I need advice on certification test for a personal trainer.

showv3113 · 05-06-2007, 03:14 PM

hey, any trainers out there to give me some advice. I got a gym interested in hiring me as a trainer. This is my dream job, and all I need to get is a certification. This would be a great career move for me since the gym is located 30 minutes from where i live so i wouldn't have to move. They told me all I need is the certification and I pretty much got the job. Which one would is most recommended. I was looking into ACSM or ACE. Also, I'm really smart and know plenty of information about training, but how much time do you need to study and what should I study. I have no clue what these test are like. I just started looking into getting the certification because the job came all of a sudden and i did not expect to start working as a trainer until i finished college with my bachelor's degree in exercise science next december. The job wants me to be certified for June 2nd. Is this possible? I'm just trying to get some advice for the test and don't want to waste any money failing a test without the proper preperation. thanks.

DrivenToTransform · 05-08-2007, 01:47 PM

1st of all, don't go with ACE, they suck. I'd recommend NASM (national academy of sports medicine) most GOLDS gyms likes you to have a cert from them. or IFPA (international fitness professional association) which is known all over the world.

when you order the course they will give you the book to study and i'd study it for about 3 months solid. they usualy have practice exams. who ever you use make sure they dont have an age limit,some required you to be over 18 also some require you to have a valid cpr/first aid/aed cert which is good to have anyway. after you have the cert and the cpr, get liability insurance on yourself, people are sue happy these days and no matter how many waivers they sign it prob wont totally cover your butt in a lawsuit. http://www.sportsfitness.com/ has insurance for trainers that covers up to 2 million for only $200 a yr. i really dont think there is any way you could be ready for june 2nd. i took the test to be an EMT and the pt test was harder.. thats right, it was easier to get qualified to save a life. IFPA has written and multiple choice.. you better not miss a damn sentence on the written for IFPA.. or NASM has just multiple choice.. all thought i'm certed through ifpa i'd go for NASM. you have to get credits every year with any pt company to keep your cert valid.. good luck!

bigfrog · 05-10-2007, 08:50 PM

ACSM is best! I'm cert in a couple different ones. But ACSM is the top... Study for at least 3-6 months. They are tough tests.

DrivenToTransform · 05-11-2007, 04:09 AM

oooo nice ... ill have to check them out for CEUS ^^^^

i just ordered classes from NETA and they seem to have a great selection

tomterp · 05-11-2007, 09:00 AM

i want to be a personal trainer i'm currently 16 going to be 17 in aug. whats a good place to start out at etc.. can someone PM me or ocmment me with the info i'll rep you etc.. thanks

DrivenToTransform · 05-11-2007, 10:59 AM

email me personaltrainer@post.com

showv3113 · 05-11-2007, 04:51 PM

thanks for the advice

well after doing research and talking to the employee's of the gym i'm getting ACE for right now because that one is cheaper, quicker, and easier. This is just a training job to get me through college and start my career. I plan on getting ACSM or NASM after i graduate. Basically the cost of insurance and the ACE test will drain my savings to practically nothing so i'm not going for anything expensive just yet. I just read through the entire ACSM certification review book that my college advisor let me borrow and damn that was a breeze. I already know most of this information through college courses or bodybuilding articles so i'm not worried about passing anymore. I was worried at first because it came all of a sudden and i didn't know anything about the test, but now i got it all under control. time to start making some money! also the gym i'll be working at lets me keep 100 percent of the profit, set my own schedule, and have a key to the brand new gym!!!

DrivenToTransform · 05-11-2007, 06:18 PM

good luck!

solidmusclejake · 05-12-2007, 08:19 PM

what kinds of questions do they ask on these tests?

lee_fitness · 05-12-2007, 10:49 PM

How much do you Bench!

Thats the first question they always ask! lol

lee_fitness · 05-12-2007, 10:53 PM

I have just done my PT certification, luckily mine was Assesment only, it was harder due to time factors but you learn more,

keep on top of things and KEEP LEARNING.

Character and knowlage will take you a long way in PT buisness

DrivenToTransform · 05-13-2007, 02:19 AM

for the test know the names of all the muscles (even the stupid little ones you will prob never need to know again) you don't need to know how to spell them. know all the rules of propper form for every exercises. you may get a question like " for a decline bench press do you lower the bar to nipple line, below nipple line or above nipple line" or a question like " when doing a squat, how far down do you "sit" " a) until your butt hits the floor, b) your toes jut out, c) until you hit the line of tension d) until your back is straight or a question like " if you hurt your ACL, what is an exercise you should not do" or a question like " what is a fast twitch muscle" Know any equations you find. (Like the one to find out how much protein a person needs for thier body weight) I still use this one ALL the time. basicly study the ever living **** out of the book, and any study guides they give you (some give you a video to help" if you can take a workshop, do it, this way you can ask an instructor any questions and def take notes, hilight, etc.. just like you're in a regular class room. Put tabs on some of these pages you take notes on, you'll want to review them after you have passed the test and can't remember what the formula is to find out a person's max hr. If you get a test that has written answers, write ALL THAT YOU CAN, even if you feel like you're explaining too much. with IFPA if you had one part of a sentence left out they'd mark the whole question wrong. This is a test you don't want to try to "wing" or you'll be paying the $100 (or whatever it is) fee to re-do it.