Question 1

Why should I apply to be a registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist?

Accepted Answer

Becoming a registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist displays that you meet the set standards and scope of practice of the profession and ensures that you are safe to practice and remain safe to practice throughout your career. Click here to view the Standards of Proficiency and Scope of Practice of a Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

Question 2

How much does registration with the AHCS cost?

Accepted Answer

The current fee to join the AHCS Register is £175 for a 12-month period of registration.  The fee is non-refundable.
The current annual renewal fee is £50.  The fee is non-refundable.

Question 3

Is this register recognised by the NHS?

Accepted Answer

Not currently, but it is certainly an aim of CEP-UK to work towards this, as it is currently the only quality assured qualification designed for clinical exercise physiologists to specifically work in health services (public or private), where quality assurance is provided by the AHCS and the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), who are closely allied to quality assuring many other NHS recognised professions.

Question 4

How can membership impact on my NHS Banding?

Accepted Answer

CEP-UK have modelled the quality assured registered clinical exercise physiologist knowledge, skills and experience criteria on being at least equivalent to an NHS Band 5, and a number of our leading registered clinical exercise physiologists have worked at Bands 6 and 7.

Question 5

Is joining the register mandatory for my job as a clinical exercise physiologist?

Accepted Answer

No, but becoming a registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist displays that you meet the set standards and scope of practice of the profession and ensures that you are safe to practice and remain safe to practice throughout your career.

Question 6

Do I need separate or any different levels of insurance to be on the register?

Accepted Answer

You will be required to hold professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance to access the register. You may have this with your employer so please seek guidance from them before applying. If you provide physiology services directly to patients as part of a commercial business, either through self-employment or a limited company you will be required to supply details of your indemnity insurance status. If you are required to purchase this you can gain access to discounted public indemnity and public liability insurance as part of a BASES membership. Please follow the link for more information: https://www.bases.org.uk/spage-membership-member_benefits.html

Question 7

Do I need to be a member of CASES to apply for registration as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist?

Accepted Answer

No but being a CASES members provides you with a “Professional Home” of people who have an in depth appreciation of your knowledge and experience as an registered clinical exercise physiologist and it provides you with a network of people, a profession-specific Code of Conduct, and in the event that you need professional assistance, some peer support.

Question 8

How does this differ from the CASES membership and accreditation?

Accepted Answer

CASES’ membership and BASES’ Accreditation are separate to AHCS Reigistration. To become a CASES member, you will need to sign up via the website and pay the appropriate category fee.  This will then give you access to all of the exclusive membership benefits, including preferential rates on professional insurance and access to CPD.  CASES’ accreditation is a Professional Standard awarded by CASES which involves an application process and is entirely separate to AHCS registration.

Question 9

Where in clinical services can I work with this registration?

Accepted Answer

As a registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist you have displayed that you are able to work in clinical services that align with your scope of practice. Please see the Clinical Exercise Physiologist Scope of Practice for more information.

Question 10

If I work within higher education, can I apply to join the register?"

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you are delivering higher education in the field of clinical exercise physiology you will be able to go through the application process and provide evidence of your qualifications and experience.
AHCS recognise that for any registrant to remain on our Register, all registrants must be practicing and as such, must abide by the AHCS Standards, which include the requirement to undertake continuing professional development.
AHCS define practicing your profession broadly as drawing on your professional skills and experience in the course of your work. This definition is inclusive of roles in clinical practice, education, management, research or other areas.

Frequently asked questions