The field of cardiac rehabilitation is ever expanding, with more and more hospitals adding medical intervention procedures and creating a referral service into phase I and II cardiac rehab. Due to the special training required to work in the area, not all exercise science graduates are prepared. It is essential that you obtain the proper classroom instruction, effective internship experience, and other credentials, such as certifications in BLS, ACLS and perhaps a bit later in your career a certification from a professional organization. These will be discussed in this chapter.

Job Search Terms- Cardiac Rehab

Conducting an online search for jobs in exercise science can be confusing, since different subspecialties within exercise science call themselves different things. Here are some search terms and the associated fields within exercise science:

Clinical – Hands on Skills

• Provides clinical support to health care professionals to ensure the delivery of quality health care services. This includes obtaining vital signs, performing EKG’s, chart review and abstraction for upcoming appointments.
• Leads exercise therapy sessions for Phases I – III cardiac rehabilitation including adhering to exercise prescription, moderating activity to meet individual needs of participants, taking vitals (pulse, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, assessing symptoms, ABI assessment).
• Adjusts exercise equipment to needs of individual patient.
• Monitor EKG rhythms. Perform 12 lead cardiac diagnostic stress testing (stress echo, thallium, pharmacologic)

Search terms: Cardiac Rehab, Exercise Physiologist

Fitness Specialists

• Requires the technical expertise necessary to perform health risk appraisals, low-level strength and conditioning testing and evaluations.
• Demonstrates the technical knowledge of basic kinesiology, exercise programming and exercise physiology to include their application in order to instruct members about proper exercise techniques. Teach adult exercise classes.
• Lead personal training and group exercise programs for persons with Parkinson’s disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and other progressive neurological conditions.
• The Coach must excel in group exercise instruction and program design.
• Perform detailed fitness evaluations, needs/wants analysis, tracking, and reporting progress to foster deep understanding leading to highly personalized and effective wellness programs for the clients.
• Continual data tracking and analysis of assessments, to ensure effective client program engagement, evolution, and progress awareness.
• Integrate and manage heart rate tracking software with classes and sessions.

Job search terms:  Exercise Specialist, Fitness Specialist, Fitness Coordinator, Fitness management

Wellness Specialists

• Performs health risk appraisal screening such as bio-metric screening including BMI, body composition, risk factors, barriers and creating personal wellness plans involving all dimensions of well-being.
• Works collaboratively with other team members to support programming for both internal and external events such as health fairs, health screenings, seminars, classes, wellness rounds, etc.
• Teach group exercise classes, assessments/consultations, and expertise knowledge in designing personalized programs for participants.
• The Fitness/Wellness Specialist must demonstrate competency in performing functional fitness tests and accurately interpreting the results to design an individual specific program with the needs of the customer in mind, including high standards and confidentiality. Must be able to effectively plan, organize and implement appropriate group exercise and fitness/wellness programs.

Job search terms:  Wellness Coach,  Corporate Wellness, Corporate Fitness, Health Coach, Health Promotion

Sports Performance Specialist/Coach

• Design Programs- you successfully design programs for users of varying ability and goals with an emphasis on quality movement, careful instruction, and safe results.
• Deliver Services- You skillfully lead users through workouts both digitally and onsite, while demonstrating proper movement quality to ensure maximum levels of success for all participants. This could include group classes, workshops, team experiences, personal training, and small group training series for specific populations (some of which are part of our membership services program).
• Administer Assessments- Routinely schedule and perform consultations and assessments for users to better understand their abilities, goals, and limitations.
• Develop and execute in person events, virtual education, competitions, and wellness challenges
• Develop and organize sports performance programs according to the individual/team needs.
• Development of effective sports performance programs that promote individual improvement and injury risk reduction/prevention/return to play.

Job search terms: Strength and Conditioning coach, Sports performance, sports scientist, exercise specialist

Personal Trainer

• A Personal Trainer is required to have a good understanding of physical fitness, exercise science, exercise techniques, group/small group leadership and experience in any specialized program they may lead.
• Screens, assesses, designs, and delivers one-on-one training of individuals and groups for general health and wellness needs. Demonstrates ability to work independently and within a team, multi-task, and create programs.
• Provide members with equipment orientations, fitness consultations and evaluations
• Educate members on current health and fitness issues and trends
• Schedule and conduct sessions based on client’s availability
• Develop individual exercise programs based upon client’s abilities, health, status and goals

Job search terms: Personal Trainer, Fitness specialist, Fitness management, group exercise instructor, exercise science

Certifications and Credentialling

In addition to your degree, the field has certifications that demonstrate competency related to the subspecialty. This section will focus on the cardiac rehab subspecialty, but realize that each area has their own specific certifications and credentials that help improve your chance of employment and demonstrate your competency.

Basic Life Support (BLS)

This is often a requirement for students to have just to complete their internship. BLS training is CPR training and the use of the AED. Certifications are offered through the American Red Cross  and the American Heart Association

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

This training provides you with the skills to assist doctors and nurses during a code situation (i.e. cardiac arrest). You learn to recognize various lethal arrhythmias, learn the protocols for reviving the patient, learn how to operate a defibrillator as well as other skills needed in a code situation. This certification is often offered at hospitals and is typically a requirement as part of employment. Go to this link for more information.

ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine)

ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologists (ACSM-CEP®) help to increase the likelihood of long-term physical, social and economic independence of patients through individualized patient education, behavior change and primary and secondary prevention strategies.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology or equivalent and 600 hours of hands-on clinical experience
  OR
  Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, or equivalent and 1,200 hours of hands-on clinical experience
• Basic Life Support Provider or CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer certification

Since most internships only provide 600 hours of experience, most entry level positions will require that you obtain certification within 1 year of hire.

Go to this website for more information.

AACVPR (American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation)

The Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP), exclusively for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) professionals, is the only certification aligned with the published CR competencies. AACVPR’s exam assesses proficiency via exam questions that evaluate knowledge of facts, concepts and processes required to complete the following tasks as illustrated in the CCRP exam blueprint and the CCRP Candidate Handbook. Exam questions are based on a wide variety of publications, regulations and resources in the field. A full list of exam resources can be found in the newly updated Exam Resource Document.

Go to this webpage to review the current CCRP Pass Rates.

Go to this webpage for certification information.

Professional Journals

Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention: This journal focuses on cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and prevention. It covers a wide range of topics including exercise physiology, clinical trials, behavioral medicine, and outcomes research.

Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology: Article types include original research and brief research reports, various contemporary reviews, point-counterpoint debates, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, study protocols, case studies, and expert commentaries on topics of interest to the clinical exercise physiologist.

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology: Formerly known as the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation, this journal publishes research related to the prevention and rehabilitation of cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac rehabilitation programs, exercise interventions, and lifestyle modifications.

Journal of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Cardiovascular Prevention: This journal publishes original research, reviews, and case reports related to cardiac rehabilitation and cardiovascular prevention. It covers topics such as exercise training, risk factor management, psychosocial interventions, and patient education.

Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA): JAHA publishes research related to all aspects of cardiovascular health, including cardiac rehabilitation. It features original research articles, reviews, and clinical studies.

Clinical Rehabilitation: While not solely focused on cardiac rehabilitation, this journal covers a wide range of topics related to rehabilitation medicine, including cardiovascular rehabilitation.

American Journal of Cardiology: While primarily focused on cardiology, this journal occasionally publishes research related to cardiac rehabilitation programs, exercise interventions, and outcomes.

Professional Organizations

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)   https://www.acsm.org/

Mission: To educate and empower professionals to advance the science and practice of health and human performance. ACSM is the largest sports medicine organization in the world, and its members include physicians, cardiologists, cardiac rehab professionals, sport scientists, biomechanists and a wide array of professionals in areas related to human movement sciences.

Clinical Exercise Physiology Association         https://cepa.clubexpress.com/

The purpose of CEPA is to advance the scientific and practical application of clinical exercise physiology for the betterment of the health, fitness, and quality of life for patients at risk or living with a chronic disease. The aim of CEPA is to advance the profession of clinical exercise physiology through advocacy, education, and career development.

American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR)                https://www.aacvpr.org/

AACVPR is a multidisciplinary professional organization comprised of health professionals who serve in the field of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. They are committed to the continued professional development of their members through networking and educational opportunities.

Michigan Society for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (MSCVPR)    https://www.mscvpr.org/

MSCVPR is a statewide network of professionals dedicated to providing education opportunities, promoting an exchange of ideas, enhancing standards of care and improving communication among multidisciplinary health professionals who promote cardiovascular and pulmonary health. MSCVPR was founded in 1988 to meet the needs of cardiac and pulmonary specialists in the state of Michigan. The Society was recognized as an affiliate of AACVPR in 1989. Since that time, the society has grown significantly with representation from nursing, exercise physiology, respiratory therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

Resume Building Suggestions

One last career-related item is the resume creation. Typically for the BS degree graduate the resume is a bit thin, as experience building has just begun. But you can maximize your resume by including skills you may have overlooked and not included. Here are some prompts:

Computer skills– what types of software have you used? Any interesting skill set (i.e can you make graphics and flyers using Adobe?)

Equipment skills– Have you used a blood pressure cuff, pulse doppler, metabolic cart, body composition equipment?

Testing skills– have you ever performed a submaximal exercise test, VO2max test, diagnostic (ECG) stress test? Flexibility, body composition, strength assessment, functional ability?

Patient populations– Have you ever coached a sport? Have you worked with children, older adults, special needs? Anything that shows you have worked and taught different populations.

Group exercise– Have you ever taught yoga, martial arts, spinning, weight lifting, or any other activity that show that you have led some type of group exercise?

Review your laboratory-based classes and itemize some of the skills you have developed. Include these on your resume. Entry level jobs have the need of basic skills in assessment, instruction and working with different populations. Include these experiences!

Selected Sources

Career Page GVSU: https://www.gvsu.edu/exercisescience/cardiacpulmonary-rehabilitation-clinical-exercise-physiologist-139.htm

Help with Interviewing (GVSU) : https://www.gvsu.edu/careers/interviewing-and-networking-151.htm

Resume Guide (GVSU): https://www.gvsu.edu/careers/resume-guide-178.htm