I agree with both Leigh and John. Leigh, I agree with you that a trainer's lack of "depth" (for lack of a better word) may be more a function of inexperience than apathy. And John, I agree that there should be different levels of certification.
I came to the field as a second, part-time career in my forties. I wanted to learn more about my habit of exercising/weight-training. So I got my ACE PT certification four years ago. But I always just considered it as an entry-level thing - like a driver's license. I mean, just because you get a license at 16 doesn't make you an expert driver, as clearly evidenced by insurance rates for teenage drivers (!)
I think the problem right now is that there are too many competing certification agencies. I mean, for physicians, there's only one - the AMA, right? For lawyers, it's the Bar in each State. We've got ACSM, NSCA, ISSA, ACE, AFPA, AFTA, NFPT, NASM, and God-knows how many others....
Maybe there should be national standard of some sort. You know, like physicians who specialize and are Board-Certified by their peers (such as "Board-Certified Pediatrician") (By the way, there is currently such a movement in my primary profession, Teaching (see
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: About Us_))
Or, maybe there should be different "areas" of certification. I can tell, for example, that the CSCS certification is geared toward athletic coaches.
Because of my experience with older adults, I have focused my continuing education on "special populations," e.g.: hypertensives, cancer survivors, people with osteopoenia/osteoporosis, post-menopausal women, people with multiple joint issues and/or old injuries, etc.
I feel I am much more knowledgeable in these areas than someone who just passed the ACE Personal Trainer test. But you wouldn't know that by looking at my business card....
- J