personal trainer certificate -- CANADA

[hookdup]

Hi ladies,

I've posted this question in another forum but haven't gotten any replies, and I know that you ladies have always pulled through for me with any questions I've had in the past so I'm hoping you'll help me out with this too!!!

I really want to get certified to become a personal trainer!
I don't have a kinesiology degree or diploma but will probably work towards that afterwards.

Anyway, I've done some research but it's so confusing. Which certification is best in Canada?
Is I.S.S.A available or even recognized here?
I've seen mixed opinions on ACE ...
I've also looked into CanFit Pro and CPTN (Canadian Personal Trainers Network)

Ladies ... I'm so excited about this and would really love to forge ahead so can you please respond if you know anything about this??

Did I say please?

Oh yeah ... THANKS!!!

 

[SteelWeaver]

ISSA is available anywhere - I live in Japan and I'm doing their distance learning course. I don't know about where it's recognised ... I really only signed up because I simply HAD to know more, and I figured if I was going to learn all that stuff, I may as well get a certification for it. Anyway - ISSA is okay as a basic primer, but I'm not sure I would recommmend them as such, unless you really know nothing about exercise physiology (I knew practically nothing, so it's been an excellent first resource).

If I had to do it over again, though, I'd probably go with the NSCA certification - it's cheaper, and more detailed. I'm reading the core text for that - Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning - to fill in the large gaps that the ISSA course has. It's more complex (do you have a biochem background?) but once you get through all the chemical acronyms, it's more explanatory, and better-referenced.

I think NSCA is recognised worldwide - check out their web-site.

Remember, though, that the reality of doing the certification is that it'll provide you, at most, with a good basic foundation - the rest is experience, and talking to people, and experimenting - I would venture to say that I've learnt more at these boards, or from other sources, in the gym and in my kitchen, than from the course itself. Having a variety of information sources, and a few good guinea pigs (yourself included) brings the most return learning-wise, IMO.

Good luck!

 

[Debu]

Too bad there isn't an "EliteFitness" cert.

 

[Gladiola]

Hey!

I'm certified with ACE as a Group Exercise Instructor. I don't know much about Canadian certs, but I do know they have some that are unique to Canada.

A great resource for connecting with other people employed in fitness is www.turnstep.com. It is geared towards aerobics instructors, but their discussion boards have a "Personal Training" board too. I know there are lots of Canadians on there & I know some do personal training & even have advanced degrees in physiology, etc. & have been working in fitness for decades- So I'm sure they'll be able to give you valuable info.

I have heard the agrument over & over again that the certs are dumb/worthless/you don't learn much, etc. Certainly there are knowledgeable, intelligent people that are great trainers but don't have a cert, and vice versa (clueless morons armed with certs). I think the same thing goes for Doctors... there are plenty out there with an MD, but no clue.

But the fact remains that you need something to get you in the door. No one is going to hire you just on your "word" that you know what you're doing (well, no one SHOULD) so it is worth persuing for that.

 

[hookdup]

Thanks Gladiola,
I went on the site and found some information.
I've narrowed it down to 2: ACE or CanFitPro, which is Canadian.
I know that ACE is probably the better of the two, but it will also cost me $800 Canadian or $640 U.S.

Most of the gyms I've called said they accept both certifications so I'm thinking that I will probly go with CanFitPro. If someone had expressed concern or a strong bias of one over the other, then I would buckle down and go with ACE, but since that hasn't happened, I guess I'll choose the cheaper one.

At least then I can see my options and upgrade if I decide to make this a career.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Gladiola]

You're quite welcome!

I'm excited you're persuing this - I'm studying for my ACE cert... so now I feel like there is someone making the same journey as me - yea!

 

[hookdup]

Originally posted by Gladiola feel like there is someone making the same journey as me - yea!

That's awesome!!!!

Did you buy your ACE manual from the website?
I'd still love to read one and I've heard you can get used ones out there.
I checked ebay but there weren't any there!

Anyway
CONGRATS! I'm with you all the way!

 

[hookdup]

Just thought of something ....
Gladiola,
Did you buy the whole Personal Trainer Home Study Program ...
I could probably afford some of the lower priced kits -- the one that comes with the Manual, Study Guide, and Sample Test is a lot more affordable...

Do you know if I really need the full $314 kit (I don't have a kinesiology background but I'm going to the library tonight and will begin studying kinesiology on my own).

Anyone else who has done ACE, did you use the full kit?

 

[Gladiola]

I ordered the manual from ACE & was lucky that my gym where I work participates in some program- so I got a discount.

I didn't go for the kit b/c I have my own methods of studying/ taking notes/ preparing for tests. Additionally, I have fabulous resources avaiable for info & to bounce ideas off of. Plus, I already had some knowledge (don't laugh!) from my Group Exercise Certification - we also had to learn the anatomy, kinesology & physiology.

I wouldn't think the kit is necessary. I think what might be more useful is a prep course, particularly if you have no existing knowledge base. I've read about it on Turnstep.com - you can use their search engine to read past posts. I've read the prep courses are very helpful - but more expensive of course.

 

[tripleV]

In Canada, definitely CAN FIT PRO>>>>>>>