SECTION E: ESSA EXERCISE SCIENCE STANDARDS
The ESSA Exercise Science Standards broadly define the minimum components of an Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES), the exercise science qualification, which underpins Exercise Physiology and Sports Science accreditation with ESSA. The Standards are organised into fifteen study areas. For more information please refer to the full version of the ESSA Exercise Science Standards.
Contents
SECTION E: ESSA EXERCISE SCIENCE STANDARDS
Section E: Assessment of the Exercise Science (ES) Standards
Tips on completing Section E
Table 1: Suitable portfolio evidence
1. Human Anatomy
2. Functional Anatomy
3. Human Physiology
4.Growth and Development
5.Research Methods and Statistics
6. Biomechanics
7.Motor Control and Learning
8. Exercise Physiology
9. Health, Exercise and Sport Psychology
10. Nutrition
11. Health, Exercise and Sport Assessment
12. Exercise Prescription
13. Physical Activity and Health
* Note: deficits in this study area may be satisfied with self-directed learning. It is recommended that this includes researching relevant evidence and providing a written response, in your own words. Please reference all sources of research.
14. Exercise Delivery
15. Professional Practice
Section E: Assessment of the Exercise Science (ES) Standards
- In order for ESSA to recognise your university qualification/s and practical experience, you will be required to provide evidence demonstrating HOW you have met the ESSA Exercise Science Standards.
- Please demonstrate how you have met each of the 112 Exercise Science Standards for all of the fifteen study areas by attaching a portfolio of supporting evidence. If you have not studied a particular study area or cannot demonstrate evidence please leave blank. Table 1 below lists examples of suitable supporting evidence for your portfolio.
Tips on completing Section E
Step 1: Reference
- Complete each box on following pages by referencing the relevant evidence document that clearly shows that you can meet the standard. If your unit/subject outline does not clearly show HOW you can meet the standard you may need to provide a copy of an assignment, lab manual or lecture slides. For example;
Human Anatomy
- Locate components of the body systems, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal structures, using a variety of tools such as cadaveric specimens, anatomical models, radiographic images, and diagrams and photographs (in print or electronic media).
List your supporting evidence here:
See unit outline EXSS101 Human Anatomy, learning outcomes 2 and 3 and lecture slides 1-10.
Please note: If ESSA cannot clearly see evidence of the standard when reviewing your referenced evidence, you will be asked for further information. Reviews of additional information incur a $55 assessment fee.
Step 2: Describe – if your reference items do not demonstrate the standard
- If you do not have detailed evidence of your study, ESSA recommends that you write a description in your own words to explain HOW you have met the standard, similar to addressing a short answer question or selection criteria for a job. For example;
Health, Exercise and Sport Assessment
- Identify the need for guidance or further information from an appropriate health
professional, and recognise when medical supervision is required before or during an assessment and when to cease a test.
List your supporting evidence here:Unit SPX303 in second year(identifying where knowledge was learnt) included lectures on referrals and the scope of an exercise scientist. We were also required to do a practical assessment(describing HOW knowledge was applied) where we undertook risk stratification for a mock client using the ESSA screening tool, and were required to make a decision on whether the client required medical clearance. We were required to identify any contraindications prior to testing and monitor clients throughout testing. Changes in clinical status such as a sudden drop in blood pressure or a bout of dizziness are examples of when to cease a test and seek further advice/medical clearance(identifying examples).
Step 3. Attach
- Complete this Section E document by referencing the relevant evidence items or describing HOW you have met each standard.
- Print this Section E document.
- Attach your evidence items either in hard copy OR save to a USB.
- Print your completed application form and attach the printed Section E document and your evidence items.
- Send to ESSA, with your completed application form.
Type of suitable supporting evidence
Essential evidence / Higher education coursework evidence such as detailed subject/course descriptions, handbook, lecture slides, copies of assignments, copies of assessment items
Other evidence / Detailed letter from your appropriately qualified supervisor /colleague/manager/employer describing work undertaken with clients and the duration of employment
Detailed client case studies Verified by an appropriately qualified professional
De-identified client case notes, client assessment results and or client exercise programs *Verified by an appropriately qualified professional
Detailed logbooks - suitable for applicants who are currently working and can provide evidence from their current work OR recent graduates who completed practicum logbooks as part of their degree *Verified by an appropriately qualified professional
Position description - describing roles and responsibilities
Performance reviews
Experience conducting a research study *Verified by an appropriately qualified professional
Awards for service to the industry
Resources developed for the workplace (related to the field of exercise science)
Table 1: Suitable portfolio evidence
1. Human Anatomy
A graduate of an exercise science program can:
- Locate components of the body systems, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal structures, using a variety of tools such as cadaveric specimens, anatomical models, radiographic images, and diagrams and photographs (in print or electronic media).
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Identify the components of the musculoskeletal system and their key parts and describe the operation of the musculoskeletal system in detail.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Identify and describe the basic structures and organisation of the other systems in the body, including their interrelationship/interdependence, with emphasis on the cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory systems.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Identify musculoskeletal structures from surface anatomy.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
5. Integrate the knowledge of and skills in human anatomy with other study areas of exercise science.
List your supporting evidence here:Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
2. Functional Anatomy
A graduate of an exercise science program can:
- Identify the foundational principles of kinesiology that explain individual joint complexes and their independent and composite functions in posture and movement analysis in exercise.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Identify the components of the neuro-musculoskeletal system of the human body, and describe the role of the bony segments, joint-related connective tissue structures, muscles and the external forces applied to these structures.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Describe the effects of exercise, immobilisation, aging and injury on the musculoskeletal system of the human body.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Discuss the role of body proportions in sports performance and talent identification.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Describe the adaptations that can occur during exercise to elements of the neuro-musculoskeletal system.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Conduct musculoskeletal movement analyses.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Analyse and evaluate results from anthropometric, flexibility and posture testing, and present a summary of recommendations for exercise prescription.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Analyse movement during prescribed exercises, identifying which muscles are active in producing and controlling a movement of a particular joint.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Integrate knowledge of functional anatomy with other exercise science sub-disciplines, and apply this knowledge inhealth, exercise, sports and workplace contexts.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
3.Human Physiology
A graduate of an exercise science program can:
- Describe, understand and integrate the functions and needs of the various tissues, organs and systems, and how they relate to health and common pathologies and their pharmacological treatments, especially in the context of exercise delivery.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Measure basic physiological parameters, perform basic analyses, and interpret and analyse the data, taking into account the limitations of the methodology on the conclusions that can be drawn.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of scientific rigour in responding to the demand for evidence-based models and in developing a deeper understanding of the functioning of the human body.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Integrate the mechanisms of different physiological systems.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Integrate knowledge of and skills in human physiology with other study areas of exercise science.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
4.Growth and Development
A graduate of an exercise science program can:
- Recall and describe the stages of growth and development across the lifespan, from conception through to death (including pregnancy in women).
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Recognise exercises that are contraindicated for particular stages of growth and development across the lifespan, and know the injuries or conditions that commonly present during certain stages of growth and development.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Describe the structural, physiological and motor development changes across the lifespan and the effect of exercise on such changes.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Analyse and evaluate the literature and guidelines on growth and development as they relate to exercise.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Integrate knowledge of and skills in growth and development with other areas of exercise science.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
5.Research Methods and Statistics
A graduate of an exercise science program can:
- Describe thetypes andapplicationsof qualitative and quantitative research study designs.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Differentiate between high and lower quality sources of information to inform evidence-based practice.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Use the primary databases to access peer-reviewed scientific literature and conduct searches to identify relevant information.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Critically appraise research methodology and reports, including statistical results and ethical aspects of research, and integrate this knowledge into other study areas of exercise science.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Cite the research of others appropriately in written work.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Understand and perform relevant statistical analyses and interpret results.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
6. Biomechanics
A graduate of an exercise science program can:
1.Describe biomechanical principles and how they relate specifically to the analysis of various forms of human movement to demonstrate an understanding of:
- health, exercise and sport from both performance-enhancement and injury-prevention perspectives
- injury, disability and disease as they relate to movement
- a scientific approach to ascertaining the aetiology of injury
- thephysical effects of human interaction with equipment and the environment.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
2.Apply the principles of the biomechanical analysis of human movement in the context of health, exercise, sport and activities of daily living in a variety of populations.
List your supporting evidence here:Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
3.Explain the nature of biomechanical problems and how qualitative and/or quantitative analysis can be interpreted to develop and implement intervention strategies relevant to the movement context.
List your supporting evidence here:Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
4.Determine when basic movement analysis can add value to the needs of a client.
List your supporting evidence here:Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
5.Demonstrate skill in conducting and interpreting basic biomechanical measurements relevant to clients’ needs.
List your supporting evidence here:Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
6.Communicate scientific data and movement techniques to clients, colleagues and other professionals with appropriate use of illustrations and user-friendly terms.
List your supporting evidence here:Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
7.Identify specific aspects of movement patterns, particularly for movement asymmetry.
List your supporting evidence here:Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
8.Integrate knowledge of and skills in biomechanics with other study areas of exercise science.
List your supporting evidence here:Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
7.Motor Control and Learning
A graduate of an exercise science program can:
- Describe the structure and function of the neuromuscular and sensory systems as they relate to the control of voluntary and involuntary movement, motor learning and skill acquisition.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Identify the strengths and limitations of techniques to assess aspects of motor control and the processes of motor learning and skill acquisition.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Explain the changes in motor function or motor performance that may occur with motor learning, skill acquisition, aging and injury.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Discuss the common theoretical models proposed to explain motor control and the processes of motor learning and skill acquisition.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Examine aspects of a client’s motor function or motor performance as appropriate in health, exercise and sporting contexts.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Use appropriate test protocols to imply motor learning outcomes.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Design motor learning environments and protocols to maximise each client’s specific motor control and learning outcomes, as appropriate in health, exercise or sporting contexts.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Integrate knowledge of and skills in motor control and learning with other study areas of exercise science.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
8.Exercise Physiology
A graduate of an exercise science program can:
Describe the function, regulation and interaction of physiological systems relating to exercise.
- Describe the individual and integrated physiological responses and adaptations to acute and chronic exercise.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Describe the physiological responses and adaptations to acute and chronic exercise in various environmental conditions and the interactions with ‘ergogenic’ aids or technologies.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Apply knowledge of the physiological responses to acute exercise and the adaptations to chronic exercise to provide a rationale for the provision of exercise programs to improve and maintain specific aspects of health, fitness and performance.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Interpret, explain and analyse physiological data obtained during acute exercise, and compare such data between time points, individuals and populations.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
- Integrate knowledge of and skills in exercise physiology with other study areas of exercise science.
List your supporting evidence here:
Office use only: ‘Met’ ⃝ ‘Not yet met’ ⃝ Requires additional evidence ⃝
9. Health, Exercise and Sport Psychology