If you are interested in becoming a personal fitness trainer, a certification is strongly recommended. Although searching for personal trainer certifications will give you numerous results, you will need to weed through the different options and decide what certification exam is most appropriate for you. In your research, examine the differences between organizations such as accreditation status, exam requirements, the population focus and factors such as exam location and cost.
Accreditation
The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association recommends that fitness facilities hire personal trainers with a nationally accredited fitness certification. Certifications should be accredited by third-party organizations, such as the National Organization for Competency Assurance, or another organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education. Researching only organizations that have an accredited personal training certification will narrow your list.
Prerequisites
Determine your qualifications before you begin your research and make a list of the steps that different organizations will require you to take before you can sit for their exams. Most certifications will require you to be at least 18 years old and hold a current CPR certification. Many certifications require a high-school or equivalency diploma. Other prerequisites could include a certain number of hours of practical experience or a health- or exercise-science-related degree. Typically, a greater number of prerequisites is required for a higher level of certification. For example, the American College of Sports Medicine offers a Certified Personal Trainer certification that has lower requirements than the more advanced Health Fitness Specialist certification, which requires applicants to have a health-related higher-education degree.
Focus
Determine if passing the exam will prepare you to work with specific populations. Some certifications prepare you to work with the general public, whereas others have a specialty focus. If your goal is to work with athletes, consider the National Strength and Conditioning Association's Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification. The American College of Sports Medicine offers specialty certifications to work with cancer patients or with people who have disabilities.
Other Considerations
A personal training certification exam should be challenging, requiring preparation and homework. If you are able, without prior fitness experience, to take a daylong workshop and pass an exam, this should be an indicator that the certification may not be reputable. Certifications should require you to participate in continuing education. Fitness research is ever-changing, and trainers should continue to develop themselves professionally after certification. Learn about the cost and location of the exam. If the certification under consideration offers limited exam locations, it may not be widely accepted or recognized.
References
- The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association; Accreditation Announcement to IHRSA Members; January 14, 2010
- "Fitness Management"; Researching Fitness Center Certification Requirements; Doyice Cotten; January 2009
- American College of Sports Medicine: Certification and Workshops
- National Strength and Conditioning Association: Certification
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