Professional Practice, Safety, and Ethics
What the candidate must understand
Professional practice rests on scope of practice, informed consent, confidentiality, and duty of care. Know the components of a pre-participation screening (health history, PAR-Q-style readiness questions, medications, prior injuries, goals) and that screening informs programming and referral, not diagnosis. Understand informed consent - the client understands purpose, risks, and alternatives before participating. Know documentation basics: session notes, incidents, and modifications recorded factually and objectively. Understand risk management: facility and equipment checks, clear emergency action plans, accessible first aid, and knowing when to call emergency services. Know professional boundaries and the ethics of dual relationships, marketing claims, and confidentiality - no guaranteed outcomes, no sharing client information, no practicing outside credentials. Understand liability concepts at a high level: negligence involves duty, breach, causation, and damages. Know continuing education and certification renewal as professional obligations.
Traps in questions
- Confusing screening with medical clearance; clearance comes from a provider when indicated.
- Promising specific results in marketing or in the session.
- Discussing a client's health information with others, even casually.
- Skipping documentation after an incident.
Rule of thumb
If it is not in your scope, document what you observed, stop the activity, and refer. Worked example: a client reports chest tightness during a circuit. The professional stops the session, keeps the client calm and seated, calls emergency services, documents the time, symptoms, and actions taken, and does not attempt to assess or treat the condition.