Training and Professional Development

New

In October 2009 Preventive Medicine published a themed issue¹ focused on the role of physical activity research. The set of 23 papers identifies the pivotal activity-related issues and several actions that decision makers and leaders in different arenas can take right now to increase physical activity across the population.

Read the commentary [PDF-1.5Mb] discussing the role that the CDC has played since 1964 in moving science, policy, and practice from exercise and fitness to physical activity and health.

¹This publications may require a subscription to view full text articles.

The field of physical activity and public health is a rapidly growing and dynamic professional field. To help physical activity professionals stay abreast of current information, this section includes a variety of key training and professional resources.

Professional Documents
Training and Certification Opportunities
Professional Publications
Electronic Newsletters and Listservs
Professional Conferences & Events

Professional Documents

Healthy People 2020
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Healthy People 2020 is the prevention agenda for the nation.

The Community Guide to Preventive Services
The Community Guide summarizes what is known about the effectiveness, economic efficiency, and feasibility of interventions to promote community health and prevent disease.

National Cancer Institute-Research Tested Intervention Programs
A partner Web site of the Community Guide for Preventive Services that provides adapted and adopted interventions by assessing an inventory of programs in physical activity developed from scientific studies that have been shown to be effective.

Training and Certification Opportunities

American College of Sports Medicine
Certifications include Personal Trainer, Health/Fitness Instructor, Exercise Specialist, and Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

American Council on Exercise
Certifications include Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist, and Clinical Exercise Specialist.

CDC and University of South Carolina’s Prevention Resource Center Physical Activity and Public Health Courses
These courses are designed for practitioners and researchers who are involved or interested in community-based initiatives to promote physical activity. Topics include public health models for physical activity promotion, epidemiology/needs assessment, "best practice" intervention strategies, policy and environmental supports for physical activity, program evaluation, partnership development, and current research on physical activity promotion. One-on-one and small group interaction with leading experts is emphasized. The faculty for this course is composed of nationally known public health practitioners and researchers.

CDC Public Health Training Network
A distance learning network of people and resources that takes training and information to the learner. PHTN uses a variety of instructional media ranging from print-based to videotape and multimedia to meet the training and information needs of the health workforce nationwide.

Healthy People 2020
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Find out how to stay connected with Healthy People 2020.

Social Marketing for Nutrition and Physical Activity
This course provides training for public health professionals about how to use social marketing to plan nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention programs.

Professional Publications

These publications may require subscriptions to to view full text articles.

American College of Sports Medicine

Journal of Health and Fitness
This journal covers all aspects of exercise science and nutrition research, with components of ACSM certification workshops, current topics of interest to the fitness industry, and continuing education credit opportunities.
Exercise and Sports Science Reviews
This publication is provides quarterly reviews of the most contemporary scientific, medical, and research-based topics emerging in the field of sports medicine and exercise science.
Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise
This journal features original investigations, clinical studies, and comprehensive reviews on current topics in sports medicine and exercise science.

Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
This publication is a highly respected professional journal offering the latest research in the art and science of human movement studies.

Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Publishes original research and review papers examining the relationship between physical activity and health, studying physical activity as an exposure as well as an outcome.

National Recreation and Parks Association
Serves to advance parks, recreation, and environmental conservation efforts in the nation and to increase access to all Americans.

Electronic Newsletters and Listservs

CDC’s Livability Listserv
CDC facilitates a listserv that addresses issues related to health and the built environment. An e-newsletter that includes related news articles, latest studies, and updates on conferences and events related to livability are sent to all subscribers twice a month. The listserv can also serve as a forum for posing questions, sharing information, and getting feedback from your colleagues in this field.

National Center on Physical Activity and Disability Email List
Sign up for a free, monthly electronic newsletter from the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.

Pedestrian And Bicycle Information Center Monthly Newsletter
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center provides this newsletter to share information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement and access and mobility with those interested in pedestrian and bicycle issues, including planners, engineers, private citizens, advocates, educators, police enforcement and the health community.

Physical Activity And Fitness Research Digest
The Digest discusses current research in the field of physical activity and fitness and is sponsored by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

P.E.4LIFE
P.E.4LIFE provides free email updates on PEP Grant News, helpful advocacy tools, important research information, National P.E. Day activities and other important news that relates to quality, daily physical education.

USC Physical Activity and Public Health On-Line Network
The Physical Activity and Public Health On-Line Network, sponsored by the University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center, is a listserv advancing public health approaches to promoting physical activity by creating a national network of public health practitioners, researchers and interested others.

USC Prevention Research Center Notes
The USC Prevention Research Center Notes is an e-mail newsletter with current information about physical activity and public health. The newsletter includes brief updates of current journal articles, notices of new reports, materials, and resources, current policy issues, recommended Web sites, and updates from national organizations.