I want to get certified, best options?

[fatchops51]

I have a 4yr college degree in something unrelated, but my passion lies in training. I want to get certified and eventually begin personal training, albeit in-home or gym im not sure yet. Which is the best route to take? NASM? ACE? NPTI? Ive heard a lot of good things about the National Personal Training Institute but im not sure. I do have a full time job so i guess i need to be able to study in my spare time. i want to do whatever will get me the best prepared, for the business aspect of it as well. Any help out there? Thank you all very much.

[John Prophet]

IMO the "top" are nasm, nsca. I feel ISSA is SLIGHTLY underneath those two but its also pretty good.

id say ACE is looked upon as somewhat second tier or at least as really "intro level"

also, correct or not, even with your unrelated degree u can go for the higher level nsca "cscs" as opposed to the entry level NSCA-"CPT" cert.

basically its self study. U buy study materials and or attend seminars and then u just schedule yourself for a test at a testing center. its very straightforward.

[EMISGOD]

I'd tend to agree. I don't think anything but the NSCA is worth bothering with.

[Derrick101]

I would love to make fitness my profession..like learn to train, where does one even start? Any starters would be great.
I am a little old now , (40), but think I can still do it or get into it.
:)

[fatchops51]

I appreciate the help guys. Any idea how much the NSCA would run me cost-wise after its all said and done?

[EMISGOD]

I appreciate the help guys. Any idea how much the NSCA would run me cost-wise after its all said and done?

http://www.nsca-lift.org/

[fatchops51]

So is the CSCS a level above the NSCA-CPT? or are they 2 different things? i was looking through them on the website and it seems they are comparable in price.

[John Prophet]

cscs is above a cpt. CPT is a certified personal trainer. CSCS is certifies strength and conditioning specialist and it requires a 2 yr degree, although it doesnt even have to be related, lol.

either way, the cscs is definitely above the cpt


but if 3 out of 100 gym members know that, id be surprised

[Bill D]

So what does the NSCA cert set you back money wise as well as other certs? I ask because I have found the majority of certs to be more about them making money off the cert.

[John Prophet]

So what does the NSCA cert set you back money wise as well as other certs? I ask because I have found the majority of certs to be more about them making money off the cert.

its business..no doubt

maybe they should spend hundreds of thousands putting certs together and then not charge anything for them?

is college free?



Im thinking the test itself probably set u back in the $300-350ish range. study materials r extra...but u can get em used off ebay etc

if its the difference between charging $20hr and $50hr think its worth it

[EMISGOD]

So what does the NSCA cert set you back money wise as well as other certs? I ask because I have found the majority of certs to be more about them making money off the cert.

Did they not have pricing on the website? :confused:

The majority of certs are useless junk, this is true. NSCA is the one of the very few that hold any degree of value.

[adoniscomplex]

So what does the NSCA cert set you back money wise as well as other certs? I ask because I have found the majority of certs to be more about them making money off the cert.

certification companies are business so yes they are tryin to make money
i like nasm , nsca , ascm (even though the book is prolly a real bore)
all of those will prolly run you around 500 for materials and testing

[luckylynch]

I have a 4yr college degree in something unrelated, but my passion lies in training. I want to get certified and eventually begin personal training, albeit in-home or gym im not sure yet. Which is the best route to take? NASM? ACE? NPTI? Ive heard a lot of good things about the National Personal Training Institute but im not sure. I do have a full time job so i guess i need to be able to study in my spare time. i want to do whatever will get me the best prepared, for the business aspect of it as well. Any help out there? Thank you all very much.

i was thinking of doing this one...since it has practicuums

http://www.bcrpa.bc.ca/fitness_program/registration/fitness_specialties/fitness_leader.htm


seems kinda lame though....more for aerobic trainers rather than the area i want to get into. Functional/rehab area....

whats the best one in canada....bc, vancouver ?

[cftstorres]

What do you guys think about this certification?

http://www.afpafitness.com/store/personal-trainer-certificationbrand-nutrition-wellness-consultant-certification-p-13.html

[MVP]

Every certification claims they are the best. Check out the text. How much different can they possibly be, each going over the same exact things. It's huge marketing!

Alot of gyms now require their trainer to be NASM certified, preaching NASM has the best trainers - that's a joke. I see plenty of out of shape, zero knowledge trainers with a NASM cert

Put it this way, a cert is just a piece of paper with your name on it. Just because you have a cert from whomever does not make you a good trainer, or does it guarantee you money. Good trainers are those who love changing peoples lives through health and fitness. No certification will ever do that

You can go with
ISSA
NESTA
ACE
ACSM
NASM
COOPERS
etc.........

and on and on. Open up the text from each and they are not that much different from the next. The only people that really value your cert is the gym your going to work for, because it just looks good on them

[cftstorres]

I see plenty of out of shape, zero knowledge trainers with a NASM cert

I have too. I will probably recertify w/ ISSA since my cert expired, or go w/ NASM so I can get hired where ever I decide to move. San Antonio sux.

[bigred90]

I have too. I will probably recertify w/ ISSA since my cert expired, or go w/ NASM so I can get hired where ever I decide to move. San Antonio sux.

whats wrong with san antonio?

[Sikk]

IMO the "top" are nasm, nsca. I feel ISSA is SLIGHTLY underneath those two but its also pretty good.

id say ACE is looked upon as somewhat second tier or at least as really "intro level"

also, correct or not, even with your unrelated degree u can go for the higher level nsca "cscs" as opposed to the entry level NSCA-"CPT" cert.

basically its self study. U buy study materials and or attend seminars and then u just schedule yourself for a test at a testing center. its very straightforward.

First off you left out ACSM as a "top tier"

second off you need a FOUR year degree to sit for the CSCS cert and yes it DOES need to be from a health/medical field

History majors don't count

CSCS is a very very advanced/hard cert. Not one you can just pick up a book and pass.

[UCONN_CSCS]

First off you left out ACSM as a "top tier"

second off you need a FOUR year degree to sit for the CSCS cert and yes it DOES need to be from a health/medical field

History majors don't count

CSCS is a very very advanced/hard cert. Not one you can just pick up a book and pass.

Yeah, ACSM-CPT is a top teir cert as well (American College of Sport's Medicine) and yes CSCS is required 4-year college degree in Exercise Science-related field. It is the only nationally recognized certification and many european countries know of it as well. The reasoning is that it teaches you how to train elite athletes, children, and geriatrics as well as your typical PT type clients. Additionally, you must know a good amount of anatomy and physiology to pass the scientific section of the test. It will set you back $300 if you are a member of the NSCA and $390 if you aren't.

Most typical gym goes don't know the difference between any of the certificaions anyway and probably many gym owners/managers don't know either (albeit the real proactive ones) so it's really about what level of trainer you want to become. That being said, I've never heard of a gym or fitness center regecting a CSCS or NSCA-CPT for lack of credentials.

[cftstorres]

whats wrong with san antonio?

The way of life here is just unhealthy. The when ppl move here the copy the habits of the natives, eatting tacos for breakfast, working out like once a month only. Then they brag about that for the whole rest of the month like they actually did something worth while. It is hard to find dedicated ppl to train here. I would have clients complaining of pain during a simple warm up for goodness sake.

[bigred90]

The way of life here is just unhealthy. The when ppl move here the copy the habits of the natives, eatting tacos for breakfast, working out like once a month only. Then they brag about that for the whole rest of the month like they actually did something worth while. It is hard to find dedicated ppl to train here. I would have clients complaining of pain during a simple warm up for goodness sake.

i dont see how you would find much different any where else. People eat like **** here because 80% are Hispanics and follow there culture of eating ****. What gym did you work at?

[cftstorres]

i dont see how you would find much different any where else. People eat like **** here because 80% are Hispanics and follow there culture of eating ****. What gym did you work at?

I worked at Gold's and Spectrum.

[SupremeMMA]

Ive been hearing alot about IFPA lately. http://www.ifpa-fitness.com/

[BOLDERNECK]

[QUOTE=SupremeMMA;163452531]Ive been hearing alot about IFPA lately. http://www.ifpa-fitness.com/[/QUOTE i took issa which is 'reconized' i went to work for golds and my boss told me it was very difficult test ihad to stiffle my laugh[i mean i did issa in my sleep and here is my boss telling me it was hard] anyway i went to npti and that was difficult...but really fun! i mean you really have to go to class! you recieve a diploma[3 certs] that will not expire....only down part about it is it is a little pricey....it does reqiure alot of study!

[kserajuddin]

Alot of gyms now require their trainer to be NASM certified, preaching NASM has the best trainers - that's a joke. I see plenty of out of shape, zero knowledge trainers with a NASM cert


LOL

[kserajuddin]

I appreciate the help guys. Any idea how much the NSCA would run me cost-wise after its all said and done?

The good thing about the NSCA is that you can take the test without purchasing materials - that's about $240 if I'm not mistaken (you have to join them as a member first)

ACE is the same way - if you can buy your materials on ebay or borrow them from a friend, or just download all the audio, you can take it for about $200 -

In general, I think certifications are very fairly priced - even NASM which now costs almost $600 is still a bargain when you consider that you can call it a top credential, and it costs as much as three university credits -

Your success in training depends a lot on things besides your cert, so I get a little pissed when other companies try to gouge people in this unregulated industry - I wrote two blog posts on that:

http://super-trainer.com/purdue-university-offers-degree-in-personal-training/

http://super-trainer.com/new-york-personal-training-school-article/

Should give you some perspective -