CSEP - CEP Study Guide Questions with Correct Answers (Grade
A+)
Question 1: A CSEP-CEP is sanctioned by CSEP to:
Answer: 1. Conduct pre-participation screening, administer various health and fitness assessments,
prescribe and supervise exercise programs, and provide coaching and healthy lifestyle education to general
populations and to those with chronic health conditions, functional limitations, or disabilities across the
lifespan. 2. Conduct pre-participation screening using evidence-informed tools that will support
recommendations for individual client-tailored physical activity and exercise programs within the
CSEP-CEP's individual knowledge competency. 3. Accept referrals from licensed healthcare professionals
who are trained and licensed to diagnose and treat acute and chronic medical conditions. The CSEP-CEP
may clear clients with one chronic health condition to work with a CSEP-CPT. Further medical clearance
should be sought if the health condition is unstable. 4. Use evidence-informed behaviour change models to
facilitate physical activity and exercise participation, and lifestyle modification. 5. Interpret the results of
comprehensive fitness assessment protocols to determine health and physical function. 6. Monitor the
influence of commonly used medications on the response to submaximal and maximal exercise during
assessments and/or training sessions. 7. Use the outcomes from objective health and fitness assessments to
design and implement safe and effective physical activity and exercise prescriptions for both healthy and
unhealthy populations. 8. Make general, evidence-informed, dietary recommendations if within the
CSEP-CEP's individual knowledge competency, recognizing when to refer to a registered dietitian for more
specialized counselling. 9. Measure and monitor heart rate, electric activity of the heart (using
electrocardiography [ECG]) and blood pressure (by auscultation unless hearing impaired) at rest, during
exercise and post-exercise. These measures can be used to identify, but not diagnose, irregularities during
rest as well as submaximal and maximal exercise. 10. Conduct group physical activity or exercise sessions
with appropriately screened participants. Sessions can include any one or combination of aerobic,
resistance, balance, or flexibility exercises within the CSEP-CEP's individual knowledge competency.
Additional training and certification must be sought to ensure that the CSEP-CEP has expert competence for
different exercise modalities, where necessary." Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
(CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition."
Apple Books.
Question 2: A CSEP-CEP is not sanctioned by CSEP to:
Answer: Diagnose pathology based on any assessment or observation.
Question 3: CSEP-CEP Core Competencies:
Answer: 1. Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Exercise Physiology 2. Health Behaviour Change and Education
3. Client Pre-Participation Screening and Pharmacology 4. Advanced Exercise and Health Assessment for
Apparently Healthy Populations 5. Advanced Exercise and Health Assessment for Chronic Conditions 6.
Advanced Exercise Prescription for Apparently Healthy Populations 7. Advanced Exercise Prescription for
Chronic Conditions 8.Professional and Ethical Practice
Page 1
,Question 4:
1. Which of the following statements regarding resistance training is not correct?
A) Rate of force development is an important consideration when designing resistance training programs in
older adults.
B) For both multi-joint and single-joint resistance exercises, prescribed load assignments must be based on the
directly determined one-repetition maximum (1 RM).
C) Exercises recruiting one or more of the large multi-joint muscles have greater transfer carry-over between
training and work or sport performance.
D) Muscle balance does not always have to mean equal force, just a proper ratio of muscular strength, power,
or muscular endurance of one muscle group relative to another muscle group.
Answer: "B There is no requirement that you complete a 1 RM for resistance training activities. You may
pick one loweror one upper-body exercise to complete a multiple repetition maximum (MRM) or 1 RM to
track for changes, but there is no requirement that you perform the testing for each prescribed exercise."
Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
(CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Question 5:
2. At the same submaximal power output, a trained individual, compared with an untrained individual, will
have:
A) A higher heart rate
B) A greater stroke volume
C) A greater oxygen uptake
D) No difference at submaximal levels
Answer: "B With training, cardiovascular responses will become more efficient (you don't have to work as
hard). A trained individual would have a lower heart rate and lower O2 use. If heart rate is lower, then
stroke volume is increased, so that, for each beat, more blood is pushed out, creating greater efficiency."
Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
(CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Question 6:
3. What is the most common type of lever found in the human body?
A) First-class lever
B) Second-class lever
C) Third-class lever
Answer: "C Third-class levers have the effort (force applied) between the load and the fulcrum. Think
biceps brachi or triceps if you are holding a dumbbell. The load is in the hand, the distal attachments are in
the forearm or antibrachium, and the fulcrum or joint is the elbow. So the tendons pass over the joint to
attach." Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise
Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Page 2
, Question 7:
4. Which type of muscle action achieves the greatest force throughout its complete range of movement?
A) Eccentric
B) Plyometric
C) Concentric
D) Isotonic
Answer: "A Eccentric muscle contraction would generate the greatest force over the entire contraction, as
you can lower a weight far greater than you could lift (through concentrically contracting muscles)" Excerpt
From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
(CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Question 8:
5. When strength is assessed as the static force that can be exerted on a measuring device, the measured value
does not depend on:
A) Velocity of shortening of the muscle
B) Muscle cross-sectional area
C) Skill in activation motor units
D) The moment of force that all muscles involved can produce
Answer: "D In biomechanics, the moment of force or torque is a force applied a distance from the axis of
rotation that causes rotation of the object. So, for a static force (isometric, non-moving), there would be no
moment of force. Velocity would have an impact because the quicker the contraction is, the fewer motor
units would be recruited. Muscle cross-section area is important because the bigger the area is, the more
cross-bridges and the greater force potential. The ability to recruit as many motor units as possible has a
direct impact on the amount of force that can be generated." Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise
Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st
Edition." Apple Books.
Question 9:
6. Recruitment order of motor units during progressively increasing levels of muscle tension is described by
the:
A) Force-velocity relationship
B) Size principle
C) Tension-time relationship
D) Sliding filament theory"
Answer: B "Henneman's size principle states that, when you perform any muscle contraction (power or
endurance), the first muscle fibres recruited are slow, then fast fatigue-resistant, then fast fatigable. This
allows fine control of the force at any level of tension or force output and makes use of fatigue-resistant
muscle fibres first and only used the fatigable fibres when high force or tension is needed." Excerpt From:
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP)
Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Page 3
A+)
Question 1: A CSEP-CEP is sanctioned by CSEP to:
Answer: 1. Conduct pre-participation screening, administer various health and fitness assessments,
prescribe and supervise exercise programs, and provide coaching and healthy lifestyle education to general
populations and to those with chronic health conditions, functional limitations, or disabilities across the
lifespan. 2. Conduct pre-participation screening using evidence-informed tools that will support
recommendations for individual client-tailored physical activity and exercise programs within the
CSEP-CEP's individual knowledge competency. 3. Accept referrals from licensed healthcare professionals
who are trained and licensed to diagnose and treat acute and chronic medical conditions. The CSEP-CEP
may clear clients with one chronic health condition to work with a CSEP-CPT. Further medical clearance
should be sought if the health condition is unstable. 4. Use evidence-informed behaviour change models to
facilitate physical activity and exercise participation, and lifestyle modification. 5. Interpret the results of
comprehensive fitness assessment protocols to determine health and physical function. 6. Monitor the
influence of commonly used medications on the response to submaximal and maximal exercise during
assessments and/or training sessions. 7. Use the outcomes from objective health and fitness assessments to
design and implement safe and effective physical activity and exercise prescriptions for both healthy and
unhealthy populations. 8. Make general, evidence-informed, dietary recommendations if within the
CSEP-CEP's individual knowledge competency, recognizing when to refer to a registered dietitian for more
specialized counselling. 9. Measure and monitor heart rate, electric activity of the heart (using
electrocardiography [ECG]) and blood pressure (by auscultation unless hearing impaired) at rest, during
exercise and post-exercise. These measures can be used to identify, but not diagnose, irregularities during
rest as well as submaximal and maximal exercise. 10. Conduct group physical activity or exercise sessions
with appropriately screened participants. Sessions can include any one or combination of aerobic,
resistance, balance, or flexibility exercises within the CSEP-CEP's individual knowledge competency.
Additional training and certification must be sought to ensure that the CSEP-CEP has expert competence for
different exercise modalities, where necessary." Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
(CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition."
Apple Books.
Question 2: A CSEP-CEP is not sanctioned by CSEP to:
Answer: Diagnose pathology based on any assessment or observation.
Question 3: CSEP-CEP Core Competencies:
Answer: 1. Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Exercise Physiology 2. Health Behaviour Change and Education
3. Client Pre-Participation Screening and Pharmacology 4. Advanced Exercise and Health Assessment for
Apparently Healthy Populations 5. Advanced Exercise and Health Assessment for Chronic Conditions 6.
Advanced Exercise Prescription for Apparently Healthy Populations 7. Advanced Exercise Prescription for
Chronic Conditions 8.Professional and Ethical Practice
Page 1
,Question 4:
1. Which of the following statements regarding resistance training is not correct?
A) Rate of force development is an important consideration when designing resistance training programs in
older adults.
B) For both multi-joint and single-joint resistance exercises, prescribed load assignments must be based on the
directly determined one-repetition maximum (1 RM).
C) Exercises recruiting one or more of the large multi-joint muscles have greater transfer carry-over between
training and work or sport performance.
D) Muscle balance does not always have to mean equal force, just a proper ratio of muscular strength, power,
or muscular endurance of one muscle group relative to another muscle group.
Answer: "B There is no requirement that you complete a 1 RM for resistance training activities. You may
pick one loweror one upper-body exercise to complete a multiple repetition maximum (MRM) or 1 RM to
track for changes, but there is no requirement that you perform the testing for each prescribed exercise."
Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
(CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Question 5:
2. At the same submaximal power output, a trained individual, compared with an untrained individual, will
have:
A) A higher heart rate
B) A greater stroke volume
C) A greater oxygen uptake
D) No difference at submaximal levels
Answer: "B With training, cardiovascular responses will become more efficient (you don't have to work as
hard). A trained individual would have a lower heart rate and lower O2 use. If heart rate is lower, then
stroke volume is increased, so that, for each beat, more blood is pushed out, creating greater efficiency."
Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
(CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Question 6:
3. What is the most common type of lever found in the human body?
A) First-class lever
B) Second-class lever
C) Third-class lever
Answer: "C Third-class levers have the effort (force applied) between the load and the fulcrum. Think
biceps brachi or triceps if you are holding a dumbbell. The load is in the hand, the distal attachments are in
the forearm or antibrachium, and the fulcrum or joint is the elbow. So the tendons pass over the joint to
attach." Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise
Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Page 2
, Question 7:
4. Which type of muscle action achieves the greatest force throughout its complete range of movement?
A) Eccentric
B) Plyometric
C) Concentric
D) Isotonic
Answer: "A Eccentric muscle contraction would generate the greatest force over the entire contraction, as
you can lower a weight far greater than you could lift (through concentrically contracting muscles)" Excerpt
From: Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
(CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Question 8:
5. When strength is assessed as the static force that can be exerted on a measuring device, the measured value
does not depend on:
A) Velocity of shortening of the muscle
B) Muscle cross-sectional area
C) Skill in activation motor units
D) The moment of force that all muscles involved can produce
Answer: "D In biomechanics, the moment of force or torque is a force applied a distance from the axis of
rotation that causes rotation of the object. So, for a static force (isometric, non-moving), there would be no
moment of force. Velocity would have an impact because the quicker the contraction is, the fewer motor
units would be recruited. Muscle cross-section area is important because the bigger the area is, the more
cross-bridges and the greater force potential. The ability to recruit as many motor units as possible has a
direct impact on the amount of force that can be generated." Excerpt From: Canadian Society for Exercise
Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) Certification and Study Guide - 1st
Edition." Apple Books.
Question 9:
6. Recruitment order of motor units during progressively increasing levels of muscle tension is described by
the:
A) Force-velocity relationship
B) Size principle
C) Tension-time relationship
D) Sliding filament theory"
Answer: B "Henneman's size principle states that, when you perform any muscle contraction (power or
endurance), the first muscle fibres recruited are slow, then fast fatigue-resistant, then fast fatigable. This
allows fine control of the force at any level of tension or force output and makes use of fatigue-resistant
muscle fibres first and only used the fatigable fibres when high force or tension is needed." Excerpt From:
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). "CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP)
Certification and Study Guide - 1st Edition." Apple Books.
Page 3
