What's the best Certification for being a PT?

[itlleprcn]

Looking into getting my certification for being a Personal Trainer and not sure which one to chose...these are just a few I found..anyone recommend any others??

ISSA,

NASM,

ACSM


Thanks,
Melissa

Itlleprcn@msn.com

[willldabeast]

Looking into getting my certification for being a Personal Trainer and not sure which one to chose...these are just a few I found..anyone recommend any others??

ISSA,

NASM,

ACSM


Thanks,
Melissa

Itlleprcn@msn.com

haha we were just talking one thread down how sick we are of this question. you will hear many varied answers. scroll down the page and over a page and you will see this same topic discussed.

[wizi]

Looking into getting my certification for being a Personal Trainer and not sure which one to chose...these are just a few I found..anyone recommend any others??

ISSA,

NASM,

ACSM


Thanks,
Melissa

Itlleprcn@msn.com

Call your local gyms and ask them what kindda cert. they are lookin for. For Gold's or Lifetime Fitness... NASM is good enough.

[itlleprcn]

Thanks...sorry haven't been on this site for awhile so I didn't realize that there had been a post regarding this topic already...

Melissa

[ny58]

I like NASM

[MVP]

All certs are pretty much the same thing IMO. They all pretty much go over the same thing over and over again. The only real differences is marketing and price.

[BC02]

NASM/ACE/ISSA Best Three Certs You Could Have

Issa isnt even accredited by the ncca so Id disagree with them. I think NSCA is best personally

[gischer]

Issa isnt even accredited by the ncca so Id disagree with them. I think NSCA is best personally

agree on ISSA being trash... and i'm ISSA certified...

NASM
AFAA
ACE
NSCA

Those are the top 4 I can think of offhand

[Sikk]

Why would u rank ACE with NSCA, or ACSM?

rofl

[dasixthsun]

Issa isnt even accredited by the ncca so Id disagree with them. I think NSCA is best personally

I have an issa cert and an accredited cert also and imho i believe i gotten more from my issa manual than the "accredited one". As far as accreditation goes watch the movie accepted and that will explain that whole process

[MVP]

So much marketing

What people fail to understand is, just because you are certified does not mean you know how to train someone, just like having a drivers license does not mean you know how to drive a car

A cert is just a piece of paper with your name on it saying you are a certified personal trainer, nothing more

Alot of gyms say " oh we have the best trainers, NASM certified ". It's a sales pitch and it must work. Gyms will only accept trainers with a certain cert because it's marketing. It makes the gym sound good, to help increase revenue

[dowd48]

I'm in the process of getting certified through ISSA

[fruehling]

NSCA and ACSM are the two most difficult certs according to what I have found. The next most requested/known is NASM, but I read the NASM was taken over by 24 hr fitness and is thus losing prestige. The next is ACE, but everyone and their brother seems to have ACE and I have heard that it's a piece of cake to get.

Looking at craigslist job offers, you can see for yourself which ones are most in demand. I think you will see those four are the top.

[devildogbr]

its really up to the gym that u want to work at to what they think u should have ... but like its been said this doesnt mean your a good trainer ... just covers ur ass if somone questions you... the best thing to do is once u have a certification ... find a good trainer and shadow them and learn from them ... hell shadow a few

[tiffy_sugar]

I agree that its up to the gyms. All the gyms in my area prefer ISSA, but there are people that I've talked to that say they are a joke. So....its kinda up to you. I have ISSA... I think as long as you have some kinda cert, your in good shape. You can always get more later and get yourself covered with accrediated as well later. But ISSA really does have a very good manual that worth having.

Also, here is some info taken from the forums at ISSA's site. It might shed some light on ISSA as being a very good certification:

___________________________________________

Author Question Subject: NCAA
Tonya Mossman

Posted: 15 May 2008

Does the NCAA recognize the ISSA?
_______________________________________________
Responses
Author Response Subject: NCAA
Patrick Gamboa
Posted: 15 May 2008

Tonya, good afternoon and welcome to the Board and the ISSA family of trainers. We are happy to have you here. With regard to your question, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has many member schools that have ISSA trainers and SSC specialist on staff, however there is no official recognition granted by the NCAA.

______________________________________________

Author Response Subject: NCAA
Patrick McCandless
Posted: 15 May 2008

I was going to post this in my own thread but I saw this one. Tonya asked about ISSA being recognized by NCAA, but my question is regarding the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies). Is ISSA accredited by the NCCA? If so, great. If not, why is it not? Any other info would be great.

__________________________________________________ ____
Author Response Subject: NCAA
Patrick Gamboa
Posted: 15 May 2008

Patrick M. good afternoon I hope you are well and having a great Thursday thus far. With regard to your question, we have not pursued NCCA accreditation as they are not recognized by the United States Department of Education:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...igher_learning

However, if you visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...igher_learning

you will find DETC who the ISSA is currently pending final approval and can be found listed at:

http://detc.org/new_applicants.html

We hope this helps.


__________________________________________________ ______________
Author Response Subject: NCAA
Patrick McCandless
Posted: 15 May 2008

yes it does thank you. when is ISSA expected to be approved by?

__________________________________________________ _______________
Author Response Subject: NCAA
Patrick Gamboa
Posted: 15 May 2008

Patrick M., we hope to achieve final approval in the January commission meeting.

[scottymac710]

Is the ASFA cert. accepted most places? It looks like a joke..

[PrisonerDilemma]

NSCA CSCS would be at the top

[CMillertime]

So much marketing

What people fail to understand is, just because you are certified does not mean you know how to train someone, just like having a drivers license does not mean you know how to drive a car

A cert is just a piece of paper with your name on it saying you are a certified personal trainer, nothing more

Alot of gyms say " oh we have the best trainers, NASM certified ". It's a sales pitch and it must work. Gyms will only accept trainers with a certain cert because it's marketing. It makes the gym sound good, to help increase revenue

I agree. I haven't gotten certified yet, still debating on which one. But I have corrected trainers numerous times, sorry but I've been lifting for 10 years, I think I'm more qualified then some person who read the books. I was actually just talking to the people who own the gym i go to about this yesterday. She said she went through NESTA, how is that cert? Never heard of it till yesterday.

[MVP]

I agree. I haven't gotten certified yet, still debating on which one. But I have corrected trainers numerous times, sorry but I've been lifting for 10 years, I think I'm more qualified then some person who read the books. I was actually just talking to the people who own the gym i go to about this yesterday. She said she went through NESTA, how is that cert? Never heard of it till yesterday.

Actually NESTA is a good cert with John Spencer Ellis. It's somewhat affiliated with ISSA. I'm certified through NESTA and ISSA. I was once certified through NASM, and let me tell you, i bought into the whole "NASM" is the best certification, but i look back it, and the NASM text is not much different from my NESTA or ISSA text. What does that tell you?

Just so you know Jackie Warner (many here hate her) Co-Owner of Sky Sport Spa on Bravo's workout is NESTA certified. Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser and founder of Sky Sport Spa is also NESTA certified.

[db2012]

Ace & Nsca.

[instantmassege]

I agree. I haven't gotten certified yet, still debating on which one. But I have corrected trainers numerous times, sorry but I've been lifting for 10 years, I think I'm more qualified then some person who read the books.

You have been working out 10 years? lol you dont looke like you've been wokring out 6 months.

[Sikk]

Just so you know Jackie Warner (many here hate her) Co-Owner of Sky Sport Spa on Bravo's workout is NESTA certified. Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser and founder of Sky Sport Spa is also NESTA certified.

Using Jackie Warner as an example of a celebrity trainer who got the same cert that you have is a TERRIBLE comparison.

Jackie is a terrible trainer, anyone who charges that much and offers so little shouldn't be in the business.

[Addictedlifter]

Actually NESTA is a good cert with John Spencer Ellis. It's somewhat affiliated with ISSA. I'm certified through NESTA and ISSA. I was once certified through NASM, and let me tell you, i bought into the whole "NASM" is the best certification, but i look back it, and the NASM text is not much different from my NESTA or ISSA text. What does that tell you?

Just so you know Jackie Warner (many here hate her) Co-Owner of Sky Sport Spa on Bravo's workout is NESTA certified. Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser and founder of Sky Sport Spa is also NESTA certified.

Okay, but given that both the ISSA and NASM cost roughly 600$ each, wouldn't it make more sense to get the one that is more widely accepted by gyms? A serious question, I'm deciding between the two myself.

[MVP]

Using Jackie Warner as an example of a celebrity trainer who got the same cert that you have is a TERRIBLE comparison.

Jackie is a terrible trainer, anyone who charges that much and offers so little shouldn't be in the business.

We really dont know how Jackie Warner is as a Trainer unless we actually know her, though she is a very successful business woman

The PASSION to change peoples lives, is what makes you a successful trainer, not the cert. Though $400/hr is pretty insane, but it's her location / market

[MVP]

Okay, but given that both the ISSA and NASM cost roughly 600$ each, wouldn't it make more sense to get the one that is more widely accepted by gyms? A serious question, I'm deciding between the two myself.

Call the gym you would like to work at, and find out. I believe ALL gyms accept ISSA and NASM. You'll make the same pay with either cert or even a cheaper cert

[CM82682]

We really dont know how Jackie Warner is as a Trainer unless we actually know her, though she is a very successful business woman

The PASSION to change peoples lives, is what makes you a successful trainer, not the cert. Though $400/hr is pretty insane, but it's her location / market

I heard an interview Jackie did last week and they asked her about the $400. She said that she works 10-12 hours a day, runs 5 businesses and when shes not dedicating her time to running the businesses shes losing money. The only way for her to justify taking time out to actually train people these days is to charge that amount of money because shes losing money by not doing other business type things...if that makes sense. Basically her time is what your paying for right now, not her training.

[Sikk]

I heard an interview Jackie did last week and they asked her about the $400. She said that she works 10-12 hours a day, runs 5 businesses and when shes not dedicating her time to running the businesses shes losing money. The only way for her to justify taking time out to actually train people these days is to charge that amount of money because shes losing money by not doing other business type things...if that makes sense. Basically her time is what your paying for right now, not her training.

she's been charging $400 an hour for years, just another lie she tells

and I do know how she trains, my fiance is very close to a female trainer who works at Sky Sport (one who isn't on the show because shes not dramatic enough) Not only have I been to the gym numerous times, I've seen her "boot camps" and her 1 on 1 with other clients, she's not good I can assure you.

Just look at her "skylab" ppl from last season, a few months went by and the most anyone lost was like what, 20 pounds? Didn't see anyone come away w/ much muscle tone, $400 an hour is a crock.

[CM82682]

she's been charging $400 an hour for years, just another lie she tells

and I do know how she trains, my fiance is very close to a female trainer who works at Sky Sport (one who isn't on the show because shes not dramatic enough) Not only have I been to the gym numerous times, I've seen her "boot camps" and her 1 on 1 with other clients, she's not good I can assure you.

Just look at her "skylab" ppl from last season, a few months went by and the most anyone lost was like what, 20 pounds? Didn't see anyone come away w/ much muscle tone, $400 an hour is a crock.

You onviously know much more then me when it comes to this topic, I was just telling what I heard I can respect her business mind though, shes doing well for herself to say the least.

[Sikk]

You could assume that, but I can tell you this:

- Her clothing line has been dropped by a few stores and isn't selling too well
- Gatorade dropped her gym as one it sponsors (and the TV show)
- She lost a possible contract with Nike to put a shoe out over her actions on the show this year.
- Her fitness video isn't too hot
- Her business partner (who owns more of sky sport than jackie does) is completely fed up with her and on the verge of letting her go

She had great opportunities, but her constant belitting of every male employee/business associate of hers will end up costing her big time over the long haul.

Who cares, the woman's a huge bitch in real life. Can't even begin to tell you how many horrible things I've seen her do. Both before the TV show and after.

[CM82682]

You could assume that, but I can tell you this:

- Her clothing line has been dropped by a few stores and isn't selling too well
- Gatorade dropped her gym as one it sponsors (and the TV show)
- She lost a possible contract with Nike to put a shoe out over her actions on the show this year.
- Her fitness video isn't too hot
- Her business partner (who owns more of sky sport than jackie does) is completely fed up with her and on the verge of letting her go

She had great opportunities, but her constant belitting of every male employee/business associate of hers will end up costing her big time over the long haul.

Who cares, the woman's a huge bitch in real life. Can't even begin to tell you how many horrible things I've seen her do. Both before the TV show and after.

Wow, very interesting, thanks for sharing that. Correct me if I am wrong but isnt Jillian Michaels the other owner?