Professional Associations This table provides the names of several professional associations whose purposes are relevant to the field of health promotion. Many of these organizations have student membership rates and offer excellent networking opportunities through their conferences and other events. References for additional organizations will be listed throughout the associations websites. Organization Website Description Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) American College Health Association (ACHA) www.afaa.com www.acha.org World s largest fitness educator. Certifications include Group Exercise, Kickboxing, Personal Training, Yoga, and many others. The American College Health Association (ACHA) is the principal advocate and leadership organization for college and university health. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) American Council on Exercise (ACE) http://acsm.org www.acefitness.org ACSM provides certifications (Health/Fitness Instructor, Exercise Specialist, and Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist) and scientific publications for health and exercise professionals. ACE is committed to enriching quality of life through safe and effective physical activity. Certifications include Personal Training, Group Fitness Instructor, Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant, and others. American Public Health Association (APHA) www.apha.org APHA is the oldest and largest public health membership organization in the US. Publications include the AJPH.
Professional Associations Organization Website Description American School Health Association (ASHA) www.ashaweb.org ASHA unites the many professionals working in schools who are committed to safeguarding the health of school-aged children. The Association, a multidisciplinary organization that advocates highquality school health instruction and health services. The Cooper Institute The Institute for Health and Productivity Management Medical Fitness Association (MFA) The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC) www.cooperinst.org www.ihpm.org www.medicalfitness.org www.nchec.org The Cooper Institute provides research on critical health topics such as behavior change, obesity, and aging. Certifications include Fitness Specialist, Group Exercise, Pre/Postnatal Fitness, and others. The Institute for Health & Productivity Management is a non-profit corporation created to document and promote the relationship between employee health and workplace productivity. MFA is the first association to focus exclusively on hospital fitness and wellness. It is a non-profit organization that responds to the needs of centers that are owned, sponsored, or operated by hospitals and physician groups throughout the world. NCHEC is the certifying body for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential. National Wellness Institute www.nationalwellness.org Since 1977, NWI has provided health promotion professionals resources and services to promote professional and personal growth. Hosts annual National Wellness Conference in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Professional Associations Organization Website Description The Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) www.welcoa.org WELCOA is a national non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting healthier life styles for all Americans, especially through health promotion initiatives at the worksite. WELCOA links communities and coalitions together into a supportive network that includes locally affiliated Wellness Councils, Well City initiatives, Well Workplaces, and individual and corporate members throughout the United States.
Professional Journals Professional Journals The table below lists several journals with published information relevant to the field of health promotion. These journals are a great resource for research projects as well as thesis planning. Journal Name American Journal of Public Health Association American Public Health Association Health Affairs Independent Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise American College of Sports Medicine Health Services Research Independent Social Science and Medicine Independent Journal of American College Health American College Health Association Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Health Education and Behavior The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Society for Public Health Education
Professional Journals Journal Journal of Health Communication Association Independent American Journal of Health Promotion Independent Health Education Research International Union for Health Promotion and Education Journal of the American Dietetic Association American Dietetic Association Health Policy and Planning Independent Journal of School Health American School Health Association American Journal of Health Behavior American Academy of Health Behavior Health Promotion International International Union for Health Promotion and Education ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal American College of Sports Medicine American Journal of Health Education American Association of Health Education
Professional Journals Journal Electronic Journal of International Health Education Association American Association of Health Education Health Promotion Practice Society for Public Health Education American Journal of Health Studies Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University Disease Management Disease Management Association of American Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Conferences Conferences Below is a list of conferences and events that may be of interest to you. Many conferences offer student intern positions that can help to eliminate or reduce the cost of attendance. Conferences provide excellent networking opportunities for those interested in pursuing careers in the field of health promotion. Websites are listed, since conference dates may change annually. Association Event Website American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) Annual Meeting http://www.aacvpr.org/ American Obesity Association Annual Meeting http://www.obesity.org/ National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Meetings http://nccam.nih.gov/news/events National Institutes of Health Meetings and Events http://www.nih.gov/news/
Conferences Association Event Website American Society of Exercise Physiologists National Meetings http://www.asep.org/ American College of Sports Medicine ACSM Annual Meeting, ACSM Health & Fitness Summit http://www.acsm.org/attend-a-meeting American Public Health Association Annual Meeting http://www.apha.org/meetings/ National Business Coalition on Health Annual Conference http://www.nbch.org/events/conference.cfm National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion National Conference on Chronic Disease Prevention and Control (Annual) http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/conference/index.htm The National Council on the Aging Meetings/ Conferences http://www.ncoa.org/calendar-of-events/
Conferences Association Event Website The American College Health Annual Meeting http://www.acha.org/ Association Society for Nutrition Education Annual Conference http://www.sneb.org/events/events.html National Wellness Conference Annual http://www.nationalwellness.org/?page=nwc2014
Certifications Certifications Holding certifications in a particular segment of health promotion can distinguish you from other job candidates. A number of relevant certifications are listed below for your exploration. Organization Certification Link Certifications Offered http://www.nasm.org/personaltrainer National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) http://www.afaa.com/300.afa - Certified Personal Trainer - Corrective Exercise Specialist - Performance Enhancement Specialist - Fitness Nutrition Specialist - Group Personal Training Specialist - MMA Conditioning Specialist - Weight Loss Specialist - Women s Fitness Specialist - Senior Fitness Specialist - Youth Exercise Specialist - Personal Trainer - Primary Group Exercise - Kickboxing - Step - Military Fitness Specialist - AFAA Challenge Exam * AFAA also offers many continuing education workshops.
Certifications Organization Certification Website Certifications Offered American Aerobic Association International (AAAI) and International Sports Medicine Association (ISMA) http://www.aaai-ismafitness.com/ Certification: Life Wellness Coach, Older Adult Fitness, Kids and Teens Fitness Instructor: Primary Aerobic, Step Aerobic, Yoga, Tai Chi, Pre and Post Natal, Cycling, Pilates Mat, Aqua, Kickboxing. Trainer: Personal Fitness, Sports Nutrition & Weight, STRIDE Fitness Consultant: Holistic Health, Sports Nutrition, Weight Training. Director: Fitness Facility National Board of Fitness Examiners http://www.nbfe.org/examination/ NBFE Registered Personal Fitness Trainer (NBFE) American Council on Exercise (ACE) National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc. International Fitness Professional Association The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research http://www.acefitness.org/getcertified / http://www.nchec.org https://ifpa-fitness.com/get-certified/ http://www.cooperinstitute.org/getcertified/ - Personal Trainer - Group Fitness Instructor - ACE Health Coach - Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist - Youth Fitness Specialist - Fitness Nutrition Specialist - Orthopedic Exercise Specialist - Weight Management Specialist - Sports Conditioning Specialist - Functional Training Specialist - Mind Body Specialist - Therapeutic Specialist - Senior Fitness Specialist Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) Personal Fitness Trainer Personal Trainer
Certifications Organization Certification Website Certifications Offered American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) http://www.acsm.org/certification Personal Trainer Health Fitness Specialist Group Exercise Instructor Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist Board for Certification of Nutrition http://cbns.org/ Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) Specialists Coach Training Alliance (CTA) http://www.coachtrainingalliance.com/ Certified Life Coach The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) http://www.thecoaches.com/ Personal or Life Coach Wellcoaches http://www.wellcoaches.com/ Certified Health and Wellness Coach National Council on Strength and Fitness http://www.ncsf.org Certified Personal Trainer