But is certification worth investing time and money? I would say it's as long as you know both what you get and why. You have to go with your eyes wide open, not just with your wallet. From our experience working with thousands of fitness coaches, the answer is yes, as long as you practice Teaching, Learning, Moving and Creating on a daily basis. If you're studying exercise science, you could probably pay to take the test without purchasing the materials.
I majored in biology, but didn't take any anatomy classes or anything like that before getting certified. I'll be honest, I didn't even read half of my certification textbook before taking the exam, and I passed. Since then I've read it, and it's very basic. The certificate is basically useful for getting your foot in the door.
In no way does it make you a good coach. I have spent much more time since then learning from books, experience and other coaches. However, some places don't even require a certificate, although I think big box gyms generally do. Check out some jobs near you and see what your requirements are.
Personal trainer certifications with an NCCA accreditation option are the most respected in the industry. NCCA is the gold standard for third party personal training certifications. Some of these certificates include NASM, ACE, Fitness Mentors and ISSA. Gyms tend to accept personal trainer certifications accredited by the NCCA (such as NASM or ACE), those accredited by the National Board of Fitness Examiners (such as Fitness Mentors or NESTA), or those with a DEAC Accreditation (such as the ISSA).
Accreditation standards are developed by several third-party accreditation organizations to maintain a level of professionalism within the fitness industry. These designations demonstrate that a certification body has created a high-quality program that ensures the safety and well-being of the public. Physical fitness certifications that wish to be accredited must submit their programs and the final exam to be evaluated individually. This ensures that they meet the highest standards and validates that the aspiring trainer has the competence for entry-level employment.
If you're looking for a more entrepreneurial route other than working in a gym, the FM-CPT is known for having the greatest business emphasis on your education. AFAA is currently rebuilding its program to be accredited, but its main emphasis is its group fitness certification. The ISSA has additional accreditation to the Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC) and the National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE), and is accepted in most. However, also consider the above CEU requirements, income, and crediting factors before pulling the trigger.
While price may be the most important factor for you, all of the factors on this page can influence your final decision beyond your initial investment. You can read about the average salary of a fitness trainer, personal trainer, group fitness instructor, personalized fitness coach, online fitness coach, who offers online training templates, teaches online group classes such as Peloton, or a specialist in strength and fitness for athletes. Personal trainers can work in a gym, studio, or fitness center and instruct individual clients or conduct group classes. The best personal trainers are those who have the combination of knowledge and passion to provide a high quality service.
Fitness Mentors CPT certification is also recommended by Personal Trainer Pioneer, one of the best personal training certification review sites. The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) might be best known for its Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential, but it also offers an NCCA accredited personal training certification. We also included a “Personal Trainer Takeaway”, on my part, a long-time personal trainer who has worked in almost every facet of the business (large gym, one-on-one, group fitness, business owner, etc. NASM is by far the most popular of all personal training certifications, with more than 22,000 attempts per year.
Enter the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT), which offers a completely free set of CEC options for NFPT certified personal trainers. However, when looking at revenue, ISSA and NASM personal trainers tend to make the most of it, demonstrating that this is probably the best investment in the future. Choosing an accredited certified personal trainer program ensures that the full range of knowledge presented is accurate and valid; therefore, it ensures an optimal foundation in human anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, physical training instruction and client training techniques that help separate social media media fiction based on an event driven by research. The National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) teaches college-level theory in its personal trainer certification program, a course taught nationwide.
In some cases, they create personalized training plans for clients and monitor their progress, while providing support, encouragement, and feedback. Personal training certification programs educate and prepare you to work with people in a variety of settings, such as a health club, gym, college, or rehabilitation program. When trainers say they are NASM certified, their clients generally recognize the brand because of the abundant publicity and that makes the trainer more reputable, even though the client knows nothing about the quality of education NASM offers. One of the surest ways to achieve this is to work with a fitness professional; specifically, a certified personal trainer.
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