Professionalizing the Exercise Profession — What It Means and Why it Matters.

Discover how the exercise profession is evolving from a perceived hobbyist to an essential component of healthcare, with a focus on professional standards, collaboration, and advocacy. This introductory article offers an overview of the roadmap for professionalizing the work of exercise professionals. Apply It!: • Adopt the mindset of a Qualified Healthcare Professional: Exercise professionals should view themselves as integral parts of the healthcare delivery system, striving to practice in a manner consistent with other qualified healthcare professionals. This includes aligning with evidence-based practices and being accountable for producing clinically meaningful outcomes. • Foster an atmosphere of industry unification and collaboration: Collaboration between individual professionals, academic institutions, and credentialing organizations is critical to meet the demands of the health and fitness industry professionalization effort. To achieve adequate scale and advance our professionalization agenda, we must be collaborative and unified. • Advocate for, and participate in, policy and systems change work: Exercise professionals should be involved in advocacy efforts to shape systems and policies that recognize and integrate exercise professionals into the healthcare delivery system. • Actively utilize the roadmap provided: This themed issue provides a roadmap for the professionalization effort. The roadmap is only effective if it leads us to our destination. Use this roadmap to determine where you can take an active role in the professionalization effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]