ACSM EP-C study plan
ACSM EP-C · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Exercise Physiology and Anatomy
Diagram the cardiac conduction system and trace blood flow through the four chambers, valves, and great vessels from memory
Distinguish the acute cardiorespiratory responses to aerobic exercise (heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, a-vO2 difference, blood pressure) from the chronic adaptations to training
Explain how pulmonary, cardiovascular, and skeletal muscle systems combine to set oxygen consumption, using the Fick equation
Match the major muscles of the shoulder, hip, and knee to their origins, insertions, and primary actions
Your checkpoint
Two hand-labeled diagrams (heart/conduction and major muscle groups) plus a 20-item self-quiz scored at 85% or higher with no notes.
Exercise Physiology and Anatomy & Health Screening, Risk Stratification, and Fitness Assessment
Compare the three skeletal muscle fiber types and predict their relative contribution to sprint, endurance, and resistance tasks
Describe the phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative energy systems and identify the dominant system for given exercise durations and intensities
Explain hormonal and metabolic responses to exercise and their implications for blood glucose and fluid regulation
Apply the preparticipation screening algorithm, including PAR-Q+ follow-up and the major cardiovascular risk factors
Your checkpoint
Risk-stratification worksheet for 10 self-written client vignettes, correctly classifying at least 9 of 10 as low, moderate, or high risk and stating whether medical clearance is indicated.
Exercise Physiology and Anatomy & Health Screening, Risk Stratification, and Fitness Assessment
Apply lever, force-velocity, and length-tension principles to analyze squat, deadlift, and overhead press technique
Summarize joint structure, flexibility, and neuromotor factors that limit range of motion
Differentiate absolute from relative contraindications to exercise testing and list indications for terminating a test
Interpret resting and exercise vital signs against normative ranges
Your checkpoint
A one-page contraindications and test-termination reference sheet reproduced from memory with 100% accuracy on a self-check.
Health Screening, Risk Stratification, and Fitness Assessment
Sequence a complete fitness assessment: pre-screening, resting measures, cardiorespiratory testing, muscular fitness, flexibility, and body composition
Calculate and interpret BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, skinfold percent fat estimates, and desired body weight
Select submaximal and maximal cardiorespiratory protocols and estimate VO2max from cycle and treadmill results
Score and interpret push-up, curl-up, bench press endurance, and sit-and-reach results against normative tables
Your checkpoint
A complete mock client assessment packet with every calculation shown and a written interpretation paragraph tying results to recommendations.
Exercise Prescription and Program Implementation
Calculate target heart rate using %HRmax, heart rate reserve (Karvonen), and %VO2 reserve methods for three sample clients
Prescribe aerobic exercise with the FITT-VP framework for apparently healthy adults at three fitness levels
Convert among METs, kcal/min, VO2, and cycle/treadmill workloads in kg·m/min
Apply RPE and talk-test anchors to set and progress intensity
Your checkpoint
Three written FITT-VP aerobic prescriptions, each with a target heart rate range, MET range, and an 8-week progression schedule, with all math independently re-checked.
Exercise Prescription and Program Implementation
Design resistance training programs specifying exercise selection, sets, repetitions, tempo, rest intervals, and progression for novice and intermediate clients
Prescribe flexibility and neuromotor exercise within FITT-VP guidelines
Adapt exercise programs for older adults, pregnancy, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity
Justify warm-up, cool-down, and regression/progression choices for a given program
Your checkpoint
A 3-day-per-week resistance and flexibility program for two contrasting clients (older adult beginner and healthy intermediate lifter), each with written progressions and regressions.
Nutrition, Weight Management, and Behavior Change
Compute energy balance and estimate caloric needs from resting metabolic rate, activity factor, and macronutrient distribution
Compare recommended intakes for carbohydrate, protein, fat, and fluid in active adults
Explain weight loss and weight maintenance strategies, including rate-of-loss math and behavioral supports
Apply the Transtheoretical Model, SMART goal setting, and motivational interviewing techniques to adherence scenarios
Your checkpoint
A behavior change plan for one case client including stage of change, three SMART goals, a short motivational-interviewing dialogue script, and a 12-week nutrition and activity outline.
Exercise Physiology and Anatomy & Health Screening, Risk Stratification, and Fitness Assessment & Exercise Prescription and Program Implementation & Nutrition, Weight Management, and Behavior Change
Integrate screening, assessment, and prescription into a single end-to-end client scenario
Complete timed full-length practice exams under test-day conditions
Rank weakest sub-topics from the error log and re-drill them with spaced flashcards
Recite the key normative values, formulas, and guideline thresholds for all four domains from memory
Your checkpoint
A full-length 120-question practice exam scored at 80% or higher overall with no domain below 70%, plus a one-page error log naming each missed concept and its corrective action.
Milestones
Week 3: Deliver a 15-minute spoken teach-back on Domain 1 concepts (cardiorespiratory responses, bioenergetics, muscle action, biomechanics) with no notes and no factual errors flagged on a self-made checklist.
Week 4: Score 80% or higher on a closed-book 60-question mixed quiz covering Domains 1 and 2, and run a full mock fitness assessment start to finish without referring to notes.
Week 6: In a timed 45-minute session, write a complete FITT-VP exercise prescription from an unseen client vignette and self-grade it against a rubric at 80% or higher.
Week 8: Score 80% or higher overall and 70% or higher in every domain on two separate full-length timed practice exams, with the error log fully reviewed and cleared.