Professional Standards & Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real CSCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Standards & Ethics flashcards as text
An athlete confides to a CSCS that they are using a prohibited performance-enhancing drug. What is the CSCS's most appropriate action?
Answer: Counsel the athlete about risks and applicable rules, document it, and refer to appropriate support resources
The CSCS should counsel the athlete, document appropriately, and connect them with support while respecting confidentiality boundaries and applicable reporting obligations.
In which scenario is a CSCS acting within their professional scope of practice?
Answer: Designing a progressive resistance training program based on fitness assessment results
Program design based on fitness assessments is the core competency of a CSCS; diagnosis and prescribing fall within medicine and allied health.
A CSCS loses their NSCA certification due to failure to complete required CEUs. What is the most accurate consequence?
Answer: They must cease representing themselves as a CSCS until certification is reinstated
Using the CSCS designation without current certification is misrepresentation and violates NSCA ethical standards.
What does the principle of 'non-maleficence' require of a CSCS?
Answer: Avoid actions or omissions that cause unnecessary harm to clients
Non-maleficence ('do no harm') obligates the CSCS to actively avoid causing injury or harm through their professional actions.
A CSCS working with a high school team is unsure whether a student's reported symptoms indicate a concussion. What is the correct protocol?
Answer: Remove the athlete from activity and refer immediately to a qualified medical professional
When concussion is suspected, the athlete must be removed from activity immediately and evaluated by a qualified medical professional before return.
A CSCS is approached to provide a written character reference for a colleague facing an NSCA ethics complaint. Which response best upholds professional ethics?
Answer: Provide an honest, factual account based only on personal professional experience with the colleague
Professional ethics require honesty in all representations, including character references in disciplinary matters.
Which of the following best illustrates the ethical principle of 'beneficence' in CSCS practice?
Answer: Actively taking steps to promote the health, performance, and well-being of each athlete
Beneficence requires the CSCS to act in the positive interest of athletes, proactively promoting their well-being.