Please Respond All P. T's and Gym Owners

[Saint7]

I am considering becomming a Personal trainer and would like to know which course to take?

ACE

NCSF

NSCA-CPT

ISSA

IFPA --(note: before you write this one off, I am seriously considering this one becuase of their Master Track Course) Check it out at their site.

Things to consider: 1. I live in California, 2. Would like to know which would Gym owner's like me to have? 3. Which would sell itself?

Thanks for the Input. Your Brother in the iron game. Saint7

 

[Saint7]

Realy need help. Bump...

 

[BillPT]

Certification is not required to work as a personal trainer (in other words there is no standard, no requirement, no national or international recognition, no governing body, and no law requiring certification).

Certification does not equal qualification.

If you want to work in a gym and they require you to be certified, get the cheapest.

If you are serious about training and not just attempting it for the money, go to school. A science-related degree will allow you to absorb the researched exercise-related literature and create a much greater understanding of exercise/fitness/strength training than any cert. program can provide.

(I am certain this will stimulate controversy...fire away)

 

[bignate73]

in california...there is a requirement.

http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=148892

there are tons of threads on opinions of certifications, this one was about half way down this page.

 

[b fold the truth]

Getting certified can't hurt anything. Just remember that just because you have a certificate and read FLEX...doesn't mean that you can stop learning or that you know it all...

We ALL come here to learn...learning is the most important process of this entire game.

B True

 

[bignate73]

mini rant:

getting a form of education other than personal experience will broaden your abilities. remember you arent training the people that frequent this board. you are training sedentary individuals (for the most part) who are scared or nervous about working out. they may be full bore excited about it, but they are generally new to the game. your people skills have to be good, you have to have diversity in your program design skills to work around things you might encounter with an individual (flexibility, strengths/weaknesses, likes/dislikes, individual goals etc.)

as bfold and others said, you cant be complacent with your education, its ongoing and alot of time situational. you may have to learn about diabetes, or fibromyalgia because someone wants your help. or study up on knee limitations following release from a PT for ACL rehab.

a good cert will get you started but its by no means the laurels to rest on.

alright i'm done. hopefully that will give you an idea of what it takes to seperate yourself from the avg trainer and make yourself a good trainer or at least one that is looked upon as competent.

peace

 

[Saint7]

Thanks Brothers. I am currently pursuing a MSRN Degree with the hopes of getting a Nurse Practitioners Licence from Loma Linda University. I just need help getting there. Everything takes time, this I know because I am currently taking my prereq's for the AA RN Program. As the saying goes, "A thousand Mile journey, begins with the first step." My minor would be in the personal trainer field and would help in paying or atleast suplementing some sort of income to pursue my goals. Thanks. Saint7 PS my heart is for people.

 

[Saint7]

Thanks Brothers. I am currently pursuing a MSRN Degree with the hopes of getting a Nurse Practitioners Licence from Loma Linda University. I just need help getting there. Everything takes time, this I know because I am currently taking my prereq's for the AS RN Program. As the saying goes, "A thousand Mile journey, begins with the first step." My minor would be in the personal trainer field and would help in paying or atleast suplementing some sort of income to pursue my goals. Thanks. Saint7 PS my heart is for people.

 

[BillPT]

FYI...from ucla.edu


A Personal Trainer's Education More Important Than Years of Experience, UCLA Study Finds


Date: April 8, 2002
Contact: Kirsten Holguin ( [email protected] )
Phone: 310-794-2273

UCLA researchers with the UCLA Exercise Physiology Research Laboratory found those personal trainers with bachelor's degrees in exercise science and certification by the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Strength and Conditioning Association had the highest level of knowledge, compared to personal trainers with years of experience or other certifications.

The study results, published in the February issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, suggest personal trainers should have licensing requirements before being allowed to practice.

One hundred fifteen personal trainers in the Inland Empire area of Southern California who worked in 28 health club facilities, local colleges, or were self-employed agreed to participate in the study.

The participants filled out a form with background information and took the Fitness Instructors Knowledge Assessment, a questionnaire researchers developed for the study. The questionnaire was designed to measure the level of knowledge in the areas of nutrition, health screening, testing protocols, exercise prescription and knowledge regarding special populations such as an individual with high blood pressure.

As predicted, a personal trainer's years of experience did not translate into more knowledge. In fact, personal trainers with five or more years of experience had no greater knowledge than trainers with four or fewer years of experience.

"Hopefully this study will empower consumers who seek personal trainers to ask questions regarding the level of education and certification the personal trainer possesses. There are good personal trainers out there. However, just like buying a car, you have to do your research," said Moh Malek, UCLA research associate and the study's principal investigator.

UCLA is a Center of Excellence for exercise testing, interpretation and fitness program design.

-UCLA-

KH183