-house credit equal to the price you paid for the program that was affected. Some restrictions may apply.

In a hurry?

Need your certificate ASAP? You'll love our Instant Grading Services, available at NO extra charge! The only thing that will delay the time it takes to get your certificate is how long it takes you to complete the test!

Free Retakes

If you do not pass your exam with a score of 70% or higher you may retake the exam as many times as you need to at no additional charge. If you need help with your exam, or just want to chat with someone we offer email access to both our Education Director and the Exam Developer. Peer discussion bulletin boards and discussion groups are also available for those times when you want to a forum for chat.

Instant Grading Service

We are now pleased to offer INSTANT GRADING SERVICES, absolutely the quickest possible way to get your CE certificates. Better yet, there is no additional charge for this service! Here’s how it works: Complete your CE exam, transfer the answers onto the answer sheet you’ll find on our website and it will be graded immediately; if you score at least 70% you can then print your CE certificate immediately.

Shipping Policies

All home study programs are shipped via US Postal Service Priority Mail. We ask that you allow up to 7 - 10 days to receive your package; this is the "worst-case" scenario: most packages are received in 3 - 5 days. If you need your materials more rapidly, consider purchasing an eBook, which is available to you instantly. If you would like expedited delivery services, please call us at 1-800-244-1344 for product availability. Overnight shipping charges begin at $40 per package plus regular shipping and handling costs. Remember that neither Exercise ETC, FedEx nor the US Postal Service has control over the weather.

Stop searching. There are NO lower prices.

Trust us: It is virtually impossible to find higher quality, more cost effective home study programs anywhere else, but in the unlikely event you do, we’ll meet any competitor’s price for the same (or even a similar) program. As an added bonus, if you find the exact same program for the exact same credits cheaper somewhere else we’ll also waive your shipping charges. Convinced?

Full Refund Policy

We'll keep this short. After you get your home study course you have three days to request a full refund (less any shipping charges.) Just notify us within that three day window and then return the book to us in saleable condition and your refund will be issued as soon as we receive the book back. That's it: No questions asked. Please note that refunds cannot be issued if you have taken the test. Refunds for eCourses cannot be issued once the keycode has been used.

Earn Continuing Education Credit

All of our continuing education programs (live programs, home study courses and webinars) are approved or accepted by one or more major Certifying Organizations including:

ACE
ACSM
AEA
AFAA
BOC
CSCS
FAI
IFPA
ISSA
NASM
NSCA
Many more!

After the description for each course is a listing of the number of CEs that course is approved for. Make sure to verify that the course you want is approved by your organization. Make sure to do this before your make your purchase:
Not all of our CE courses are approved by all certifications.

Don’t see your organization listed here? Call them and request that they accept Exercise ETC home study courses!

ACE

Exercise ETC has been recognized as a Continuing Education Provider by the American Council on Exercise since 1993.

ACSM

The American College of Sports Medicine's Professional Education Committee certifies that Exercise ETC meets the criteria for official ACSM Approved Provider status from 2021 - 2023.

AEA

Exercise ETC has been an AEA-approved CE Provider since 1999. AEA awards different CEs for land-based vs. water-based ConEd programs so make sure to check the CE awards before you purchase a course.

AFAA

As of January 1, 2016 AFAA will now accept home study programs provided by Exercise ETC. Not all programs are pre-approved by AFAA, however, so make sure to read the awards statement following each course description to make sure the course is AFAA approved, and for how many CEUs. Exercise ETC is recognized by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and AFAA as a Continuing Education Provider.

BOC (Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers)

Exercise ETC meets the criteria for BOC Approved Provider status through December 31, 2024.

CSCS (NSCA)

Exercise ETC has been an approved CE provider for the NSCA since 1996. Approved home study courses and webinars count as "Category D" (home study) CEs and live classes and live webinars count as "Category A" (live event) CEs. If you have questions specific to your re-certification, contact the NSCA directly.

FAI

FAI is a recognized CE provider by the Functional Aging Institute.

IFPA

IFPA does not independently approve Exercise ETC programs but they will accept any programs that are approved by ACE.

ISSA

ISSA does not independently approve Exercise ETC programs but they will accept any programs that are approved by ACE.

NASM

Exercise ETC has been a NASM-approved continuing education provider since 1999. Not all programs are pre-approved by NASM however, so make sure to read the awards statement following each course description to make sure the course is NASM approved, and for how many CECs. Exercise ETC is recognized by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and AFAA as a Continuing Education Provider.

NDEITA/NETA

These organizations do not independently approve Exercise ETC programs but they will accept any programs that are approved by ACE.

NFPT

Exercise Etc. is recognized as a Continuing Education Provider by the National Federation of Professional Trainers. NFPT has pre-approved all Exercise ETC courses for CEC awards. NFPT requires 2.0 CECs per certification year. Each Exercise ETC course award varies, from between 0.5 - 1.5 CECs, based on the estimated number of participation hours. Please see the NFPT/Exercise ETC CE Award Chart for the specific NFPT CEC awards for each Exercise ETC course.

NSCA

Exercise ETC has been an approved CE provider for the NSCA since 1998. Approved home study courses and webinars count as "Category C" (home study) CEs and live classes and live webinars count as "Category A" (live event) CEs. All courses and events currently approved by the NSCA can be confirmed on the NSCA website at https://www.nsca.com/certification/approved-ceus/ If you have questions specific to your re-certification, contact the NSCA directly.

Physical Therapists

Exercise ETC is pleased to announce that some of its most popular correspondence courses are now approved by the Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA) for continuing education credit for Licensed Physical Therapists. Because of reciprocity agreements among the States, this means that approximately 20 other states will accept Exercise ETC courses for Physical Therapy Continuing Education credit. Please note that for Physical Therapists living outside of Florida it is your responsibility to know whether or not your State Licensing Board will accept credits approved by Florida.

Registered Dietitians

Exercise ETC has successfully met all 11 standards to become a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Accredited Provider through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). The accreditation period is effective until June, 2020.

WITS

WITS does not independently approve Exercise ETC programs but they will accept any programs that are approved by ACE.

TBA Credits

When a course has been submitted for approval to a certifying organization but we have not yet been officially notified as to the number of CECs/CEUs it is approved for, we list the credits for that course as “TBA.” This means that we have every expectation that the course will be approved for a number of credits comparable to the other certification organizations you see listed. In the unlikely event that the course is not approved for CEC/CEU credit by your organization we will issue you either a full refund or an in-house credit equal to the full purchase price – and you may keep the original book for your library.

Double Dip!

Do you have more than one certification? You can use your Exercise ETC CE program towards the renewal of several of your certifications because our courses are approved or accepted by dozens of different certifying bodies. If you want to double dip, click here to select the organizations whose certifications you hold.

Big Savings On Sale Items!

Make sure you check out our on-line specials to see our special sale items, many at 50 – 70% off.

Questions?

Call 1-800-244-1344 or email info@exerciseetc.com for more information!

The Home Study Courses

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