Supporting Clinical Exercise Physiologists

Over the last couple of years, BASES’ members have been part of a Steering Group led by Prof Helen Jones at Liverpool John Moores University that has been developing a newly registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist pathway. The roadmap to realising this pathway has recently been published and members are encouraged to review this document for more details.

Briefly, here in the UK, there is currently no regulator or register to ensure ‘Clinical Exercise Physiologists’ are safe to practice and remain safe to practice throughout their career. The aim is for suitably qualified Clinical Exercise Physiologists to join the professionalstandards authority (PSA) voluntary register. The Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) has made a request to the PSA to add Clinical Exercise Physiologist title to their register. The register of ‘Clinical Exercise Physiologist’ will ensure that registrants are appropriately trained, they meet the scope of practice and standards of proficiency, they have indemnity insurance, they are committed to continued professional development and are deemed ‘fit to practice’.

Those registered will be qualified specialists practicing in the prescription and delivery of evidence-based exercise interventions as part of the prevention, treatment and long-term management of acute, sub-acute, chronic and complex conditions, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare and rehabilitation providers across sectors and settings. Clinical Exercise Physiologist services will aim to optimise physical function and health and promote long-term wellness through lifestyle modification and behaviour change across all ages.

Within the recent BASES member survey, over 80% of respondents agreed that BASES should support the development of an accreditation pathway for Clinical Exercise Physiology. The BASES Board supports the development of the registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist pathway and with the development of the register, we are confident BASES members’ needs are being met.

Further updates will be shared with BASES members in due course.