The Next Standard: From Personal Trainer to Medical Exercise Professional
Why Certification Alone Is Not Enoughā€”and Why the Future of Medical Exercise Training Depends on Professional Systems, Functional Outcomes, Documentation, and Medical Relationships
By Dr. Michael K. Jones, PhD, PT
Founder and President, Medical Exercise Training Institute
After 41 years as a physical therapist and 32 years teaching Medical Exercise Specialists, I believe it's time for us to have a serious conversation about the future of Medical Exercise Training.
And I want to begin with a question that may make some of my students and graduates uncomfortable.
Did you become a Medical Exercise Specialist to build a professional Medical Exercise Training practice, or did you simply want another certification that would allow you to charge more for personal training sessions?
Think about that question for a moment.
Since we conducted our first Medical Exercise Specialist (MES) workshop in Washington, DC, in July 1994, I've watched this profession grow from a relatively unfamiliar ...