There are a variety of reputable personal training certifications, but one stands above the rest -- the American College of Sports Medicine's Certified Personal Trainer certificate. This certificate comes from a highly reputable organization that was established in 1954. The ACSM has been at the forefront of research in safe and effective training ever since. The organization was also the first to recognize and certify personal trainers, and over 25,000 professionals have completed its certification, according to the ACSM.
Requirements
There are requirements you must meet before you can sit for the certification exam. You must be over age 18 and are required to have a high school diploma, GED or an educational equivalent. You are also required to have a current CPR certification that must include hands-on technical practice and a grading component. The typically accepted CPR certifications come from the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.
Procedure
You must first pay certification and exam fees. You will also send a copy of your current CPR certification and a transcript or other proof of meeting the minimum education requirement. After those are in order, you must schedule to take the exam at a Pearson VUE authorized testing center. After you have scheduled the exam date, you should study the ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer textbook. You may also register for a one- or three-day workshop that includes lectures and hands-on demonstrations of personal training techniques and information to prepare you for the exam. The exam is extensive and covers a variety of topics such as exercise technique, physiology and nutrition. Once you take the exam, you will be given a score, and if you pass, the certificate will be mailed to you.
Cost
Becoming a certified personal trainer can be an expensive undertaking. The recommended textbook can cost from $40 to $70, depending on where you purchase it. The one-day workshop costs $139 and the three-day is $375, as of March 2011. A CPR certification can cost from $20 to $60. The exam costs $279, and if you need to take it again, it is $150.
Alternatives
There are two other highly reputable certifications backed with a strong scientific foundation. The National Academy of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association both offer personal training certifications that require a comprehensive examination. Both organizations have minimal requirements comparable to the ACSM. The big difference between the two organizations and the ACSM, in terms of certification, is that they are more oriented toward performance training while the ACSM is more clinically oriented.
References
- American College of Sports Medicine: ACSM Foundation
- American College of Sports Medicine: ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
- American College of Sports Medicine: Preparing for the ACSM Personal Trainer Certification
- American College of Sports Medicine: Scheduling and Taking the ACSM Certification Exam
- American College of Sports Medicine: ACSM Exam Fees
Member Comments