Personal Training Certifications

MattD · 12-18-2006, 10:22 AM

I'm looking into getting my personal training certification soon but want to know which ones are the best and how to go about getting one. I've read alot of conflicting information on which cert. is the "best" and I'm not sure what to believe. Also, I currently work full-time and spend most of my free time training/cooking/eating, etc. so I'm trying to earn the cert. in the most flexible way possible. Thanks for any info.

JH34PG · 12-18-2006, 10:24 AM

supposedly ACE certification is the easiest

hublife · 12-18-2006, 10:25 AM

A.C.T.
I.S.S.A
N.A.S.M

All of those are pretty reputable. My advice is get a degree in exercise kinesioligy. It's the best thing to do long term.

papi93 · 12-18-2006, 10:28 AM

I have the NSCA - CPT and my brother has the ISSA - CFT. Both are good certifications for personal training.

koreanizm · 12-18-2006, 10:41 AM

Im taking the NCSF cpt cert today at 11 am. So in 1 hr or so.

Agent Lazy 78 · 12-18-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koreanizm

Im taking the NCSF cpt cert today at 11 am. So in 1 hr or so.

What type of training is that? Classroom/ on-site, or study on your own?

koreanizm · 12-18-2006, 10:51 AM

You get to choose what type of study you do. I chose AT-Home study.

Agent Lazy 78 · 12-18-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koreanizm

You get to choose what type of study you do. I chose AT-Home study.

Thanks, repps!

got a link?

koreanizm · 12-18-2006, 11:03 AM

http://www.ncsf.org/

If you work for a big org like 24 and say you work there, you get a discount.

Macrobolic · 12-18-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattD

I'm looking into getting my personal training certification soon but want to know which ones are the best and how to go about getting one. I've read alot of conflicting information on which cert. is the "best" and I'm not sure what to believe. Also, I currently work full-time and spend most of my free time training/cooking/eating, etc. so I'm trying to earn the cert. in the most flexible way possible. Thanks for any info.

I am doing the ISSA-CFT program. Here is a link if you are interested:

https://www.issaonline.com/index.cfm

sdb212 · 12-18-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettCorless

I am doing the ISSA-CFT program. Here is a link if you are interested:

https://www.issaonline.com/index.cfm

i have my cert. thru them also. it was easy and i worked full time so it allowed me to do the home study course at my own pace. i'm currently doing the specialist in performance nutrition course they have. it's boring as hell. nothing i really didn't know already. but oh well, that just means more letters behind my name.

Macrobolic · 12-18-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdb212

i have my cert. thru them also. it was easy and i worked full time so it allowed me to do the home study course at my own pace. i'm currently doing the specialist in performance nutrition course they have. it's boring as hell. nothing i really didn't know already. but oh well, that just means more letters behind my name.

hahaha, i got that one too. sorry to hear its boring though, oh well, like you said, more letters behind my name

coloBB · 12-18-2006, 11:50 AM

in order of most respected:

1. ACSM
2. NASM
3. ACE
4. ISSA

papi93 · 12-18-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coloBB

in order of most respected:

1. ACSM
2. NASM
3. ACE
4. ISSA

Are you speaking just in terms of personal training certifications? NCSA - CSCS requires a bachelors degree. I have both the NSCA - CPT and NSCA - CSCS. Just wondering?

dangoody27 · 12-18-2006, 12:03 PM

I got a quick question on the certification process. Do you need to take the courses/workshops or if you think you can pass the test without the courses, can you just take the test?

MattD · 12-18-2006, 12:29 PM

Thanks for all the responses, good to hear there are courses that can be completed at your own pace as that's the only way it'll be possible for me.

sdb212 · 12-18-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangoody27

I got a quick question on the certification process. Do you need to take the courses/workshops or if you think you can pass the test without the courses, can you just take the test?

with the issa, you are not required any workshops. they are optional if you choose to do them. you can complete your cert. test online, via workshop, or by an at home test.

coloBB · 12-18-2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

Are you speaking just in terms of personal training certifications? NCSA - CSCS requires a bachelors degree. I have both the NSCA - CPT and NSCA - CSCS. Just wondering?

just personal training. I forgot about NSCA, but ACSM is IMO the most respected.

papi93 · 12-18-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coloBB

just personal training. I forgot about NSCA, but ACSM is IMO the most respected.

Ok. ACSM is probably the most respected. It really doesn't matter much to a gym what certification it is. All they really care about is if you can sell personal training sessions for them. If you own your own studio, then it is nice to be able to have some nice certifications of the wall. The average person won't know the difference, though.

sdb212 · 12-18-2006, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

Ok. ACSM is probably the most respected. It really doesn't matter much to a gym what certification it is. All they really care about is if you can sell personal training sessions for them. If you own your own studio, then it is nice to be able to have some nice certifications of the wall. The average person won't know the difference, though.

exactly. the first thing they will see is your personal portfolio... yourself.

papi93 · 12-18-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdb212

exactly. the first thing they will see is your personal portfolio... yourself.

Then...you need to have good sales skills if the person is tight with their money.

coloBB · 12-18-2006, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papi93

Ok. ACSM is probably the most respected. It really doesn't matter much to a gym what certification it is. All they really care about is if you can sell personal training sessions for them. If you own your own studio, then it is nice to be able to have some nice certifications of the wall. The average person won't know the difference, though.

unfortunatly that is exactly right... personal trainers have become more of the sleazy car salesman type, rather than someone who is trying to help. Glad i only do training on the side, and manage the gym instead.

papi93 · 12-18-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coloBB

unfortunatly that is exactly right... personal trainers have become more of the sleazy car salesman type, rather than someone who is trying to help. Glad i only do training on the side, and manage the gym instead.

I only do home visits now, to supplement my income. Most of the pressure to be a used car salemen sleaze is from the company you work for. The general public is not innocent though. They are looking for such a quick fix that they buy into those high pressure sales techniques. Infomerical mentality, in regards to a quick fix.