International accreditation
We are proud of our internationally accredited Clinical Exercise Physiology programme.
Clinical Exercise Physiology
Clinical Exercise Physiology is a recognised allied health profession in New Zealand.
Clinical Exercise Physiologists are registered with Clinical Exercise Physiology NZ and the NZ Clinical Physiologists Registration Board, which issues annual practising certificates to hospital and community-based respiratory, cardiac, sleep, and renal dialysis physiologists.
New Zealand is one of several countries, including Australia, USA, UK, and Canada who recognise the value Clinical Exercise Physiologists add to the wellbeing and health of people living with chronic disease.
Our programme is the first of its kind in New Zealand. It comprises a Postgraduate Diploma in Science followed by a taught MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology with a related research project.
The two-year postgraduate programme gives our graduates the skill to safely assess cardiorespiratory fitness and prescribe safe and effective exercise for people of all ages and a wide range of medical conditions.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
In 2015, the US Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited our Clinical Exercise Physiology programme with the highest level of international accreditation available. The University of Auckland exercise physiology programme was the first to be CAAHEP accredited outside the USA.
CAAHEP accreditation enables our students to sit the American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM) exam and become registered Clinical Exercise Physiologists, ACSM’s top category of certification.
CAAHEP Annual Reporting
To maintain our accreditation status we must provide extensive annual reports regarding the programme outcomes, including:
- Class enrolment numbers
- Retention and graduation numbers
- Placement rate in employment within 12 months of graduating
- The number of graduates to pass competency examinations and receive registration from Clinical Exercise Physiology NZ and the Clinical Physiologists Registration Board.
| Year | No. of graduates | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22 | 96% |
| 2020 | 14 | 88% |
| 2019 | 17 | 100% |
| 2018 | 25 | 92% |
| 2017 | 32 | 100% |
| Year | Positively placed | No. of graduates | Positive placement rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | 10 | 80% |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| 2019 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| 2018 | 10 | 12 | 83% |
| 2017 | 14 | 17 | 82% |
Clinical Exercise Physiology Advisory Board
The Clinical Exercise Physiology Advisory Board is a requirement of our Clinical Exercise Physiology (CEP) programme accreditation.
The board is chaired by the CEO of Healthpoint, a New Zealand online health services directory that links information between the medical profession and the community.
Board members include medical doctors, the Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, a patient, exercise physiologists in private practice, University academics, a University staff exercise physiologist and a CEP student representative.
Prospective postgraduate students considering CEP as a programme and career option must understand that our programme obtains advice from this body of advisers as part of our accreditation remit.
For more information about the board members, please see below:
- Kate Rhind Chair (Healthpoint)
- Greg Anson (Head of Department, Exercise Sciences)
- Jocelyne Benatar (Cardiovascular Research Unit, Auckland City Hospital)
- Richard Edlin (Health Economist, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences)
- Eloise McCullough (CEP Student Representative in Exercise Sciences)
- Rebecca Meiring (CEP Deputy Clinic Director, Exercise Sciences)
- Hannah Lowe (Clinical Exercise Physiologist, The Centre for Health, private practice)
- Graham Paterson (Unisports Medicine, St. Johns)
- Stacey Reading (CEP Clinic Director, Exercise Sciences)
- Jim Stinear (Exercise Sciences)
- Randy Thomas (Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic)
- Chloe Davidson Trevor (Clinical Exercise Physiologist, EPR clinic, private practice)
- David Willis (Health and Rehabilitation Clinic client)