Three courses necessary to qualify for CEEAA (offered in western, eastern, and central locations in the US)
Background and Description
Evidence for the benefits of effective exercise programs for the full spectrum of aging adults is overwhelmingly positive. The unique role of the physical therapist in providing these programs is unequivocal. Further education can enhance the ability of physical therapists to incorporate evidence into practice in order to appropriately examine and provide the quality of exercise that will yield optimal benefits for the aging adult. The Section on Geriatrics, in adopting the position that physical therapists should be the exercise experts for aging adults, will be a leader in providing physical therapists with a mechanism to develop and demonstrate expertise in the design and delivery of effective exercise programs for aging adults.
All PTs with the CEEAA credential will demonstrate expert clinical decision-making skills in (1) designing and applying an effective examination and exercise prescription and (2) measuring the effectiveness and reflecting the current evidence of exercise for all aging adults. The process to attain the credential of “Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults” is to complete formal didactic education, and to participate in supervised and mentored skills development, home-based reflection, and critical thinking. Three courses of two days each will address three different and increasingly complex aspects of exercise design and delivery. The three courses are designed to build on each other; however, Courses 1 and 2 can be taken out of sequence.
Exercise Certification Series Course 1:
Introduction and Examination (Tests and Measures)
This course will cover the anatomical and physiological changes that occur with aging, including disease and disability, and the effects of inactivity on these changes. The best tests and measures for the examination of aging adults will be detailed, and participants will perform each test and measure throughout the course.
Exercise Certification Series Course 2:
Exercise Prescription and Consensus Guidelines
This course will cover the beneficial responses to exercise for several body systems. The principles for safe and effective exercise for the aging adult will be addressed. Participants will be able to provide an exercise prescription for the aging adult, including training for aerobic conditioning/endurance; balance, coordination, and agility; flexibility; gait and locomotion; and muscle strength, power, and endurance. Practice sessions will be incorporated into the course.
Exercise Certification Series Course 3:
Special Populations, Complementary Exercises, Motivation, Drug and Nutritional Considerations, and Marketing
This course will provide information on exercise for special populations (eg, those with cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, arthritis). Barriers to effective exercise prescription and motivational strategies for overcoming these barriers will be discussed. The effects of medications commonly used by aging adults and their effects on exercise performance will be reviewed. Nutritional screening and requirements for the exercising aging adult will be provided. Complementary exercises will be discussed including aquatics, tai chi, yoga, and Pilates. Participants will have the opportunity to perform some of the complementary exercises. Discussion of equipment needs, marketing, and reimbursement will facilitate participants’ ability to provide programs in their own clinical settings.
There will be a home-based examination for Courses 1 and 2. A skills test for the content of the first two courses will be preformed on-site during Course 3. If a participant does not achieve a passing grade on the skills test, they will be given the opportunity to retake the examination prior to the completion of Course 3. Following completion of all three courses, there will be a final, comprehensive, home-based examination. All home-based assessments must be completed within six weeks of taking the related course. A participant must achieve minimum criteria in both the skills and didactic assessments to progress to the next level; however, a person can elect to take a course without being tested.
There will be two instructors for each course, schedule to be determined:
Marilyn Moffat, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, CSCS
Karen Kemmis, PT, DPT, MS, CDE
Mark Richards, PT, MS
Jill Heitzman, PT, DPT, GCS, FCCWS
Upon completion of this certification program, you will be able to:
- Describe demographics related to aging adult populations, including disease trends and disability
- Advocate for physical therapists being the ideal professionals to work with aging adults
- Discuss the anatomical and physiological changes in the aging adult
- Select and perform the best tests and measures for examination of aging adults
- Analyze the beneficial responses to exercise for each body system
- Provide a safe and effective exercise prescription for the aging adult, including training for aerobic conditioning/endurance; balance, coordination, and agility; flexibility; gait and locomotion; and strength, power, and endurance
- Recognize barriers to effective exercise prescription and provide motivational strategies for success
- Explain the effects of medications on exercise performance
- Describe principles of aquatic, tai chi, yoga, and Pilates exercises for aging adults and how to integrate them into exercise programs
- Prescribe evidence-based exercise programs for specific aging populations
- Discuss nutritional requirements for the exercising aging adult
- Discuss equipment needs, marketing, and reimbursement for exercise programs for aging adults
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Who can participate in this process and earn the CEEAA? View||Close
Answer: Any physical therapist or any student physical therapist
Question: Can PTAs participate in this process and earn the CEEAA? View || Close
Answer: Physical therapist assistants can attend the CEEAA courses with a supervising physical therapist. However, PTAs will not be eligible to undergo skills and written testing, and will not be eligible to receive a Certificate of Achievement for Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA). Student PTAs are not eligible to participate.
Question: Will other continuing education courses count toward the CEEAA? View || Close
Answer: No
Question: When will the first CEEAA courses be available for PTs, PTAs, and sPTs to take? View || Close
Answer: March 2009
Question: Should I take this course if I am already a Geriatric Certified Specialist (GCS)?View || Close
Yes. The courses for the CEEAA will provide the most up to date information on functional testing and exercise prescription for aging adults. It will allow documentation of advanced clinical abilities in evidence-based exercise prescription for employers, insurance companies, referral sources, and the community. Those earning the CEEAA will be listed on the Section on Geriatrics (SoG) web site stating they have completed a comprehensive set of learning requirements in functional examination and exercise prescription for the aging adult. This will allow networking and appropriate referrals for patients across the country.
Question: Will this coursework count toward the Geriatric Specialization examination? View || Close
Answer: Any continuing education might prepare PTs for the ABPTS Geriatric Specialist exam. To become an ABPTS Specialist, you must meet a requirement for a number of clinical practice hours and pass an examination. How you gain your knowledge leading up to that examination is your choice. The CEEAA courses will likely help physical therapists to better prepare for the Geriatric Specialist examination.
Question: Why should I go through this process? View || Close
Answer: The Section on Geriatrics is committed to providing evidence based content for competency-based education and training for PTs and PTAs. This will be provided throughout the three CEEAA courses. These courses will provide a logical sequence of the most up to date information, allowing participants to build on skills and information received in previous courses. Each course is competency based; meaning that testing from the learning objectives will be completed for each course. This process will allow documentation of advanced clinical abilities for employers, insurance companies, referral sources, and the community. Those earning the CEEAA will be listed on the Section on Geriatrics (SoG) web site stating they have completed a comprehensive set of learning requirements in exercise for the aging adult. This will allow networking and appropriate referrals for patients across the country.
Question: What is the fee for the testing for the CEEAA? View || Close
Answer: An additional $50 testing fee will be charged above the cost of course registration for each of the courses, for an additional total of $150.
Question: What type of testing is involved in the CEEAA? View || Close
Answer:
1. Applicants will be required to successfully complete skills testing prior to the end of the third course.
2. Applicants will be given a written test to take home at the end of each course. Applicants must complete the test and return to SoG office within 6 weeks of the course date. Applicants will have 2 attempts to score at least 70%. Those not achieving a passing score will be required to retake the course before testing again.
Question: When is the application for the actual certificate submitted? View || Close
Answer: The application for the actual certificate as a CEEAA must be submitted prior to the completion of the third course.
Central:
Alabama State University
L. Buskey Health Sciences Building
1155 North University Drive
Montgomery, AL 36104
Course 1: March 28-29, 2009
Course 2: August 29-30, 2009
Course 3: October 17-18, 2009
West Coast:
University of St Augustine for Health Sciences at San Diego, CA
700 Windy Point Way
San Marcos, CA 92069
Course 1: July 18-19, 2009
Course 2: December 5-6, 2009
Course 3: CSM 2010
East Coast:
MGH Institute of Health Professions (Boston)
36 First Avenue
Charlestown, MA 02129
Course 1: November 21-22, 2009
Course 2: April 10-11, 2010
Course 3: Annual Conference 2010
|
Single Course Fee
(Course 1, 2 or 3) |
Fee for Complete
Course Series
(one payment in advance) |
| Section on Geriatrics Member |
$375 |
$1000 (save $125) |
| APTA Member |
$425 |
$1150 (save $125) |
| Nonmember |
$475 |
$1300 (save $125) |
Plus a $50 exam fee for each of the three written, take-home exams needed to become certified ($150 for all three exams) |
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