Many people use personal trainers, who are specially educated and trained in the work of personal training, health and fitness and injury prevention. Reputable personal trainers are typically certified, which means they have taken a course and passed the standards of a professional organization. Numerous organizations offer personal training certification, including the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.
About AFAA
AFAA is the world's largest educator of fitness professionals. According to the organization's website, it has awarded over 250,000 certifications to professionals in the fitness industry since 1983. AFAA offers numerous fitness certifications, including those in personal training, kickboxing, step and primary group exercise. AFAA also offers continuing education courses in subjects like perinatal fitness, aqua fitness, metabolic connection to obesity, midlife fitness for women, yoga instructor training and mechanics of injury prevention.
Personal Trainer Skills
A personal trainer typically works one-on-one with a client at a gym, at the client's home or in a fitness or wellness facility. A trainer constructs individualized fitness programs for clients based on their needs, past fitness and medical history and fitness goals, says Jessica Matthews of the American Council on Exercise. A trainer also teaches proper workout form to help prevent injury and maximize benefit and helps motivate clients to stick with their workout programs and achieve fitness goals.
AFAA Personal Training Workshops
AFAA certification in personal training begins with a three-day online course that involves lectures, practical demonstrations and written and practical examinations. Subjects include anatomy and physiology, fitness assessment testing procedures, nutrition and weight management, special populations, exercise programming, leadership and wellness programming. The organization recommends that aspiring personal trainers study before taking the workshop and gain experience in the gym and weight room. Completing the workshop does not automatically certify you as a trainer; it merely prepares you to take the AFAA personal fitness trainer certification exam and the personal trainer national boards, states the AFAA.
AFAA National Board Exam Preparation
Once you are AFAA certified as a personal trainer, some states require board certification from the National Board of Fitness Examiners, and some trainers may want to become board certified to further their credentials. For personal trainers studying for the national boards, the AFAA offers an online course to help prepare for the exam. The course consists of 12 modules, each with a quiz at the end. Module subjects include human physiology, anatomy and kinesiology, special populations, injury prevention, nutrition and emergency response. To pass the course, you need to pass all the quizzes and a final exam. Once you complete these requirements, you can take the national boards. AFAA also has online continuing education courses that trainers need to maintain their certification.
References
- Aerobics and Fitness Association of America: About AFAA
- Aerobics and Fitness Association of America: Personal Trainer Certification
- Aerobics and Fitness Association of America: Distance Learning
- American Council on Exercise: What Can a Personal Trainer Do For Me?
- National Board of Fitness Examiners: About NBFE
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