I was wondering if any of you out there have any opinions on which "group" is the best for personal training certification?

Best for what? I see this often, but it is like asking "What's the best paintbrush to create masterpiece paintings?" Well, the brush is a tool, the paintings come from the person holding the brush.

The same can be said for personal training.

There is no certification that will guarantee you can earn more (people talk about "what is respected" when in fact some of the most respected fitness trainers have NO certification!)

There are several great bodies. I was certified through ISSA. Others include NSCA, ACE, ACSM, etc. Just because I didn't list it doesn't mean they aren't good.

When deciding upon a personal training certification, think of this ...

1. What do you hope to learn? Study the course materials and find which one covers the areas you wish to learn from. I received my certs so that I could learn more about training and nutrition. I want to learn more about training teenagers, so my next cert will be ISSA's youth training one.

2. What business aspects are important? Some courses teach you to count reps, others teach you how to build a business and grow with it. Networking is an important aspect of it - make sure the company you align with has business and networking support even after you take the test and are awarded the certificatin.

3. How do you learn best? If it is in a seminar setting, does the certifying body have seminars close to you? If it is at your own pace, do they offer self-study courses?

I could go on and on.

You might join a Personal Training group to solicit opinions from experienced trainers:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Personal-Fitness-Trainer/

And here is an awesome article on personal training - understand it was written by someone with my organization (ISSA) so it will show a clear bias towards ISSA:

http://www.naturalphysiques.com/cms/index.php?itemid=120

You'll also want to check out the new national accreditation standard, the NBFE. This will increasingly become more important if your goal is to actively train:

http://www.nbfe.org/

So make sure the body you choose complies with their testing standards and curriculum (ISSA does).

Jeremy

I was wondering if any of you out there have any opinions on which "group" is the best for personal training certification?

I was wondering if any of you out there have any opinions on which "group" is the best for personal training certification?

It's probably a good idea to go with a more reputable one, however as Jeremy mentioned, there isn't really a "best group" to go with, hands on experience and knowledge in the industry is much more important than a certification.


Off topic:

It's been awhile since i've logged into ISSA's trainer section and saw the notice from Sal, just outta curiosity, did you pre-register for the national board exam Jeremy?

What did you think of this?

Every month, the list of NBFE Registered trainers will be passed on to local, state, regional and national chiropractic and medical associations. The registry will also be made available to the public, health clubs, insurance companies and employers responsible for hiring personal trainers. It is the intent of the NBFE to recommend that physicians, chiropractors and allied health professionals refer their patients to competent personal fitness trainers.

ISSA has a great program. You definetly want to go with an agency that is acredited. Here's some agencies and sites to look at.
IHRSA (http://cms.ihrsa.org/IHRSA/viewPage.cfm?pageId=2)
NSCA (http://www.nsca.com/)
ISSA (http://www.issaonline.com/)
NASM (http://www.nasm.org/default.aspx) This is who I certified through.
ACE (http://www.acefitness.org/default.aspx)
IDEA Health & Fitness Association (http://www.ideafit.com/index.asp)
ACSM (http://acsm.org/)
NATA (http://www.nata.org/)
NFPT (http://www.nfpt.com/)
Do your research, and ask the gym management in your area what cert's they will and won't hire. (I basically had my first job offer when I was still on the phone asking if there were any positions open) If you pick the right agency to certify through, you won't need more than the one certification, unless you want to progress into other areas of training interest. Also, look at the recertification guidelines, to see what and who's courses the agencies will recognise as CEU's. I'm finding now that the agency that I was going to ceritfy through originally, offers courses that aren't recognised by the majority of the other agencies available. Check the IHRSA site as a starting point, then fan out from there. Don't go with the course that appears to be the easiest, because it'll be apparent after the fact how valuable it turns out to be.
Congratulations on the decision to move into the fitness field. :tu:

Best for what? I see this often, but it is like asking "What's the best paintbrush to create masterpiece paintings?" Well, the brush is a tool, the paintings come from the person holding the brush.

The same can be said for personal training.

Jeremy


It's funny that you use that as an example. As I am a professional artist, I know that the painting itself comes from me, but I also respect the quality of my materials. You can't always get the right effect or brush stroke from a cheap knock off, verses a sable brush - which is though, why it may hurt in the checkbook, sometimes a brush IS worth the extra $200. I was comming at the personal training certification in the same manner - I know there are cheap knock off's out there and I would like to avoid them and find reputable options.

I really appreciate all the links and feedback from everyone and I'll be sifting through the information.

I'm not looking to make tons of money. (I wouldn't complain, however ;) )

I want to learn more about nutrition, training, etc in order to not only further my own achievments and goals, but also those I may choose to work with in the future. I'm more interested in the actual aspects of it than the business side. While I dont have any particular leanings towards the children training aspect, I know my friend does and it would relate directly to my life as my children are now old enough to start engaging in sports and the like.

Thank you so much for all the links and opinions! I really appeciate it!

Quote:
Every month, the list of NBFE Registered trainers will be passed on to local, state, regional and national chiropractic and medical associations. The registry will also be made available to the public, health clubs, insurance companies and employers responsible for hiring personal trainers. It is the intent of the NBFE to recommend that physicians, chiropractors and allied health professionals refer their patients to competent personal fitness trainers.

The NBFE is and only will provide a national exam, not a certification. We must remember, when a trainer becomes NBFE "REGISTERED" not certified, we will have a standard that all trainers will be able to abide by. Think of it this way. A medical student may have graduated from Harvard Medical school while another graduates from Eastern Kentucky University. They may have some varying degrees in their education, but both of these students must take and pass their national medical board exams. If they pass, they can go on to work as a doctor. It will be the same way with personal training.

The biggest problem with all certifications is that none of them have a standardization in their curriculum. If all certifications would offer the exact same entry level certification, minimum standards, then the problem that currently exists would simply go away. But once a student earned their initial certification, then all agencies could then offer their speciality certification that each one is specifically known for. In this way, we satisfy the minimum standards this industry so desperately needs while keeping each certifiying agency's distinct personality. No one gets offended, no one loses students and most of all, no one loses money and prestige.

As far as the NBFE, I do know that the National Board of Medical Examiners is now assisting in developing the plans, testing and exams for the personal trainer. The NBFE is also made up of a board of directors and I know that Dr. Arria, although the executive director, has removed himself from the voting privileges that are typically associated with such a position. Therefore, he is pretty neutral in that aspect. He may have influence, but from what I know of the board of directors, they are all leaders in their own right and not easily manipulated or moved by emotion.

When NBFE is a requirement, then it will become a terrific method of standardization! But, how long will it take before this happens and by whose authority will it be "required" since NBFE itself is not interested in being voluntarily held accountable to any higher authority, government agency, or accreditation process?

Food for thought?

It's been awhile since i've logged into ISSA's trainer section and saw the notice from Sal, just outta curiosity, did you pre-register for the national board exam Jeremy?

What did you think of this?

I think it's awesome. While I disagree with trainers shouting that it's too easy to get certified and ruins their chances of building a business, etc (I take full responsibility for my own success as a trainer, and don't choose to accept failure and then blame it on external factors) I do believe that it can be dangerous to customers and create a sense of fear. Having an exam that creates a standard can certainly help consumers narrow the field and perhaps gain more confidence when approaching trainers. I have not pre-registered yet but will be soon, and look forward to taking the exam and learning what I really know. LOL.

What I really like is instead of many previous attempts that were basically a lot of major certification organizations getting together and trying to muscle others out, this is a great process welcoming participating from all organizations and, more importantly, using an objective third party to collate the information and create and administer the test. This is important to eliminate bias.

Jeremy

Jeremy,

Any word on a date that they expect to have the exam in place? I expect that you might have a better idea, being more closely tied to Sal. Also, is it planned that this will be a proctored exam, by a third party?

Thanks,

Walt

I am now pre-registered. No word on the date ... I understand they are still reviewing several areas, and some of the certifications are scrambling to make sure their training is in place - there are some gray areas like business ethics and specialization that I'm sure will make it interesting to standardize.

I understand it will be a third-party proctored exam, but that is not confirmed, either.

So, what I know is that I don't know! LOL.

Jeremy



Jeremy,

Any word on a date that they expect to have the exam in place? I expect that you might have a better idea, being more closely tied to Sal. Also, is it planned that this will be a proctored exam, by a third party?

Thanks,

Walt

Jeremy,

Any word on a date that they expect to have the exam in place? I expect that you might have a better idea, being more closely tied to Sal. Also, is it planned that this will be a proctored exam, by a third party?

Thanks,

Walt

Straight from Fred & Sal, and I agree Jeremy, although I can't say for certain if i'll pass the national exam, it makes me feel good to know that some sort of standard requirements may come about.

it's also nice that their giving all trainers 50% off the fee for part 1 :nod: so long as they pre-reg by June 30th

To ensure the fairness, validity, reliability and legal defensibility of the boards, the NBFE contracted Thomson-Prometric, the largest third- party testing company in the world, to help. Their team of psychometric examination experts assisted the NBFE in the planning and development of Part I. Soon, the exams will be available at any of over 300 Thomson-Prometric testing centers around the U.S. and can be scheduled Monday through Friday rather than just 2 or 4 times per year, like most board exams in other professions.

It'll be interesting to see what the content of the exam will be. The opinion of what the role of the "trainer" should be is so grossly distorted, that they find themselves filling roles, when they really should be referring out. PT's are not nutritionist, dietitians, physical therapist, psychologist, or sports enhancement specialist, unless they have gone further in their education to earn such degrees or certification. I have seen material from a number of different agencies, and have observed the trainers from different agencies, and it is very obvious that we have each been taught training techniques, anatomy, nutrition and physiology to different degrees of knowledge in each of those separate areas.
When you bring "certification", or "registered" terms into a classification, that should foremost be a classification built of "safety" to the client. Meaning that the individual understands the exercise constraints of dealing with a public prone to different ailments, and physical limitations. My previous trainer who was certified through an agency who I will not name here, knew full well that I had a total hip replacement 5 years earlier, yet had me barbell squatting 200+lbs outside of my rack. :rolleyes: (This action has no relation to his certifying agency. It was solely his poor judgement)
That hip replacement dislocated on me about 4 weeks after I ended our sessions, while I was squatting inside my rack, with only 134lbs.
Where Dr. Arria is the Founder and President of the NBFE, I think that we can at least be somewhat certain that he would not set up a national exam to have his own trainers fail. I think that the idea that other agencies outside of his may be scrambling to try and cover what may be contained on the exam, is more closely related to the fact that the NBFE seems to be so shrouded in a vail of secrecy. Which there is really no reason for, if this is an exam of standardization.
I'm pre-registered, and like everybody else, I'm interested to see how I fair on the exam.

8:07AM Addition: Without editing any of my above comments, I do think that it is very impressive that Dr. Arria has founded an organization comprised of Fellows, and Trustees that have no ties to his own agency. Coupled with the fact that he has removed himself from the voting process regarding exam content...knowing that his own agency's material may need to be changed, based on it's results...he is true asset, and inspiration to the industry.
I think that the only agencies that are nervous about the NBFE, are the ones that have no representation on the board.

great thread!

thanks, guys, especially jeremey and kino! i'll definately be looking into this some more!

:gl: on your exams! i'm sure you'll pass with flying colors. if not, just headlock the proctor ;)

I'm throwing my comments out on the floor on this one...just because.
Do some research on the agencies listed above. In particular, ones such as NCSA, and ACSM, as these are probably two of the most highly regarded in the industry. Then pop over to NBFE (http://www.nbfe.org/) and look at some of the agencies that have actually signed on as Certification Organization Affiliates with them. (AFAA (http://www.afaa.com/301.afa) is famous for their weekend certification program) I've done a fair amount of research on my own regarding NBFE, and the "exam", and will keep my opinions beyond this to myself...but I wouldn't let the NBFE or this exam be any kind of a deciding factor in regards to which agency to certify through. Though...if you read between the lines, you might be able to find some guidance in any decisions on the subject. :rolleyes:

So to become a Certified Personal(fitness) Trainer, you just need to do this? What does going to college for the same thing do then? This looks Awesome, I want to become one of these SO bad.

So to become a Certified Personal(fitness) Trainer, you just need to do this? What does going to college for the same thing do then? This looks Awesome, I want to become one of these SO bad.

Achieving a dergree through college in Exercise Physiology or any other the other multitude of areas that could be tied to fitness is an entirely different animal all together. In fact, certifying agencies require a BS in the field of interest to obtain higher credentialing.
Jeremy states it best...it's not the piece of paper that makes the trainer, it's the person behind the piece of paper. Though, just like in any other career choice, degrees and ceritifications do help.

I know what you mean but I still feel so darn confused,

So doing this gets you certified to help others, and going to college raises you knowledge, so you can help people further?