I am interested in getting certified to become a personal trainer. I have sent away for a home teaching program which I should receive in about a week. Does anyone know what else I should do to get my foot in the door? I have always been interested in fitness, reading material, trying the new fad workouts and I want to use my knowledge as an advantage. If anyone knows what types of certifications will help or what seminars I should try, let me know. Thanks
becoming personal trainer
- Thread starter jesslm23
- Start date
Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer
Although send-away certifications provide some good information, many reputable health & fitness clubs require a certification from a recognized body such as ACE (American Council on Exercise) and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine). Try the following sites for more information:
Believe me, the extra cost is VERY well spent because of the techniques introduced through these organizations, the support they provide, and the professionals you will meet by becoming a part of these groups.
Best of luck to you - it's a GREAT industry!!!
Although send-away certifications provide some good information, many reputable health & fitness clubs require a certification from a recognized body such as ACE (American Council on Exercise) and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine). Try the following sites for more information:
Believe me, the extra cost is VERY well spent because of the techniques introduced through these organizations, the support they provide, and the professionals you will meet by becoming a part of these groups.
Best of luck to you - it's a GREAT industry!!!
The best organizations in the country to go through are the ACSM, NSCA. Other good ones are ACE and the NASM. Colleen already posted the links to ACSM and ACE.
Most respectable certiifications will require you to be CPR certified before you take the certification test to become a PT.
The ACSM is the gold standard of fitness organizations in the country. Last time I checked, they require you to have a bachelor's degree in a health related field to take their personal trainer exam so I don't know this is a good option for you at this point (maybe something to shoot for though). The only problem with ACSM is they tend to be a little more clinical (like ideal for working in a rehab setting) than needed and I think the NSCA's certification is a little better for most settings a personal trainer would work in.
The NSCA is also great and doesn't require you to have a degree, but does require a CPR certification. The test is supposed to be pretty hard but this organization is top notch. This is the organization most professional strength coaches are certified through. You can order study materials that are very education through their website.
ACE only requires you to have a CPR certification to take their test. The test takes about 2-3 hours and isn't easy but not as hard as the NSCA or ACSM exams going by what I hear from people who have taken all of them. The only problem I had with the ACE exam when I took it was that it seemed to focus far more on psychological and legal aspects than on anatomy, physiology, nutrition, or biomechanics. If I didn't pass it I would have been bitter. Their study materialis, like the NSCA, are really good though not quite as current as the NSCA's are.
That's all I can help with because I don't know much about the NASM exam except that they have a home training course that is supposed to be pretty good.
Hope this helps.
Most respectable certiifications will require you to be CPR certified before you take the certification test to become a PT.
The ACSM is the gold standard of fitness organizations in the country. Last time I checked, they require you to have a bachelor's degree in a health related field to take their personal trainer exam so I don't know this is a good option for you at this point (maybe something to shoot for though). The only problem with ACSM is they tend to be a little more clinical (like ideal for working in a rehab setting) than needed and I think the NSCA's certification is a little better for most settings a personal trainer would work in.
The NSCA is also great and doesn't require you to have a degree, but does require a CPR certification. The test is supposed to be pretty hard but this organization is top notch. This is the organization most professional strength coaches are certified through. You can order study materials that are very education through their website.
ACE only requires you to have a CPR certification to take their test. The test takes about 2-3 hours and isn't easy but not as hard as the NSCA or ACSM exams going by what I hear from people who have taken all of them. The only problem I had with the ACE exam when I took it was that it seemed to focus far more on psychological and legal aspects than on anatomy, physiology, nutrition, or biomechanics. If I didn't pass it I would have been bitter.
Their study materialis, like the NSCA, are really good though not quite as current as the NSCA's are. That's all I can help with because I don't know much about the NASM exam except that they have a home training course that is supposed to be pretty good.
Hope this helps.
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I live in canada and have just recently been certified with canfitpro, the tops in canada....and like mentioned in an earlier post, it is definetely worth spending the extra money, if only for 1 thing, most gyms only hire trainers who have completed a top certificate program like mine in canada, and the ones mentioned in the states, they wont even look at you if you dont have a certificate from one of these, this is mainly because they know what the course teaches accross the board and therefore know what they are hiring.
To be honest with u though, i really didnt learn alot more than what i already know, from working out for 7+ years, and training on the side without a certificate (with friends etc.), but unfortunately the certificate is required if you want to make a career out of training and working in any of the top gyms, or even opening up your own company......
To be honest with u though, i really didnt learn alot more than what i already know, from working out for 7+ years, and training on the side without a certificate (with friends etc.), but unfortunately the certificate is required if you want to make a career out of training and working in any of the top gyms, or even opening up your own company......
Certification
I have been working in the sports industry for over 10 years; with indivuals in rehabilitation settings, gym settings, athletic settings. I have had consistent success with people in all of these settings, even working with some world champions, Olympic athletes and professionals in different sports. I now work with a small group of elite trainers in Montreal training athletes and hosting conferences for trainers.
From my experience, many of the certifications are a good place to start, but recognition and success comes from your ability to consistenly produce results, and for this you should learn from others who do the same. (many of whom have no certifications) The investment of time, money and effort will pay off in multiples. Some top resources are:
I have been working in the sports industry for over 10 years; with indivuals in rehabilitation settings, gym settings, athletic settings. I have had consistent success with people in all of these settings, even working with some world champions, Olympic athletes and professionals in different sports. I now work with a small group of elite trainers in Montreal training athletes and hosting conferences for trainers.
From my experience, many of the certifications are a good place to start, but recognition and success comes from your ability to consistenly produce results, and for this you should learn from others who do the same. (many of whom have no certifications) The investment of time, money and effort will pay off in multiples. Some top resources are:
If you do not have a degree in the field and do not plan to obtain one, I would recommend NSCA. It is very well-reknown, and more recognized than many other certifications, internationally. However, it is a little bit pricey...If you plan to only work in Canada, then Can-Fit pro is a good certification body. But if you want to be recognized internationally, NSCA. All of this also depends on how much you want to "get into" personal training and who you want to train. If this is just and "on-the-side" thing and you plan to train individuals who are just looking for basic programs to stay fit, you may choose a different certification than if you are looking to train elite athletes. And again, nothing speaks like experience, which you will gain from your own lifting as well as form other trainers.
Good luck
Good luck
Hi all,
I am from England (UK) and am training to become a WABBA (World Amatuer Body Building Association) Fitness Instructor which means that I will be qualified to work anywhere in the world as it is well known round the world.
For anyone who has never heard of them (there cant be many, unless you are new to this game) check out WABBA.
Im hoping to train to more advanced levels and maybe one day open my own gym.
Does anyone else own their own facilitys or do they just train clients in their own homes or at the gym etc?
All the best for the new year and have a gr8 Christmas too.
I am from England (UK) and am training to become a WABBA (World Amatuer Body Building Association) Fitness Instructor which means that I will be qualified to work anywhere in the world as it is well known round the world.
For anyone who has never heard of them (there cant be many, unless you are new to this game) check out WABBA.
Im hoping to train to more advanced levels and maybe one day open my own gym.
Does anyone else own their own facilitys or do they just train clients in their own homes or at the gym etc?
All the best for the new year and have a gr8 Christmas too.
check out http://jpfitness.com .....the owner is also a member of this forum, going by the name jpfitness (u can check in members)
Are you busy Prodigy then with your PTing or not so much?
There are a few where I live, the rate is about £25/£30 an hr thats around $40.32/$48.39 USD's.
Im only 25 years of age and not able to drive yet, but could offer my assistance to those who want me to help train them in the gym where they work out or at their homes etc.
Whats PTing like where you are in Canada?
There are a few where I live, the rate is about £25/£30 an hr thats around $40.32/$48.39 USD's.
Im only 25 years of age and not able to drive yet, but could offer my assistance to those who want me to help train them in the gym where they work out or at their homes etc.
Whats PTing like where you are in Canada?
I don't read in the personal training forum often, but I just happened to catch this tonight.
I don't agree. Coming from the perspective of a health club owner who hires trainers all the time, I can tell you that I have almost exclusively preferred trainers with a CSCS, which you can only get from NASM. They seem to come with more practical knowledge than any other certs out there. Also, I know the editors of Men's Fitness and Men's Health, and they have both told me that they consider the CSCS to be the gold standard in the industry. They pretty much don't even consider articles from freelance trainers unless they have a CSCS. I do respect an ACSM cert, but it just doesn't have the same appeal to me.
Ironically I have neither of these. I am certified through NFPT, which is a decent cert (in fact, I am a testing official for them), but I have just gotten too far into my career now to take the time out to sit for the CSCS. If I did have it to do over again I would probably have gone that route.
If you are serious about making this a career that is what I recommend. Which ever way you go, good luck.
I don't agree. Coming from the perspective of a health club owner who hires trainers all the time, I can tell you that I have almost exclusively preferred trainers with a CSCS, which you can only get from NASM. They seem to come with more practical knowledge than any other certs out there. Also, I know the editors of Men's Fitness and Men's Health, and they have both told me that they consider the CSCS to be the gold standard in the industry. They pretty much don't even consider articles from freelance trainers unless they have a CSCS. I do respect an ACSM cert, but it just doesn't have the same appeal to me.
Ironically I have neither of these. I am certified through NFPT, which is a decent cert (in fact, I am a testing official for them), but I have just gotten too far into my career now to take the time out to sit for the CSCS. If I did have it to do over again I would probably have gone that route.
If you are serious about making this a career that is what I recommend. Which ever way you go, good luck.
The imdustry is working to unite to prevent being regulated by the governement. Most of the Cerification Associations are trying to decide if they should be accrediated.
Home study courses are not bad and some are better then most in the top 5.
However to prootect your investment I would get certified by either ACE, ACSM, NSCA, NFPT, or NESTA
Home study courses are not bad and some are better then most in the top 5.
However to prootect your investment I would get certified by either ACE, ACSM, NSCA, NFPT, or NESTA