Canadian Trainers - Opinion on Can-Fit Pro certificaitons and others.

[sunshinekisses]

in 2004 i completed my Can-Fit Pro personal trainer specialist certification. i worked for 6 months as a trainer, then went on to other education and life pursuits. i've yet to enjoy any employment as much as i enjoyed being a personal trainer.

i'm thinking about opening a personal training business, the target market being women (paritcularly those new to fitness) and the focus being "healthy lifestyle coaching"(ie. weight loss, weight management, healthy eating, incorporating fitness/exercise into life)

my question is in regards to my certification and its credibility. is can-fit pro enough? or should i look into adding other certifications to my list of credentials?

in the area that i am looking to launch my business, there are other businesses where the trainers have the Bachelors of Science, A.C.E, NSCA, Bachelors in Exercise Science. thos qualifications seem pretty impressive in comparison to my can-fit pro... however, their target marget seems to be slightly different from my own in that is seems slightly more towards the "advanced" exerciser.

given that going back to school to get my bachelor of exercise science is not an option for me at this point, i'm wondering what approach i should take so that my credentials are comparable to those of the competition? would the addition of certification from NSCA suffice?

[sunshinekisses]

one more question that came to mind.

given that my target is "healthy lifestyle coaching", is there a certification i should look into that would allow me to do basic nutrion counselling?

[Jean-Paul]

My advice should be taken with a grain of salt. I think it helps to have multiple certs and qualifications as it gives you credibility. I don't know about Can-Fit, but NASM and NSCA are two excellent organizations.

The reason to take it with a grain of salt is because I am quite successful doing what you are talking about, and all I have is a standard cert (with NFPT), no nutritional certs, and I'm a college dropout to boot, so I've made it work without all that stuff, but just because I did it that way means I necessarily advise others to follow my example.

[Amanda Vogel]

I agree with Jean-Paul that having more than one certification certainly can't hurt (as long as each certification complements your area of training).

As a fitness pro in Canada, I'd say Can-Fit-Pro is one good certification to have because it's highly recognizable across the country.

[Matthew]

If you want to land a job, get more certs. Can-Fit-Pro is recognized, but more=better.
NSCA would be my choice. Check out their web site for the specific cert you want.

If you want to know what certification you should get to do some basic nutrition counselling, go speak to a nutritionist in your area. Tell them your interested in the profession, and you'd like some advice/guidance.

If you want to be able to provide the best available information to your clients, f*ck the certs and start reading as many fitness related books you can get your hands on. Do a search on the forum, there have been a few threads about what books to buy.
Guidelines and information provided by certifications are, in my opinion, usually outdated. Having a cert doesn't necessarily make you a good trainer.

Especially if that cert is through Can-Fit-Pro. I took Fitness and Health Promotion in college, and Can-Fit-Pro was highly influential on the courses. Suffice it to say, I wouldn't recommend any of those students as a personal trainer.

Get a cert so your resume is filled out.
Learn your methods outside of the certification.

[sunshinekisses]

matt,

i have my can-fit pro already. i agree that the inital certification process for can-fit pro is sketchy. i knew more from my 4 yrs of workingout and reading information, than i learnt over the 2 day course.

my curiousity about additional certifications came from concern about my validity or reputation. in the place that i want to start training, i'm up against people who went to university for exercise science so i want some sort of credibility.

[clockers25]

This might not be related, but I am currently ACE certified and studying for the CSCS exam. I am also an American with a Canadian gf and will be moving to Vancouver at the end of this Summer. I will be looking to get a fitness related job, do you think this will be an arduous task being that I am American and a prospective employer would rather hire a Canadian to avoid the hassle of Visas and such?? Would it be easier to not work at a gym and work privatly? Any imput would be great. Thanks

[coreconcepts]

Generally, I feel that another certification is only warranted if you a) have a sub-standard certification or b) it is a comlementary specialized certification that isn't just a basic certification from another organization. I say this from experience of holding multiple certifications. The renewals just get too expensive.

I'm going to disagree with Amanda here and I will do so with all due respect (Amanda is a very accomplished figure in the industry and is a very smart individual who puts on great workshops). I don't have a proplem with can fit pro cert. per se, but I have some issues with the organization as a whole.

I think that Can Fit Pro has taken a bit of a monopoly on the industry in terms of conferences and certifications which is a shame (they are a conglomerate with very strong ties to Goodlife - the Walmart of fitness clubs in Canada). They did break off ties with Twist Conditioning, but prior to that, best of luck learning ANYTHING sport-specific related from anybody other than a Twist employee. I say that with respect to the twist people who are very much cutting edge, I just want to see variety - without promoting products.

I don't think it's advantageous to have one company controlling most of the conferences. The problem is that other conferences/workshops will pop up (at least here in Vancouver) that have much better speakers, but they tend to be overrun by sub-standard Can Fit offerings. Case-in-point, Stu McGill did a workshop in Vancouver and it was like pulling teeth to get trainers to come out to see him. The Toronto conference brings in big names, but the rest of them are crap! We get screwed out in BC because for whatever reason nobody big wants to come out this way. Plus, they hold the conference in whistler now which is great if you want to fork out big $$ to stay there, but lousy if you don't have the scratch to do it.

Just because they are well-recognized does not mean they are good. I think Can Fit are guilty of watering down the credibility of certifications by turning it into a mill of different certification streams. I mean, come on - do we really need to have a "resist-a-ball" certification? What if I want to use a different brand of ball - do I need to be a "swiss ball" certified trainer?

This rant isn't trying to diminish one organization, it is to point to a bigger industry-wide problem. I do feel much better now though!

[Amanda Vogel]

Coreconcepts, thanks for your kind words about me and my workshops - even if you are respectfully disagreeing with me! Fair enough. I understand where you're coming from in your post.

I am not actually endorsing any one certification here. I expressed my opinion about the Can-Fit-Pro cert being good to have based on the following:

1) As a former fitness manager and someone in a position to hire other fitness pros, I looked for recognizable certifications. Can-Fit-Pro was one of them.

2) When I hired fitness pros, I liked to see that they had a Canadian-based certification if they also had a U.S.-based one.

3) I appreciate that it gets expensive to keep up multiple certifications. However, I look at the certification process in the same way I research fitness articles. If I interviewed just one source for an article, I'd get only one side of a story. When I speak to multiple experts on a given subject, I get the big picture based on various people's experiences and expertise. Plus, when a range of experts all agree on a certain point, I can feel more confident about the importance and validity of that point. I think the same concept can apply with certifications.

I realize that Can-Fit-Pro is so recognizable largely because they have a monopoly on the fitness conferences and certs here in Canada. I agree with you that it would be nice to see more variety so one company doesn't "control all the conferences" (as you said).

You mentioned that the "big names" go to the Toronto event but don't come to Vancouver. Reason (I think): budget. The Toronto show naturally has a bigger budget to bring in the big names. I notice that the Whistler and Vancouver events tend to feature, maybe, one or two big-name (usually American) presenters per show.

[coreconcepts]

Originally Posted by Amanda Vogel

Coreconcepts, thanks for your kind words about me and my workshops - even if you are respectfully disagreeing with me! Fair enough. I understand where you're coming from in your post.

I am not actually endorsing any one certification here. I expressed my opinion about the Can-Fit-Pro cert being good to have based on the following:

1) As a former fitness manager and someone in a position to hire other fitness pros, I looked for recognizable certifications. Can-Fit-Pro was one of them.

2) When I hired fitness pros, I liked to see that they had a Canadian-based certification if they also had a U.S.-based one.

3) I appreciate that it gets expensive to keep up multiple certifications. However, I look at the certification process in the same way I research fitness articles. If I interviewed just one source for an article, I'd get only one side of a story. When I speak to multiple experts on a given subject, I get the big picture based on various people's experiences and expertise. Plus, when a range of experts all agree on a certain point, I can feel more confident about the importance and validity of that point. I think the same concept can apply with certifications.

I realize that Can-Fit-Pro is so recognizable largely because they have a monopoly on the fitness conferences and certs here in Canada. I agree with you that it would be nice to see more variety so one company doesn't "control all the conferences" (as you said).

You mentioned that the "big names" go to the Toronto event but don't come to Vancouver. Reason (I think): budget. The Toronto show naturally has a bigger budget to bring in the big names. I notice that the Whistler and Vancouver events tend to feature, maybe, one or two big-name (usually American) presenters per show.

Hi Amanda,

You bring up some very good points there. My apologies if I came across as accusing you of being single-minded - that certainly was not my intention. Yeah - I get the T-dot having the bigger budget = bigger names connection. I guess it's just frustrating for the vancouverites especially. Will you be in Whistler in March?

BTW - the how to be a quotable fitness pro seminar is excellent - do you still present that one? I've actually branched into more writing lately and have used your tips to try and get more exposure. If ever you get a chance, check out Diet Blog. I'd really value your opinion on the site contents. I contribute at least a couple of pieces a week.

Kindest Regards,

Mike

[Amanda Vogel]

Hi Mike,

No, you didn't come across as accusing me of being single-minded. Not at all. I guess I just wanted to clarify my position.

I won't be presenting at the Whistler event. I probably won't be attending as a delegate either because I am not 100% sold on the selection of sessions this year.

Thanks about the Quotable Fitness Pro workshop ... I presented it a few times for BCAK in 2007. Hopefully, I'll get the chance to do it again soon in another conference venue. When and where did you attend that session?

I took a quick look at the link you sent - looks like a great blog that gets lots of traffic. Actually, it looks like it might have some potentially good leads for magazine articles. I'll have to check it out in more depth soon.

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by sunshinekisses

my curiousity about additional certifications came from concern about my validity or reputation. in the place that i want to start training, i'm up against people who went to university for exercise science so i want some sort of credibility.

Jonathan Fass is a well respected name. His university degree is history.

Leigh Peele is quickly becoming a well respected name. I don't know what her degree is, but I'll put money down it's not kineisiology.

I guess I'm saying it's not so much what you've done to get it, but what your doing to improve it. If you get the cert and don't pursue further knowledge, you're a has-been before you even landed your first contract.

None of the top names got there by certs alone. However, this is true of any profession.

[coreconcepts]

Originally Posted by Amanda Vogel

Hi Mike,

No, you didn't come across as accusing me of being single-minded. Not at all. I guess I just wanted to clarify my position.

I won't be presenting at the Whistler event. I probably won't be attending as a delegate either because I am not 100% sold on the selection of sessions this year.

Thanks about the Quotable Fitness Pro workshop ... I presented it a few times for BCAK in 2007. Hopefully, I'll get the chance to do it again soon in another conference venue. When and where did you attend that session?

I took a quick look at the link you sent - looks like a great blog that gets lots of traffic. Actually, it looks like it might have some potentially good leads for magazine articles. I'll have to check it out in more depth soon.

Great! Thanks for checking out the site. It is run by Jim Foster - I just contribute. I attended the workshop at the Vancouver Can Fit Pro conference in '05.

[coreconcepts]

I think improving yourself through reading, attending workshops and commiting yourself to excellence is what will make you a better trainer. Education/certification cannot guarantee a great trainer. I've seen people with degrees/certifications that aren't very good and those without degrees/diplomas that are fantastic. My advice is keep learning.