Title: How to Become a Personal Trainer: Choosing the Right Certifications for Maximum Success
1How to Become a Personal TrainerChoosing the
Right Certifications for Maximum Success
- Sarah Price, CSCS, NSCA-CPT
- Graduate Assistant for Fitness and Nutrition
- Certified Group Fitness Instructor
- University Recreation
- James Madison University
2What would you look for in a Trainer?
- Certifications
- Personality Traits
- Degree
- Availability (at home/gym)
- Experience/Specialties
3Where to Start?
- Which certifications do you qualify to take?
- Which one is most relevant for what you want to
do? - Is it well recognized by the professionals you
want to be employed by? - How much does it cost?
- Where can I take the exam?
- How long until I have to get re-certified?
- How many CEUs do I need?
4Degrees in a related Field
- Exercise Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Exercise Leadership
- Athletic Training
- Kinesiology
- Biomechanics
- Health Sciences
- Pre-Physical Therapy
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Physicians Assistant
- Exercise Science
- Clinical Exercise Science
- Strength Conditioning
- Nutrition
- Health Promotion
- Physical Therapy
- Sports Medicine
- Human Performance
- Physical Education
- Public/Community Health
5Accredited Certifications NCCA Wesbite
- National Commission for Certifying Agencies
(NCCA) - Created in 1987 by NOCA to help ensure the
health, welfare, and safety of the public through
the accreditation of a variety of certification
programs/organizations that assess professional
competence. - Recognized Organizations
- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
- National Strength and Conditioning Association
(NSCA) - American Council on Exercise (ACE)
- National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
- National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF)
- National Federation of Professional Trainers
(NFPT) - National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association
(NESTA)
6American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
www.acsm.org
- Certified Personal Trainer
- Requirements
- CPR Certified
- High School Diploma/GED
- Workshops offered
- 1 Day 129
- 3 Day 375
- Webinars
- Study Materials
- ACSMs Resources for the Personal Trainer 2nd Ed.
- ACSMs Guidelines for Exercise Testing and
Prescription 7th Ed. - ACSMs certification Review 2nd Ed.
- Cost
- Members 219
- Membership
- Full Privilege Student 80
- Alliance Student 50
- Non-member 279
- Recertification
- 3 Years
- 30
- 45 CEUs
- Qualified to develop and implement exercise
programs for apparently healthy individuals or
those who have medical clearance to exercise.
7American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
www.acsm.org
- Certified Health Fitness Specialist
- Requirements
- Associates or Bachelors in health related field
- CPR Certification
- Workshops Offered
- 2 day workshop
- Webinar Series
- 439 Mem 499 Non-Mem Exam Included
- Study Materials
- ACSMs Guidelines for Exercise Testing and
Prescription 7th Ed. - ACSMs certification Review 2nd Ed.
- ACSMs Resource Manual for Guidelines for
Exercise Testing and Prescription 5th Ed. (6th?)
- Cost
- Members 219
- Membership
- Full Privilege Student 80
- Alliance Student 50
- Non-member 279
- Recertification
- 3 years
- 45
- 60 CEUs
- Qualified to work with special populations with
medically controlled diseases who have been
cleared by their physician for independent
exercise
8National Strength and Conditioning Association
(NSCA) www.nsca-cc.org
- NSCA-CPT
- Requirements
- 18 years old
- CPR Certification
- High School Diploma/GED
- Workshops offered
- None
- Study Materials
- NSCAs Essentials of Personal Training
- Various Packages
- Cost
- Members
- Computer 285
- Paper/Pencil 235/270
- Non-members
- Computer 405
- Paper/Pencil 355/390
- Memberships
- Certified Student 90
- Non-Certified Student 95
- Recertification
- 3 Years
- 45
- 6.0 CEUs
- Category A, B, C, D
- Qualified to use an individualized approach to,
assess, motivate, educate and train clients
regarding their health and fitness needs.
9National Strength and Conditioning Association
(NSCA) www.nsca-cc.org
- Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist
(CSCS) - Requirements
- Bachelors Degree
- CPR Certification
- Workshops
- None offered
- Cost
- Computer
- Member 310
- Non-member 430
- Paper/Pencil
- Member 260/295
- Non-member 380/415
- Study Materials
- NSCAs Essentials of Strength Training
Conditioning 3rd Ed. - Various Packages
- Recertification
- 3 Years
- 45
- 6.0 CEUs
- Qualified to apply scientific knowledge to train
athletes for the primary goal of improving
athletic performance.
10American Council on Exercise (ACE)
www.acefitness.org
- Certified Personal Trainer
- Requirements
- 18 years old
- CPR certification
- Workshops offered
- None
- Study Materials
- ACE Personal Trainer Manual The Resource for
Fitness Professionals 3rd Ed. - Basic 150
- Standard 300
- Deluxe 350
- Premier 400
- Cost
- Computer 249
- Paper/Pencil 219
- Recertification
- Years
-
- CEUs
- Qualified to provide one-on-one or small-group
fitness instruction.
11National Academy of Sport Medicine
(NASM)www.nasm.org
- NASM CPT
- Requirements
- Workshops offered
- Intro to Personal Fitness Training Course 149
- Essentials of Personal Fitness Training Live
Workshop 249 - Study Materials
- Standard 599
- Starter 699
- Plus 729
- Premier 799
- Cost
- 549
- Recertification
- 2 Years
- 99
- CEUs 2.0
- Qualified to perform assessments, create
individualized programs and progress your clients
to their goals.
12World Instructor Training School
(W.I.T.S.)www.witseducation.com
- Personal Trainer Certification Course
- Requirements
- CPR Certification
- Course Structure
- 5 weeks of class
- 15hrs lecture
- 15hrs practical training
- 20hrs internship (30 starting June 1, 2009)
- 6th week written and practical testing
- Can count for 3 undergraduate credits
- Study Materials
- Fitness Professionals Handbook 5th Ed.
- Cost
- Varies by school/location
- 705 with text at DCCC
13Other things to consider
- Which Certification Should I Earn?
- Requirements/Qualifications
- Recognized/Accredited
- Specific for what you want
- How Many Certifications Are Really Needed?
- Depends on
- Goals
- Specific trainings
- Jobs
14Got the Cert, Now What?
- Finding a facility to train
- Commercial
- Non-profit
- Recreation
- Corporate
- Free Lance
- Liability insurance
- Obtaining clients
- CEUs
- Recertification
15Experience
- Work Experience
- Fitness Centers
- Internships
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Personal Program
- Special Populations
- Youth
- Women
- Pre/Post-natal
- Elderly
- Chronic Diseases
- Training Techniques
- Functional
- Sport Specific
- Circuit
- Strength/Power
- Body Building
- Injury Prevention
- Pre/post-rehab
16Personality Traits
- Motivational
- Passionate
- Positive
- Counselor
- Psychologist
- Persistent
- Dependable
- Role Model
- Trustworthy
- Considerate
- Outgoing
- Approachable
- Patient
- Committed
- Good communication
17Questions or Comments?
- Contact Information
- Sarah Price
- price2se_at_jmu.edu
- 540-568-8724