I know you probably didnt mean to, but this statement can sound very contradicting. I think if someone really wants something they can get it in more ways than one.
Right, that's what I was saying...I went on to say that just because you can get something the 'easy way,' that doesn't mean that you
should. The sad fact is that many gyms will hire
uncertified trainers (my friend works at such a gym right now, a major chain, and he's disgusted by it), so if the OP really wanted to, I'm sure that she could walk right into a gym and be hired without going through the 'trouble' of getting certified at all! That was my point: going for the 'easy way' will not produce very good results, regardless of whether or not you actually
can do it that way. I'm sorry, I don't understand what was contradicting about that.
Im sure your very knowledgeable and probably more knowledgeable than me cuz your certified already
In this field, never assume that certification = knowledge...although I appreciate the vote of confidence
however I noticed that the certs that you recommended are basically the ones that you are certified in.
I recommended the NSCA, which I am certified in, yes. I said that I did
not recommend the ACSM, which I am certified in. I recommended the NASM, which I am
not certified in, and I made no mention of USAW, which I hold a certification through (although that is a specialty certfification). I don't see that 25% of the possibilities that I spoke of as being "basically the ones that [I am] certified in"...Further, why do you think that I would choose to be certified by an organization if I
didn't feel comfortable in recommending it out to others? I chose the certifications that I did for specific reasons: at the time of my first certification, the ACSM was regarded as one of the top certs in the field and came highly recommended by the gym that I was working at (the truth is, the ACSM still is one of the top certs, but I personally don't agree with many of their recommendations anymore, and find that their requirements for certification have become less stringent now that they have moved away from a live practical and into computer-based testing...as I mentioned, they are still the first choice in clinical training, IMO). I became certified through USAW when I began training athletes and team sports more regularly to become more proficient with instructing the Olympic lifts, and I sat for my CSCS when my primary responsibilites became athletic development, as well as for preparing for grad school (for which the CSCS is a known and respected entity).
Just trying to point out, how do you know that you dont like brocolli if you have never ate it before
Because I looked at the broccoli and found it to be spoiled and moldy
In all seriousness, I have looked at the study materials for a number of other certs, including the ISSA, WITS (I actually served as a clinical internship instructor for a WITS 'grad' as well, and I was not terribly impressed with the level of knowledge that was required for the exam/cert. Most of it is based on the ACSM or even worse, ACE), ACE and AFAA. I have personally known and observed trainers certified through ACE, ACSM, NSCA, ISSA, AFAA, WITS, NASM, and probably quite a few others that I'm forgetting, as well as having looked through the study materials/requirements of those certs, and the only ones that I have been consistently impressed with (read: didn't hurt their clients or regurgitate the latest Flex magazine article nonsense) was the NSCA and the NASM. Again, most ACSM certs that I have known have been good, but not terribly progressive, either...which is basically the way that the ACSM thinks, anyway.
Whats your opinion on the AFAA? Or have you ever researched them before?
Again, not impressed...although again, the individual makes the difference, not the cert. But in general, I have not been impressed by the few that I have seen.
Understand that this is not an end-all-be-all analysis of the industry or of certifications...but I have been in the industry for nearly eight years now (and have been involved in training athletes for 12, since college), and have seen a LOT of stuff in that time...these are my impressions, not fact, but I would also point out that I speak from a certain amount of experience and knowledge of the subject, too, beyond a casual observer's vantage point...
