The health and fitness field presents a variety of career choices. Fitness-related degrees and certifications vary from four-year college degrees to two-day workshop certifications. Whatever your career goal is, you should spend some time researching your options and the accreditation of programs that interest you. Here is a brief overview on college degrees, personal trainer or instructor certificates and dietitian careers.
College Degrees in Health and Fitness
There are dozens of exercise- and health-related programs you can major in at a college or university. Physical education, athletic training, exercise science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, and fitness management are just few of the fields in which you could earn a bachelor’s degree. The College Directory Network website offers a nationwide search tool for finding different study programs and schools around the United States.
Personal Trainer
Personal trainers are experts in health, exercise and well-being. They work one-on-one with clients, educating them on fitness and managing their fitness goals. There are many different study options and certifications available, from two-day workshops to college programs. You can study in school or do a home study program. After you finish your studies, you need to take a certification examination to become a certified personal trainer. The National Council on Strength and Fitness offers one such certification examination, as well as online and in-class coursework. The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America offers three-day personal trainer workshops and a certification examination.
Fitness Instructor
You can become a fitness instructor and teach exercise classes in health centers, gyms and community colleges. Specialties may include dance, aerobics, indoor cycling, kickboxing, yoga, and Pilates. Hundreds of schools courses on and certifications for becoming a certified instructor. However, only few of these are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Both the American Council on Exercise and the American College of Sports Medicine offer NCCA-accredited fitness instructor certifications; certifications from the AFAA , meanwhile, are accredited by the National Board of Fitness Examiners. AFAA offers instructor workshops in kickboxing, Pilates, indoor cycling, yoga, perinatal fitness and several other areas.
Dietitian and Nutritionists
Dietitians and nutritionists counsel individuals and groups on healthy eating and nutritional practices. They can offer advice on diet-related issues like weight loss, and can help prevent and treat illnesses like type 2 diabetes. Dietitians work for hospitals, schools, nursing facilities and food manufacturing facilities. Colleges around the U.S. offer bachelor’s degrees in nutrition; you can also study for a certificate or a diploma in nutrition.
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