Advice on Personal Training Certification

[Iwillbe]

You buy your certificates! They do everything for you to NOT fail. ACSM and CSCS are probably the only two that do not hand feed you the test answers.

I have a BS degree in health and fitness and certified through AFAA, Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.

Strong Island- what do you want to do w/ your certification??
Working at a local gym, part-time, ACE will be fine. Strength and conditioning athletes...you should have CSCS or ACSM. Open your own business....any local certifaction will do.

Good Luck

 

[benrock]

i have issa and ifpa

issa - very hard test and very good cert. !!!

ifpa - too easy and not that popular!!!

go with the issa and ace , get more then 1 they like that

 

[onemind]

NFPT is what I have and I think its best all around. No degree needed but test is very hard and respected. The certification will give you respect and you will have all you need to train whatever you want.

 

[me2dammit]

???

Why is it most personal trainers I see are either 150 soaking wet or fat? I mean if they are supposed to be in fitness should they be fit?

I guess the ones that are in shape are making such a killing and charging so much they only have to work a few hours.

I have been going to my current gym for 8 years now and they have had personal trainers come and go, yet only maybe 1 had a decent physique.

They should make you pass mental and physical requirements to be certified.

 

[vitor97]

Hmm

Dave Polumbo's SMART training program sounds real good. He talks about the current trends in weight loss and exercise, which alot of these programs dont. I think ACE Is your best bet because it is known all over. ANd cheap, ISSA is crap.

 

[NY Muscle]

ACSM is the best IMHO as well as CSCS but im pretty sure you do NOT need a degree for ACSM but I could be wrong.

ACE is a joke, bottom line but is what most of the gyms and people who want to be trained recognize.

Personally I have ISSA..the ONLY reason I ever got certified (i should have saved money and got the shitty ACE as ISSA test was hard and ACE is a joke multiple choice) is for INSURANCE purposes only..i didnt learn ANYTHING that I didnt already know, so if you have many years of experience and knowlegde under your belt just pick any certification and then you can get insurance threw them.

 

[robsatx]

Strong - Make sure you are good!

Strong - I see so many "trainers" that do not know jack about lifting, diet or age. Make sure that you know exactly what you are doing before you start. I am sure you will make a good trainer. But you do not want good you want GREAT. Don't be a wash out trainer that does it for the money only. If you help others get what they want, they will help you get what you want. Change your ideas and it will change your life. Instead of doing it for money - do it for the client and they will send you more business than you can handle.

Focus on being the best trainer in your gym. Show people results and you will be able to name your price.

 

[strong island]

Thanks for all the advice....looks like ACSM/CSCS are the most respected but you need a degree in health OR 900 hours of experience. I don't what you have to show them to show 900 hours...I think I'll go with ISSA and eventually ACE if I feel I need it. I think I can learn a thing or two from studying for the ISSA test. Plus I repect Hatfield, Platz, Pearl etc.

What is a good CPR course in NY? What do they cost?

I was on a few websites(red cross,first aid etc) and they have different types of CPR courses and don't name prices.

 

[benrock]

strong , i got my cpr cert. at the YMCA , just dont bend over to tie your laces LOL!!!