Additional Credentials

[titusricard]

As I near my exam date for NASM CPT next week, I'm immediately thinking of getting more credentials. I'm ACE certified currently but thinking of just sticking with the rest of my certs coming from NASM. I'm strongly leaning towards the Weight Loss Specialist program. With obesity being so rampant, I figured it would make me a little bit more valuable. What other credentials do you guys have that you feel helped you more, made you stand out, or made you more valuable to your clients?

[SFT]

As I near my exam date for NASM CPT next week, I'm immediately thinking of getting more credentials. I'm ACE certified currently but thinking of just sticking with the rest of my certs coming from NASM. I'm strongly leaning towards the Weight Loss Specialist program. With obesity being so rampant, I figured it would make me a little bit more valuable. What other credentials do you guys have that you feel helped you more, made you stand out, or made you more valuable to your clients?

Very few people actually ask about credentials in my experience. I think the NASM-CPT is good enough. You can market yourself as a specialist in weight loss without NASM saying you can. If you want the knowledge that goes with it, buy the book. The only time I would ever recommend getting an additional certification is if it somehow increases your scope of practice, or if it makes sense cost-wise from a CEU/CEC perspective. Otherwise I would just buy the books.

[titusricard]

Very few people actually ask about credentials in my experience. I think the NASM-CPT is good enough. You can market yourself as a specialist in weight loss without NASM saying you can. If you want the knowledge that goes with it, buy the book. The only time I would ever recommend getting an additional certification is if it somehow increases your scope of practice, or if it makes sense cost-wise from a CEU/CEC perspective. Otherwise I would just buy the books.

I agree with you. The thing is, working at 24 hour fitness, they list your credentials along with your photo. Most people are superficial and pick and judge trainers off of appearance or their credentials. It's a dumb way to choose a trainer, but lets be honest, it happens. I do crave the knowledge but also want to increase any chance of gaining new clients.

[SFT]

If I needed to get more certifications to make myself look more attractive in clients' eyes, I would go for something inline with what I wanted to specialize in. However, I think that by perpetuating the idea that all these certifications are necessary, we are wasting our money and doing my harm than good for the fitness industry. We'd likely be better off with a very small number of organizations and certifications.

[BC02]

a basic ncca accredited cert along with a cscs would be more then enough imo

[BC02]

I agree with you. The thing is, working at 24 hour fitness, they list your credentials along with your photo. Most people are superficial and pick and judge trainers off of appearance or their credentials. It's a dumb way to choose a trainer, but lets be honest, it happens. I do crave the knowledge but also want to increase any chance of gaining new clients.

what do they think of the new pay system 24 has? I think it sucks since its based off sessions trained and not number of certs

[titusricard]

what do they think of the new pay system 24 has? I think it sucks since its based off sessions trained and not number of certs

Since I'm just starting, it's the only system I know. How was the old system?

[SFT]

what do they think of the new pay system 24 has? I think it sucks since its based off sessions trained and not number of certs

Unless I'm missing something here, that sounds like a good system. Why would I pay someone more for having more certifications? I'd rather pay them more for bringing in more money for me. I would only pay someone more money for a higher level certification if it meant that they could charge more per session.

[rockangel]

Unless I'm missing something here, that sounds like a good system. Why would I pay someone more for having more certifications? I'd rather pay them more for bringing in more money for me. I would only pay someone more money for a higher level certification if it meant that they could charge more per session.

I would agree with this. getting more certs should be about specializing and being able to bring in more money.
You may not be paid more, but if you are certain that the extra certs would bring in a return of more clients, then add what you feel is necessary.