If you plan to become a certified personal trainer, look for programs with established industry standards and educational requirements that lead to a certification exam recognized by the profession. Some programs are accredited by an independent accrediting body in the same manner as reputable colleges and universities, but others are licensed by the states in which they're located and aren't independently accredited. The most widely accepted accreditation is performed by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Home Study Courses
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) offers accredited courses in personal training, along with a certification exam. ACE provides three price-based packages of home-study materials. All three packages include a trainer manual set, study guides, practice tests, anatomy book, consultation with staff and weekly emails. The deluxe and premier packages also include an online review course, and the premier version includes a voucher for the certification exam. The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) offers a home-study course that combines a hard-copy format with online elements. While all of the materials are provided as a home-study package, the main course is also online, along with a student forum, an exercise lab and the final exam.
Online Courses
The Personal Fitness Trainer Online Preparatory Class from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) consists of 12 modules that include subjects such as anatomy, physiology, preventing injuries and assessing fitness. Each module is followed by a quiz, and you must pass all unit exams and the final exam to earn a certificate of completion. Ed2Go offers a Personal Fitness Training Program in conjunction with ACE, which includes a discount on the certification exam. The program earns continuing education credits for members of the American Dietetic Association, the American Senior Fitness Association, the National Council on Strength and Fitness and the National Federation of Professional Trainers.
College-Based Programs
The Personal Trainer Certification Program from the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) is available at hundreds of colleges and universities throughout the United States, according to the NCSF website. Search for schools by state, and contact these colleges individually for admission requirements and enrollment information. If a college you're interested in is not on the list, check its academic catalog for certificate programs in personal fitness trainer. Schools such as the University of Texas at Arlington feature a certificate program that combines online studies with an optional internship at a fitness center.
Gym-Based Programs
Classes for personal trainers at City Fitness Gym in Washington, D.C., are geared toward trainers already working in the field who want to further their educations. Classes include CPR certification and workshops to prepare you for the ACE certification exam. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) offers one- and three-day workshops to help you prepare for the ACSM certification exam. One-day workshops are aimed at current or former personal trainers who want to stay abreast of changes, and three-day workshops are geared toward trainers who have the knowledge and skills needed to become a personal trainer but who have not yet taken the exam.
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