PETITION OF:

SECTION 1. Chapter 13: Section 11A. of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking “eleven members” and inserting in place “fourteen members” in the first sentence.

SECTION 2. Chapter 13: Section 11A. of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding in the following clause “three of such members shall be clinical exercise physiologists licensed in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-three B of chapter one hundred and twelve;” after the clause “Three of such members shall be athletic trainers licensed in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-three B of chapter one hundred and twelve;” and before the clause “ two of such members shall be occupational therapists”.

SECTION 3. Chapter 112: Section 23A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following language after ““Board”, the board on allied health professions, established under section eleven A of chapter thirteen.” And before ““Occupational therapy””:

“Clinical Exercise Physiology”, an allied health profession that involves the use of exercise and physical activity to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases or conditions, and as a complementary (adjunctive) treatment for chronic diseases or conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, metabolic disease, and immunological/ hematological disorders. .The practice of clinical exercise physiology involves the application of scientific, evidence based primary and secondary preventive and rehabilitative exercise and physical activity services designed to improve physical fitness to populations ranging from children to older adults. The Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) performs health risk appraisal, exercise and physical fitness testing, exercise and physical activity prescription, exercise and physical activity counseling, exercise and physical activity supervision, exercise and physical activity and health education/promotion, and the measurement and evaluation of exercise and physical activity outcome measures. The practice and supervision of clinical exercise physiology is guided by published professional clinical guidelines and standards and applicable state regulations.

“Clinical Exercise Physiologist”, a person who is duly licensed to practice clinical exercise physiology in the commonwealth in accordance with section twenty-three B.

SECTION 4. Chapter 112: Section 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “clinical exercise physiologists,” in the second sentence after “qualified athletic trainers,” and before “occupational therapists,”.

SECTION 5. Chapter 112: Section 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “twenty-three F1/2,” in the fourth sentence after “section twenty-three F, “ and before “twenty-three G,”.

SECTION6. Chapter 112: Section 23C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “or a clinical exercise physiologist” in the first sentence after “as an athletic trainer” and before “or an occupational therapist”.

SECTION 7. Chapter 112: Section 23C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “as a clinical exercise physiologist;” in the first sentence after “as an athletic trainer;” and before “as an occupational therapist;”.

SECTION 8. Chapter 112: Section 23D of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “or a clinical exercise physiologist,” in the first sentence after “as an athletic trainer,” and before “or an occupational therapist”.

SECTION 9. Chapter 112: Section 23E of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “or clinical exercise physiologist” in (b) after “as an athletic trainer” and before “or occupational therapist”.

SECTION 10. Chapter 112: Section 23E of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “or clinical exercise physiology” in (c) after “in athletic training” and before “or occupational therapy”.

SECTION 11. Chapter 112: Section 23E of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “or clinical exercise physiology services” in (e) after “performing athletic training services” and before “or occupational therapy services”, and by adding “or clinical exercise physiologist” in (e) after “in association with an athletic trainer” and before “or occupational therapist”.

SECTION 12. Chapter 112: of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after section 23F the following section:

Chapter 112: Section 23F1/2. Clinical Exercise Physiologist; qualifications

Section 23F1/2. An applicant for licensure as a clinical exercise physiologist shall:

(a) hold a master’s degree or higher with a major course of study in clinical exercise physiology, exercise science, kinesiology, or applied exercise physiology from a college or university approved by the board, including a minimum of 600 hours of supervised clinical experience as a clinical exercise physiologist, or be a graduate of an accredited educational program leading to professional qualification in clinical exercise physiology and approved by the board

(c) or have graduated from an educational program in clinical exercise physiology, exercise science, kinesiology, or applied exercise physiology chartered in a sovereign state outside the United States and have furnished to the board such evidence as it may require: (1) that his education is substantially the equivalent of that of graduates of approved programs in the United States, and (2) that he has sufficient qualifications, including the proficiency in the English language, to practice clinical exercise physiology,

(d) and have met the educational and clinical experience requirements and passed the American College of Sports Medicine registry examination for Clinical Exercise Physiologists or equivalent as determined by the board.

SECTION 13. Chapter 112: Section 23K of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “or clinical exercise physiology” in (c) after “of athletic training” and before “or occupational therapy”.

SECTION 14. Chapter 112: Section 23K of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “clinical exercise physiology or” in (f) after “ethical standards of the profession of” and before “occupational therapy”.

SECTION 15. Chapter 112: Section 23L of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding “clinical exercise physiologist,” after “an athletic trainer,” and before “occupational therapist”.

SECTION 16. Chapter 112: of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after section 23N the following section:

Chapter 112: Section 23N1/2. Clinical Exercise Physiologists; necessity for licensure

Section 23N1/2. No person shall hold himself out as a clinical exercise physiologist or as being able to practice clinical exercise physiology or to render clinical exercise physiology services in this commonwealth unless he is licensed in accordance with section twenty-three B. No person not so licensed may use in connection with his name the words or letters, “C.E.P.”, “R.C.E.P.”, “L.C.E.P.”, or any other words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating that he is a clinical exercise physiologist.

SECTION 17.

A license as a clinical exercise physiologist may be issued without examination to an applicant who meets the requirements of section 23F1/2 of chapter 112 of the General Laws and provides to the board's satisfaction that the applicant has been in practice in the field of clinical exercise physiology for five years out of the last ten years preceding the effective date of the regulations implementing this Act. The board in its discretion may waive the education requirements for an applicant if it determines that an applicant's combined professional and education credentials meet the intent of this act.

The provisions of this section shall expire one year following the effective date of the implementing regulations.