How to Become a Personal Trainer: Choosing the Right Certifications for Maximum Success

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How 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

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What would you look for in a Trainer?

• Certifications
• Personality Traits
• Degree
• Availability (at home/gym)
• Experience/Specialties

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Where 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?

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Degrees 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

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Accredited 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)

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American 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.

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American 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

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National 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.

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National 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.

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American 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.

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National 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.

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World 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

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Other 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

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Got the Cert, Now What?

• Finding a facility to train
• Commercial
• Non-profit
• Recreation
• Corporate
• Free Lance
• Liability insurance
• Obtaining clients
• CEUs
• Recertification

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Experience

• 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

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Personality Traits

• Motivational
• Passionate
• Positive
• Counselor
• Psychologist
• Persistent
• Dependable
• Role Model

• Trustworthy
• Considerate
• Outgoing
• Approachable
• Patient
• Committed
• Good communication

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Questions or Comments?

• Contact Information
• Sarah Price
• price2se_at_jmu.edu
• 540-568-8724