Advice on Personal Trainer Certification

[strong island]

Have done a search and I never knew how many organizations there were. Help me out with this. So far this is what I have learned ...please correct me if I am wrong.

ACSM: need degree(I don't have a degree in the field)
NSCA: Better for team training
ISSA: need degree?
NFPT: ?
ISSA: This one sound great. Feel I might learn from this one.
ACE: heard the test is a joke, but its nationally recognized and cheap.
NASM: ?

Is ISSA nationally recognized? I am leaning towards this one.

I am thinking about training a few hours a day for extra cash.

 

[bignate73]

ISSA is pretty decent. im doing it right now. its costly but you can study from home and take their symposium when they come around your area (at any time even after certified). tom platz does the one around here so i'll go check him out.

NASM is very much into structural and muscular balance for human performance. if you are into biomechanics and kinesiology, i would recommend it highly.

NSCA is very much what it says it is, strength and conditioning. they have very good journals the come out monthly and quarterly. alot of articles on strength programs of big schools, teams etc. its cool to see how a program is set up and then implement it for yourself (if you've never been one to be on a program its totally new) i have the CPT cert, but would like to get the CSCS as soon as im a senior in my related field i will get it.

ACE is very much entry level and inexpensive. basically, how to kindof be a trainer and how not to get sued. (thats what i got from it)

ACSM is degreed...so i have to wait.

 

[strong island]

ISSA is pretty decent. im doing it right now. its costly but you can study from home and take their symposium when they come around your area (at any time even after certified). tom platz does the one around here so i'll go check him out.

NASM is very much into structural and muscular balance for human performance. if you are into biomechanics and kinesiology, i would recommend it highly.

NSCA is very much what it says it is, strength and conditioning. they have very good journals the come out monthly and quarterly. alot of articles on strength programs of big schools, teams etc. its cool to see how a program is set up and then implement it for yourself (if you've never been one to be on a program its totally new) i have the CPT cert, but would like to get the CSCS as soon as im a senior in my related field i will get it.

ACE is very much entry level and inexpensive. basically, how to kindof be a trainer and how not to get sued. (thats what i got from it)

ACSM is degreed...so i have to wait.

Thanks for the response. On the ACSM site they say the following:

"A 2-year, 4-year, or Masters degree in a health-related field* from a regionally accredited college/university (verification by transcript or copy of the degree); OR current enrollment, as a junior or higher in a degree granting health-related field from a regionally accredited college/university; OR a minimum of 900 hours of practical experience in a fitness setting."

So if you have 900 hours of experience maybe you don't need the degree.

 

[bignate73]

i forgot about the 900 hours....hmmmmm..