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Best Personal Training Certification

Lestat

Lestat

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EF VIP
This is slightly off topic, but I was wondering what you guys in here knew about the diffrent organizations that hand out personal training certifications. I was thinking about getting one, just for the fuck of it, and wanted to go with one of the most widely respected.

Thoughts?
 
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It depends on what you wanna do. Can't go wrong with NSCA-CPT, I'm a personal trainer, but I like to work with athletes...so I got the CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist).
 
Bulldog_10 said:
It depends on what you wanna do. Can't go wrong with NSCA-CPT, I'm a personal trainer, but I like to work with athletes...so I got the CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist).
Click to expand...
I don't really want to use it for anything specific.. just a personal goal of mine to get the certification now... and I'd like to get the "best" one..

I looked at the CSCS.. I like the fact that you have to have a BA/BS first...(which I have).. looks like that has some stuff that is very specific to individual sports though.

How did you go about preparing for the CSCS? How long did the preparation take? How difficult was the exam?
 
If you're not using this to actually train people, let me caution you: it costs a lot. Both to get and to renew. An expensive way to be able to tell people you're a personal trainer.
 
casualbb said:
If you're not using this to actually train people, let me caution you: it costs a lot. Both to get and to renew. An expensive way to be able to tell people you're a personal trainer.
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I've been told $600 or so initially and $100-$200 every 2 years to maintain?

Compare that to the 40K I spent on my undergrad degree.. which really doesn't relate to the field that I earn my money in today... to me the money for the certs is really not that relevant.
 
Lestat,

You will have to petition to take the CSCS if your degree is in an unrelated field. I have both the CSCS and CPT. The CSCS is far more comprehensive and is quite difficult if you do not have prior education. The CPT should be more than sufficient to suit your needs.
 
Jenetic said:
Lestat,

You will have to petition to take the CSCS if your degree is in an unrelated field. I have both the CSCS and CPT. The CSCS is far more comprehensive and is quite difficult if you do not have prior education. The CPT should be more than sufficient to suit your needs.
Click to expand...
Does my bachelor's degree have to be in an exercise science-related field?

No, a bachelor's degree is the requirement, but currently there is not a policy indicating that the degree must be earned in a specific area (e.g., exercise science). Examination candidates without a degree in an exercise science-related field can be successful in passing the examination. For these individuals, taking college courses in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, etc., and gaining experience in a strength and conditioning facility can be valuable assets.
 
Jenetic said:
Lestat,

You will have to petition to take the CSCS if your degree is in an unrelated field. I have both the CSCS and CPT. The CSCS is far more comprehensive and is quite difficult if you do not have prior education. The CPT should be more than sufficient to suit your needs.
Click to expand...
I'm leaning towards the CSCS... would you say its one of the most difficult? One of the most widely respected? That is what I am looking for.

I am a good student.. I have an undergrad in Bio Psychology.. I like bio, and I at one point was interested in Sports Psychology...

I do hold an M.S. but its in a technical field (Telecommunications)... but my gpa was 3.6 or somethig.. point being, I am a good student and can learn quickly.
 
Lestat said:
I'm leaning towards the CSCS... would you say its one of the most difficult? One of the most widely respected? That is what I am looking for.
Click to expand...

Yes. Go for it!
 
Jenetic said:
Yes. Go for it!
Click to expand...
I'll try, I've also been looking at the straight CPT as well.. I'll let eveyone know what I go for. I think I've got it down to NSCA and NASM now.
 
Lestat said:
I'll try, I've also been looking at the straight CPT as well.. I'll let eveyone know what I go for. I think I've got it down to NSCA and NASM now.
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I was through ACE for 8 years. Pain in the ass CEC's that I never learned shit from. I went with NESTA now. Never expires :garza: , Its comprehensive and its nationally recognized. I have been at this full time for 12 years and this is the best deal I have found especially in your case. Noone cares what your Cert is s long as you have one.

Quad
 
Quadsweep said:
I was through ACE for 8 years. Pain in the ass CEC's that I never learned shit from. I went with NESTA now. Never expires :garza: , Its comprehensive and its nationally recognized. I have been at this full time for 12 years and this is the best deal I have found especially in your case. Noone cares what your Cert is s long as you have one.

Quad
Click to expand...
Wow.. lifetime certification does have its appeal, and I see your point about no one cares what your cert is as long as you have one.

Is NESTA widely respected?
 
wow..

can anyone tell me the top 5 from this list...


ACE - American Council on Exercise
ACSM - American College of Sports Medicine
AFPA - American Fitness Professionals Association
AAHFRP - American Academy of Health and Rehab. Fitness Prof.
BCRPA - British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association
BSMI - Baylor Sports Medicine Institute
IFPA - International Fitness Professionals Association
ISFTA - International Sports & Fitness Trainers Association
ISSA - International Sports Sciences Association
SFA - Senior Fitness Association
NATABOC - National Athletic Trainers Assn. Brd. of Cert.
NCSF - National Council of Strength and Fitness
NCHEC approved credits 15.5 CECH
NDEITA - National Fitness Professional Training Association
NFPT - National Federation of Professional Trainers
NSPA - National Strength Professionals Association
W.I.T.S. - World Instructor Training Schools
NESTA -National Endurance and Sports Trainers Association
 
Sorry bro...I haven't been around. The CSCS wasn't too hard...didn't need to prepare specifically for it at all. I was gonna buy the exam materials and whatnot...but i couldn't afford it at the time...and it didn't seem worth it to spend all that money on something I was only gonna use once.

I DID already have the Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning that they recommend though...good book. If you get that and just read it all the way through the exam should be a breeze.

I'd say top 3:

NSCA
ACSM
ISSA

I don't know much about the other ones...but these are probably the most respected around my parts...and the ACE is just like the generic one that random people get.
 
NATABOC is for athletic trainers...who rehab injuries and such, although strength training and reconditioning is part of it...not really part of what you're looking for I think.
 
I am CSCS and ACE. I was going to take the ACSM, but decided not to. People here do not really support ACE. CSCS is really tough. It has a high failure rate. But a lot of respect is given (from pro athletes) to a person with a CSCS certification
 
I remember an interview that I heard once with a fitness professional who was making over 6 figures a year with his personal training business. When asked in the interview what cert. he had, he almost couldn't even remember! He said that the cert. was just what got him into the industry - it was his business building process that made him the real money.

The moral of the story is that it doesn't really matter which cert. you have UNLESS your particular job is going to require you to have a given level of education. Training athletes is a good example of that.

However, if you just want to train people and make some money in the process, it's not the piece of paper that makes the difference, it's what you DO with it that matters!

Aaron M. Potts
Complete Personal Training Business
http://www.completepersonaltrainingbusiness.com
[email protected]
Fitness Journal: [email protected]
 
I am certified through ISSA. I learned a lot, but i dont know how good it is compared to anyone other one. I know at my college they actually hold ACSM seminars and many people come to my school to get certified through them.
 
I have the CSCS, it was supposedly the toughest so I got it. Why waste your time with something anybody can get in a weekend?
 
what certification is the best in terms of cost VERSUS wide acceptance at commercial gyms?

I want to be a personal trainer at a commercial gym like bally's, gold's etc.


All I want is a piece of paper that gets me in the door.



(Remember, I am only interested in COMMERCIAL GYMS)
 
I hear that working as a personal trainer for a gym sux and the pay is shit.I always thought you had to go out on your own to make any money.I think LA Fitness pays their trainers like $8 per hour here in Florida.
 
outlawthe1 said:
NASM is by far is the best
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I second that, NASM has worked for me. The NASM OPT model is great. They seem to be on the right track.
Further more, NASM CPT certification is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Nathan
 
It seems alot of these cert. programs are either online or through-the-mail. Is this fact not frowned upon by potential employers/gyms??
 
gymratforlife said:
I hear that working as a personal trainer for a gym sux and the pay is shit.I always thought you had to go out on your own to make any money.I think LA Fitness pays their trainers like $8 per hour here in Florida.
Click to expand...

6 per session. 30 minute sessions where the charge the consumer anywhere from 39 to 59 for a 30minute session LOL
 
I have something I need to get another personal trainer's opinion on....

Just recently I had the displeasure of overhearing a foolish conversation. I wrote a complaint to the gyms manager. (see below)

Maybe some of the other personal trainers can chime in too.....
___________________________


RE: Offended by Personal Trainer


On February 6, 2007 (5:10 pm) I was appalled and offended by a Gold’s Gym Personal Trainer, by the name of Ally Tracy. She made some un-professional and ignorant statements.

Ally was talking with her client about an oblique workout routine. Ally mentioned that she only does 30 of this and 30 of that and that’s all. The following statements are to the exact quotes.

Client to Ally, “You are not over muscular at all. I don’t know why women would want to be that way”.

Personal Trainer Ally, “Because it is easier.”

How does Ally determine what level of fitness is easier? This showed me that this personal trainer does not have the respect for her profession, sport, levels of fitness and the choice of her possible/potential clients. If she told this statement to this client, what else is she misinforming other clients about?

Professional bodybuilders and strength athletes, to name two sports that would entail muscularity would not agree with the personal trainer. Both sports are demanding, difficult and take a great level of determination. When the Olympia show comes to town, I don’t think the competitors would like to know of the opinions of the personal trainer in this gym, especial when several of the competitors do come into the gym at that time. Openly spoken opinions of this type are bad for business.

In my opinion, any degree of fitness is not easier than another. Each has a degree of difficulty. To say one is easier than another is foolish. If it was easy everyone would be in the best shape of their lives. It is easier to sit on the couch, watching TV and eating bon-bons.

This personal trainer has lost my respect and I would not recommend her to anyone. Ally Tracy needs to have a full understanding of the profession she has chosen as a career. Her creditability is questionable and I would not trust her judgment in personal training and fitness knowledge.

Your attention in the matter is greatly appreciated.

Gold’s Gym Member
 
Cableeb said:
NSCA or ACSM are the two best programs. very comperable to a college degree in Ex Sci.
Click to expand...
I agree. I have been a trainer now for 5 years and I currently have ACE but if i were to pursue another one i it would be the NSCA - CSCS (in fact i have the freakin book and study materials right here). And many here are right - no one really cares what you have as long as your a good, responsible, effective trainer who can help people achieve their goals.
now - if you want to pursue a career in a college or university setting the NSCA is alomost manditory.
hope that helps.
 
I earned my Bachelors degree in Physical Education - Exercise Science and have both the NSCA-CSCS and NASM-CPT.

In designing fitness programs for each of my clients, I draw from the CSCS the most, even though the majority of my clients are not elite athletes. For the general public, weekend warriors, soccer moms (not meant to be offensive...they are some of my toughest clients!), the NASM-CPT has a comprehensive and easily explainable OPT model.

Although not every client will want to know the "why" behind what you are doing, your explanations of how various exercises relate back to their goals will increase their level of trust in you making it easier to secure renewal business and referral business.

Best of luck,
Boh

David Bohmiller, BS, NSCA-CSCS, NASM-CPT
http://www.my-personal-trainer-school.com
 
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