Health Promotion: Professional References for Students
Professional Associations
This table provides the names of several professional associations whose purposes are relevant to the field of health
promotion. Many of these organizations have student membership rates and offer excellent networking opportunities
through their conferences and other events. References for additional organizations will be listed throughout the
associations’ websites.
Organization
Website
Description
Aerobics and Fitness Association
of America (AFAA)
www.afaa.com
World’s largest fitness educator. Certifications include Group
Exercise, Kickboxing, Personal Training, Yoga, and many others.
American College Health
Association (ACHA)
www.acha.org
American College of Sports
Medicine (ACSM)
American Council on Exercise
(ACE)
American Public Health
Association (APHA)
http://acsm.org
www.acefitness.org
www.apha.org
The American College Health Association (ACHA) is the principal
advocate and leadership organization for college and university
health.
ACSM provides certifications (Health/Fitness Instructor, Exercise
Specialist, and Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist) and
scientific publications for health and exercise professionals.
ACE is committed to enriching quality of life through safe and
effective physical activity. Certifications include Personal Training,
Group Fitness Instructor, Lifestyle & Weight Management
Consultant, and others.
APHA is the oldest and largest public health membership
organization in the US. Publications include the AJPH.
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Organization
American School Health
Association (ASHA)
The Cooper Institute
The Institute for Health and
Productivity Management
Professional Associations
Website
www.ashaweb.org
www.cooperinst.org
www.ihpm.org
Medical Fitness Association
(MFA)
www.medicalfitness.org
The National Commission for
Health Education Credentialing,
Inc. (NCHEC)
www.nchec.org
National Wellness Institute
www.nationalwellness.org
Description
ASHA unites the many professionals working in schools who are
committed to safeguarding the health of school-aged children. The
Association, a multidisciplinary organization that advocates highquality school health instruction and health services.
The Cooper Institute provides research on critical health topics
such as behavior change, obesity, and aging. Certifications
include Fitness Specialist, Group Exercise, Pre/Postnatal Fitness,
and others.
The Institute for Health & Productivity Management is a non-profit
corporation created to document and promote the relationship
between employee health and workplace productivity.
MFA is the first association to focus exclusively on hospital
fitness and wellness. It is a non-profit organization that
responds to the needs of centers that are owned, sponsored,
or operated by hospitals and physician groups throughout
the world.
NCHEC is the certifying body for the Certified Health Education
Specialist (CHES) credential.
Since 1977, NWI has provided health promotion professionals
resources and services to promote professional and personal
growth. Hosts annual National Wellness Conference in Stevens
Point, Wisconsin.
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Organization
The Wellness Councils of America
(WELCOA)
Professional Associations
Website
Description
www.welcoa.org
WELCOA is a national non-profit membership organization
dedicated to promoting healthier life styles for all Americans,
especially through health promotion initiatives at the worksite.
WELCOA links communities and coalitions together into a
supportive network that includes locally affiliated Wellness
Councils, Well City initiatives, Well Workplaces, and individual and
corporate members throughout the United States.
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Professional Journals
Professional Journals
The table below lists several journals with published information relevant to the field of health promotion. These journals
are a great resource for research projects as well as thesis planning.
Journal Name
Association
American Journal of Public Health
American Public Health Association
Health Affairs
Independent
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
American College of Sports Medicine
Health Services Research
Independent
Social Science and Medicine
Independent
Journal of American College Health
American College Health Association
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
The American College of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine
Health Education and Behavior
Society for Public Health Education
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Professional Journals
Journal
Journal of Health Communication
Association
Independent
American Journal of Health Promotion
Independent
Health Education Research
International Union for Health Promotion and Education
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
American Dietetic Association
Health Policy and Planning
Independent
Journal of School Health
American School Health Association
American Journal of Health Behavior
American Academy of Health Behavior
Health Promotion International
International Union for Health Promotion and Education
ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal
American College of Sports Medicine
American Journal of Health Education
American Association of Health Education
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Professional Journals
Journal
Association
Electronic Journal of International Health Education
American Association of Health Education
Health Promotion Practice
Society for Public Health Education
American Journal of Health Studies
Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University
Disease Management
Disease Management Association of American
Journal of Public Health Management and Practice
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Conferences
Conferences
Below is a list of conferences and events that may be of interest to you. Many conferences offer student intern positions
that can help to eliminate or reduce the cost of attendance. Conferences provide excellent networking opportunities for
those interested in pursuing careers in the field of health promotion.
Websites are listed, since conference dates may change annually.
Association
Event
Website
American Association of
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
Rehabilitation (AACVPR)
Annual Meeting
http://www.aacvpr.org/
American Obesity Association
Annual Meeting
http://www.obesity.org/
National Center for
Complementary and Alternative
Medicine
Meetings
http://nccam.nih.gov/news/events
National Institutes of Health
Meetings and Events
http://www.nih.gov/news/
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Conferences
Association
American Society of Exercise
Physiologists
Event
National Meetings
Website
http://www.asep.org/
American College of Sports
Medicine
ACSM Annual Meeting, ACSM
Health & Fitness Summit
http://www.acsm.org/attend-a-meeting
American Public Health
Association
Annual Meeting
http://www.apha.org/meetings/
National Business Coalition on
Health
Annual Conference
http://www.nbch.org/events/conference.cfm
National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion
National Conference on Chronic
Disease Prevention and Control
(Annual)
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/conference/index.htm
The National Council on the
Aging
Meetings/ Conferences
http://www.ncoa.org/calendar-of-events/
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Conferences
Association
The American College Health
Association
Event
Annual Meeting
Website
http://www.acha.org/
Society for Nutrition Education
Annual Conference
http://www.sneb.org/events/events.html
National Wellness Conference
Annual
http://www.nationalwellness.org/?page=NWC2014
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Certifications
Certifications
Holding certifications in a particular segment of health promotion can distinguish you from other job candidates. A number
of relevant certifications are listed below for your exploration.
Organization
National Academy of Sports Medicine
(NASM)
Certification Link
http://www.nasm.org/personaltrainer
Aerobics and Fitness Association of
America (AFAA)
http://www.afaa.com/300.afa
Certifications Offered
- Certified Personal Trainer
- Corrective Exercise Specialist
- Performance Enhancement Specialist
- Fitness Nutrition Specialist
- Group Personal Training Specialist
- MMA Conditioning Specialist
- Weight Loss Specialist
- Women’s Fitness Specialist
- Senior Fitness Specialist
- Youth Exercise Specialist
- Personal Trainer
- Primary Group Exercise
- Kickboxing
- Step
- Military Fitness Specialist
- AFAA Challenge Exam
* AFAA also offers many continuing education
workshops.
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Certifications
Organization
American Aerobic Association
International (AAAI) and International
Sports Medicine Association (ISMA)
Certification Website
http://www.aaai-ismafitness.com/
National Board of Fitness Examiners
(NBFE)
American Council on Exercise (ACE)
http://www.nbfe.org/examination/
National Commission for Health Education
Credentialing Inc.
International Fitness Professional
Association
The Cooper Institute for Aerobics
Research
Certifications Offered
Certification: Life Wellness Coach, Older Adult
Fitness, Kids and Teens Fitness
Instructor: Primary Aerobic, Step Aerobic, Yoga, Tai
Chi, Pre and Post Natal, Cycling, Pilates Mat, Aqua,
Kickboxing.
Trainer: Personal Fitness, Sports Nutrition & Weight,
STRIDE™ Fitness
Consultant: Holistic Health, Sports Nutrition, Weight
Training.
Director: Fitness Facility
NBFE Registered Personal Fitness Trainer
http://www.acefitness.org/getcertified - Personal Trainer
/
- Group Fitness Instructor
- ACE Health Coach
- Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist
- Youth Fitness Specialist
- Fitness Nutrition Specialist
- Orthopedic Exercise Specialist
- Weight Management Specialist
- Sports Conditioning Specialist
- Functional Training Specialist
- Mind Body Specialist
- Therapeutic Specialist
- Senior Fitness Specialist
http://www.nchec.org
Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)
Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)
https://ifpa-fitness.com/get-certified/ Personal Fitness Trainer
http://www.cooperinstitute.org/getcertified/
Personal Trainer
Health Promotion:
Professional References for Students
Certifications
Organization
American College of Sports Medicine
(ACSM)
Certification Website
http://www.acsm.org/certification
Board for Certification of Nutrition
Specialists
Coach Training Alliance (CTA)
http://cbns.org/
Certifications Offered
Personal Trainer
Health Fitness Specialist
Group Exercise Instructor
Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer
Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer
Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist
Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)
http://www.coachtrainingalliance.com/
Certified Life Coach
The Coaches Training Institute (CTI)
http://www.thecoaches.com/
Personal or Life Coach
Wellcoaches
National Council on Strength and Fitness
http://www.wellcoaches.com/
http://www.ncsf.org
Certified Health and Wellness Coach
Certified Personal Trainer