CASCE Accreditation

A Qualified Workforce Grows Industry Credibility

Accreditation not only benefits the accredited program, but also its students and the industry as a whole. Accreditation strengthens admissions recruitment efforts and enrollment growth. Prospective students can be confident in the quality of the accredited program they choose. Most importantly, the industry gains a well-prepared and highly qualified workforce.

Accreditation truly matters because a standard of excellence in education and practical experience for practitioners can help keep athletes safe. For example, standardization could eliminate the increasing prevalence of exertional rhabdomyolysis that has been reported during strength and conditioning sessions in college football. The following excerpt is from the NCAA's Interassociation Recommendations: Preventing Catastrophic Injury and Death in Collegiate Athletes:

"Since 2007, 57 NCAA collegiate athletes have been reported as suffering from exertional rhabdomyolysis[…]with 51 of the afflicted athletes requiring hospitalization.[…]. Team outbreaks of exertional rhabdomyolysis in NCAA athletes have similarities of irrationally intense workouts designed and conducted by coaches and/or strength and conditioning professionals."

When programs adhere to the standards of accreditation, they’ll consistently produce students who understand how to keep athletes safe and excel in their profession as a result.

The Future of the Field of Strength and Conditioning

The NCAA has been taking active steps to minimize the number of both traumatic and nontraumatic catastrophic injuries in collegiate athletics. By 2016, every NCAA division required that strength and conditioning professionals be certified by a strength and conditioning program that is either fully accredited or nationally recognized.

While this is not a mandate for accredited degree programs, these legislative changes demonstrate outward-facing affirmation by the NCAA that policy change needs to take place in order to ensure student-athlete health and safety. The best approach to ensure athlete safety is through quality education and knowledge.

The NSCA and CASCE leadership believes it is our responsibility as the gatekeepers of our profession to help institutions provide highly qualified individuals. Accreditation of strength and conditioning educational programs is a critical step toward that goal.