NASM-CNC cheat sheet

Professional Development and Responsibility

• Scope of practice: certified professionals design and instruct exercise programs but do not diagnose, prescribe diets, or provide medical treatment.

• Informed consent, health-risk appraisal, and a PAR-Q should be completed before beginning an exercise program.

• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) governs the privacy of client health information.

• Professional liability insurance and current CPR/AED certification are standard requirements for employment and for protecting both client and trainer.

• Continuing education units (CEUs) must be earned within each renewal cycle to maintain certification; the exact number is set by the certifying body.

• Negligence requires a duty of care, a breach of that duty, causation, and damages; documentation and facility inspection reduce risk.

• The professional standards emphasize confidentiality, non-discrimination, and referral to qualified healthcare providers when a client presents red flags.

• Documentation should be objective, dated, and retained per facility policy, recording only observable facts and client-reported symptoms.