People often ask me about which personal training certification I think is the "best". This makes sense because there are so many different certifications out there to choose from. Just a few of the more familiar organizations that certify personal trainers include ACE, AAAI/ISMA, ISSA, AFAA, NSCA, NPTI, WITS, the Cooper Institute and ACSM. Trying to decide which organization to go with can be overwhelming.
But it doesn’t have to be. As a personal trainer who has been in the industry for several years, I want to share with you this fact: the general public (your current and future clients) will probably NEVER ask you “who are you certified by". This is because the public does not know the difference between ACE, WITS, NPTI, ISSA, AFFA, NSCA or any other personal training certification.
Here is another fact. All personal training certifications basically cover the same core areas of knowledge. All personal fitness training certs (and their textbooks) place emphasis on exercise science, muscle and cardiovascular physiology, anatomy, fitness testing, exercise program design, basic safety/first aid, basic nutrition and exercise technique. The difference between each is how in depth the certification exam and study materials are. Some personal training study books are so hung up on counting every ATP molecule made in the Krebs cycle that they forget to mention that people should be more focused on burning calories during exercise and not burning fat. They neglect to share that eating fewer calories – not eating less fat – is the real key to weight loss. In other words, they place more emphasis on the obscure E=MC2 high tech science stuff, rather than the information that people can use right now.
If you have been wondering about what cert you should choose, give your mind a rest and don’t get hung up on which is the best personal training certification. The trick is to look at several certification programs and find a certification that’s:
1. Reputable
2. Teaches you what you need to know to work safely with others
3. Allows you to get re-certified relatively easily. And…
4. Is cost effective for your budget.
That being said I would be very careful of personal training certifications that you take online on your computer. As a rule, they do not hold as much weight in the industry. The reason is simple. it's easy to cheat on a test that somebody takes in the privacy of their own home.
Whichever certification you choose, the most important thing is to keep educating yourself. Remember this fact: ALL personal training certifications, are essentially "learners permits". In other words, a fitness certification only demonstrate that you know the minimum. A certification does not mean you know everything. You wouldn’t want a doctor who only knew the minimum? The same goes for your clients. The smart people out there are more concerned with how smart you are than how much you can bench press. Having a certification plus six-pack abs may get you a few clients but if you can’t accurately answer a question like “why does my urine look like coke-a-cola after I work out,” you are at a BIG disadvantage and you probably won’t keep those clients very long.
Knowledge is Power! Knowledge is more valuable to people then a fitness certification or the size of ones biceps. Consumers are very smart and they look for professionals who can save them time not only working out but also as they search for answers about their health and wellness.
But it doesn’t have to be. As a personal trainer who has been in the industry for several years, I want to share with you this fact: the general public (your current and future clients) will probably NEVER ask you “who are you certified by". This is because the public does not know the difference between ACE, WITS, NPTI, ISSA, AFFA, NSCA or any other personal training certification.
Here is another fact. All personal training certifications basically cover the same core areas of knowledge. All personal fitness training certs (and their textbooks) place emphasis on exercise science, muscle and cardiovascular physiology, anatomy, fitness testing, exercise program design, basic safety/first aid, basic nutrition and exercise technique. The difference between each is how in depth the certification exam and study materials are. Some personal training study books are so hung up on counting every ATP molecule made in the Krebs cycle that they forget to mention that people should be more focused on burning calories during exercise and not burning fat. They neglect to share that eating fewer calories – not eating less fat – is the real key to weight loss. In other words, they place more emphasis on the obscure E=MC2 high tech science stuff, rather than the information that people can use right now.
If you have been wondering about what cert you should choose, give your mind a rest and don’t get hung up on which is the best personal training certification. The trick is to look at several certification programs and find a certification that’s:
1. Reputable
2. Teaches you what you need to know to work safely with others
3. Allows you to get re-certified relatively easily. And…
4. Is cost effective for your budget.
That being said I would be very careful of personal training certifications that you take online on your computer. As a rule, they do not hold as much weight in the industry. The reason is simple. it's easy to cheat on a test that somebody takes in the privacy of their own home.
Whichever certification you choose, the most important thing is to keep educating yourself. Remember this fact: ALL personal training certifications, are essentially "learners permits". In other words, a fitness certification only demonstrate that you know the minimum. A certification does not mean you know everything. You wouldn’t want a doctor who only knew the minimum? The same goes for your clients. The smart people out there are more concerned with how smart you are than how much you can bench press. Having a certification plus six-pack abs may get you a few clients but if you can’t accurately answer a question like “why does my urine look like coke-a-cola after I work out,” you are at a BIG disadvantage and you probably won’t keep those clients very long.
Knowledge is Power! Knowledge is more valuable to people then a fitness certification or the size of ones biceps. Consumers are very smart and they look for professionals who can save them time not only working out but also as they search for answers about their health and wellness.
Posts
Well said, Joe. I would also say that our quality of energy is important. If we feel good about ourselves and radiate positive energy, clients naturally feel more comfortable and safe in our presence and it's easier to co-create a healthy training environment.
ReplyDeleteJill Cressy, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Toronto
What a great post! At last, someone is saying it 'how it is'. Results, experience and knowledge go a very long way...if you have big biceps, will that get you more clients?
ReplyDeleteThanks Jacqui I appreciate your comments and feedback.
ReplyDeleteJoe