All personal trainer certification programs qualify you for the same thing: to provide fitness guidance one-on-one. Personal trainers study topics such as general physiology and anatomy, safe fitness practices, exercise program design and fitness assessment. Because there's no central regulatory body for personal training certifications, it's up to you to compare the different options and choose what you want.
Home Study
Home-study certifications require you to learn the material on your own. Once you're confident that you understand it, you can then register to pass the exam. Some of the major personal training certifications, such as American College Of Sports Medicine and American Council On Exercise, require an in-person exam before you can become certified. The exams are hosted at specific locations throughout the country and only offered once or twice a year. The exams are usually a combination of a written test and a simulation test with client scenarios, where you have to analyze a real-life problem and provide an appropriate fitness plan that fits the client's needs and lifestyle.
Online
Online certifications are usually the cheapest ones offered. Most online certifications cost less than $100, while ACE will cost over $400 total for the study materials and exam registration. The problem with online certifications is that some concepts are hard to grasp on your own if you have no previous knowledge of fitness. Online certifications might be better for people who already understand the industry and simply want a certificate to show that. Exams for online certifications are either open book or require you to write a paper or make a video or photo collection showcasing different activities.
Workshop-Based
For those with no previous knowledge of the industry, the best way to learn might be to simply attend classes. A number of colleges around the country offer personal training courses. For example, National Personal Training Institute in Florida offers a 500-hour program that includes both classroom time and supervised gym training. Some private schools, like ACE, offer optional workshops to help you prepare for the exam. Workshops are usually short, lasting three to five days. Some schools offer a one-day workshop.
Choosing the Best
What certification is best for you depends on your goals, your budget and your previous knowledge. If you are starting from zero, a more involved program, where you have contact with a teacher, will be best. If you just want a piece of paper to prove what you already know, any certification will do. If you want to work for a specific place or company, check in advance that they accept any certification. Some places will only accept the major certifications, which include ACE, ACSM, National Academy Of Sports Medicine and International Sports Science Association.
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