Want to become a personal trainer. Need help & advice.

[j0ker]

I'm 19 years old and a Kinesiology Major. I have a lot of knowledge about the body, muscles and how to train them and things along those lines.

I want to become a personal trainer (in hopes it'll higher my chances to get into a good graduate school too for Physical Therapy) but mostly for making finding a part time job for the summer/school year easier.

I love being at the gym, I don't mind helping people out which I do at the gyms (s) I already lift at. I've had being a PT in mind for many months now.

Questions though, how do I go about getting started to be certified?
-What are the requirements?
-What are the best certificates and which one should I do first?
-Where would I go to do this? (Long Island, Ny here)

Thanks for any advice. I'd like to get certified (if even possible at my age) asap.

[Thuirwyne]

Finish your degree but in the meantime you can get certified by

ACSM
NASM
NSCA
NFPT

Those all are NCCA accredited; NSCA and ACSM will also enable you to get your CSCS.

[j0ker]

bump

[Caseyface]

Spell out all those acronyms please?

[ny58]

im from long island ny . .. got my cert in NASM. . they had a weekend seminar in NYC which helped me out alot and i took the test in flushing. .

[Thuirwyne]

NASM National Academy of Sports Medicine

NSCA National Strength and Conditioning Association

NFPT National Federation of Professional Trainers

ACSM American College of Sports Medicine

I had NFPT back in the late 90's, and it seems the most basic if you already have experience; my NASM just expired, but it's technically very good. I worked with some Terps and they all had exercise physiology degrees and had played either baseball, rugby or football, and liked NSCA.

[rpatrick5]

If you are planning on going to PT school I would recommend the NSCA's certification because it will allow you to get your Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) when you finish undergrad (and pass the exam of course). Most PTs go this route and the information I believe will have more carry over than any of the others.

A good idea too is to volunteer at a PT office

[brspecialists]

I'm 19 years old and a Kinesiology Major. I have a lot of knowledge about the body, muscles and how to train them and things along those lines.

I want to become a personal trainer (in hopes it'll higher my chances to get into a good graduate school too for Physical Therapy) but mostly for making finding a part time job for the summer/school year easier.

I love being at the gym, I don't mind helping people out which I do at the gyms (s) I already lift at. I've had being a PT in mind for many months now.

Questions though, how do I go about getting started to be certified?
-What are the requirements?
-What are the best certificates and which one should I do first?
-Where would I go to do this? (Long Island, Ny here)

Thanks for any advice. I'd like to get certified (if even possible at my age) asap.

I agree that you should get a real cert. NASM, ACSM, NSCA ect. I was amazed at how little my knowledge of a the body from my degree translated into training my clients. Good Luck.