The health and fitness industry is a minefield for the desperate and unwary, there are many great marketers out there who have no qualification at all.
Fitness Coaches, Fitness Trainers and Personal Trainers Etc.
Do you know the difference ?
A Fitness Coach or Fitness Trainer is usually either a marketer or person on the bottom of the MLM ladder, the title something the marketing company will call their product reps to make them appear more credible. Fitness Coaches are almost always unqualified with certifications, if any being issued by the MLM company. Examples of this behavior include some of the big name MLM companies including BeachBody and Herbalife.
A Personal trainer may or may not actually be qualified in anything at all. The term "Personal Trainer" is not a protected term, anybody can call themselves a personal trainer however most personal trainers will have some level of certification ranging from an online multiple choice test to a weekend course. Other personal trainers will have reputable certifications through to University level education. Certification varies depending on which country you are in. The scope of practice for a personal trainer is to be training healthy people to an average level of fitness and for insurance purposes that does not include sport specific training, eg. Bodybuilding, Weightlifting, Powerlifting etc. This requires further certification. If a trainer is not certified to coach an activity, you will not be covered by insurance if something goes wrong.
A sports coach Is somebody specialised in coaching a specific sport, again like personal trainers they may or not be certified, no certification also means no insurance if something goes terribly wrong. As an example, I am among other things a NCAS (National Coach Accreditation Scheme) Powerlifting Coach. Coaches in Australia are certified by the governing body of their sport and overseen by the Australian Sports Commission.
Sports Trainers
Sports Trainers, a sports trainer in Australia is the first responder on the sideline of a sporting event They are trained in Injury rehab and injury prevention and depending on level of training, Advanced first Aid and injury treatment, Advanced Strapping (Taping) both rigid and Kinesio Tape. Higher level trainers are also trained in sports massage. The closest equivalent in the US would be an Athletics Trainer. Sports trainers should be certified by Sports Medicine Australia, but again it is not a protected term.
Nutrition Coach, Nutritionist, Dietitian etc
A nutrition coach is again one of those titles given to unqualified people by MLM companies attempting to sell items like shakes, bars and other supplements, Herbalife is a prime example of this, When combined with fitness products, these same people will often be referred to as wellness coaches or weight-loss coaches, Anybody can use these terms, this is marketing spin at it's finest.
Nutritionist or Dietitian
While usually tertiary qualified, There is no legal protection over the terms ‘Nutritionist’ and ‘Dietitian’ – anyone can call themselves a Nutritionist or Dietitian, no matter their level of training in Australia however the term. Accredited Practising Dietitian is the only credential recognised by the Australian Government and is a protected term for high qualified professionals.
So If you are unsure about how qualified a health and fitness coach actually is, then It is worth asking for a little more information.
Fitness Coaches, Fitness Trainers and Personal Trainers Etc.
Do you know the difference ?
A Fitness Coach or Fitness Trainer is usually either a marketer or person on the bottom of the MLM ladder, the title something the marketing company will call their product reps to make them appear more credible. Fitness Coaches are almost always unqualified with certifications, if any being issued by the MLM company. Examples of this behavior include some of the big name MLM companies including BeachBody and Herbalife.
A Personal trainer may or may not actually be qualified in anything at all. The term "Personal Trainer" is not a protected term, anybody can call themselves a personal trainer however most personal trainers will have some level of certification ranging from an online multiple choice test to a weekend course. Other personal trainers will have reputable certifications through to University level education. Certification varies depending on which country you are in. The scope of practice for a personal trainer is to be training healthy people to an average level of fitness and for insurance purposes that does not include sport specific training, eg. Bodybuilding, Weightlifting, Powerlifting etc. This requires further certification. If a trainer is not certified to coach an activity, you will not be covered by insurance if something goes wrong.
A sports coach Is somebody specialised in coaching a specific sport, again like personal trainers they may or not be certified, no certification also means no insurance if something goes terribly wrong. As an example, I am among other things a NCAS (National Coach Accreditation Scheme) Powerlifting Coach. Coaches in Australia are certified by the governing body of their sport and overseen by the Australian Sports Commission.
Sports Trainers
Sports Trainers, a sports trainer in Australia is the first responder on the sideline of a sporting event They are trained in Injury rehab and injury prevention and depending on level of training, Advanced first Aid and injury treatment, Advanced Strapping (Taping) both rigid and Kinesio Tape. Higher level trainers are also trained in sports massage. The closest equivalent in the US would be an Athletics Trainer. Sports trainers should be certified by Sports Medicine Australia, but again it is not a protected term.
Nutrition Coach, Nutritionist, Dietitian etc
A nutrition coach is again one of those titles given to unqualified people by MLM companies attempting to sell items like shakes, bars and other supplements, Herbalife is a prime example of this, When combined with fitness products, these same people will often be referred to as wellness coaches or weight-loss coaches, Anybody can use these terms, this is marketing spin at it's finest.
Nutritionist or Dietitian
While usually tertiary qualified, There is no legal protection over the terms ‘Nutritionist’ and ‘Dietitian’ – anyone can call themselves a Nutritionist or Dietitian, no matter their level of training in Australia however the term. Accredited Practising Dietitian is the only credential recognised by the Australian Government and is a protected term for high qualified professionals.
So If you are unsure about how qualified a health and fitness coach actually is, then It is worth asking for a little more information.