The most popular of those certs you've mentioned happens to be ACE. The most reputable is the ACSM. I like ISSA also, but they are not as mainstream as the others, however, I do see them growing within the next 3-5 years. You should ask yourself what type of clientèle you see yourself working with in the future: sedentary, general population, or post-op? ACSM is very clinical and in my opinion, too slow--simply because they address every client as a accident waiting to happen. I suggest you go with an "open door" certification and begin your experience with your first site of employment. a testing site doesn't necessary deem a certification better than the other, it simply means they use an independent firm to test and score applicants. I am partial to NASM, but I think in this juncture in your career, a certification that open your eyes to this profession will be suffice.
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John Izzo, NASM-CPT, PES
Aspiring or Entry Level Trainers:
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