I am fairly new here and have been lurking. I am interested in becoming a certified PT.
I am thinking of going back to school to study exercise physiology. I have been involved with athletics, weight lifting, triathlons, martial arts for the better part of my life, (40 years old).
I really enjoy the fitness industry, I worked in a few gyms in my younger days, (Anyone remember Living Well Fitness Centers?).
Is a degree required for a CPT? I was looking at the different certifications available and it seems the most respected one is the CSCS, which requires a degree.
Is there a difference between the CSCS and some of the other certs?
Hey Steele,
CPT certs don't require a degree like the CSCS does. I think the CSCS is geared more towards working with atheletes while CPT is more suited for one-on-one training with regular folk.
NSCA and NASM are probably the better CPT certifying bodies. Are you wanting to work in a gym? On your own? With atheletes? Soccer moms? I think knowing who your clientel is can help determine what type of cert to get.
__________________
Those who live by the sword, get shot by those who don't.
Since you are already 40, you probably have enough personal exercise fitness experience. Plus being an athlete, you probably have learned many hands on exercise programs. I’d suggest getting an average Personal Trainer Certification, like ACE Personal Trainer Certification, or if you want a bit more, NASM Personal Trainer Certification, or the ACSM Personal Training Certification. Most personal trainers don’t need such a sports oriented Personal Trainer Certification like the CSCS Personal Trainer Certification.
NASM-CPT is better but many trainers I know with that cert are into the whole unstable surface training for people that would clearly do better working hard with decent loads on their two feet.
NSCA-CPT is a good choice in my opinion. CSCS if you have a degree.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
It's better to actually get a degree in PT from a good school, but you can always enroll in an online course in Nutrition like the one at Nutrition Courses among others. If that's what you really want to do, then you should go for it!
I am fairly new here and have been lurking. I am interested in becoming a certified PT.
I am thinking of going back to school to study exercise physiology. I have been involved with athletics, weight lifting, triathlons, martial arts for the better part of my life, (40 years old).
I really enjoy the fitness industry, I worked in a few gyms in my younger days, (Anyone remember Living Well Fitness Centers?).
Is a degree required for a CPT? I was looking at the different certifications available and it seems the most respected one is the CSCS, which requires a degree.
Is there a difference between the CSCS and some of the other certs?
Yeah the CSCS is considered the "Gold Standard" in this profession - But, if I were you, I'd just get the CPT and get started - You can use your age and experience to your advantage in your marketing - If you're planning on going back to school anyway, the CSCS may be worth it in the future, but I wouldn't let that become a barrier to you getting started -
Becoming A Personal Trainer
Linear Mode
