can anyone let me know what orgainization they went through to get certified as a personal trainer? was looking into American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). good/bad? anything would be helpful. want to get started asap. thanks
I was just certified last week through the ACSM. It is one of the most respected certs in the business according to the people I talked with. it was harder than i thought it was going to be but I passed it first try( i guess a lot of people don't) Now i am trying to figure out where to go from here.
I'm not a huge fan of ACSM personally. I went to their summits for years and found myself shaking my head at most of the presentations. Most especially their "expert sessions" where they lay out their training philosophy.
But, a cert is a cert. I don't care who the applicant is certified through... Just need to have one to get through the door. I do the rest of the training after I hire my employees.
If you haven't certified yet, NSCA CSCS is probably the most respected and has become the gold standard if you ever want to publish. NASM is very good too. ISSA isn't bad from what I've seen either.
I agree with JP, and I'll add certified does not necessarily mean qualified. Certs will get your foot in the door (if, as you say, you want to get started asap), but it's your continued learning that will set you apart from the others. I have the NASM cert (CPT and PES), however, most of my continued learning hasn't come from NASM per se, but just from attending seminars (Perfrom Better is great!), reading sites like this, and just being humble and learning from the more experienced trainers. Best of Luck!
I totally agree with the certification just being the beginning. Ive seen trainers with more degrees than a thermometer but they cant train anyone worth a damn. However ive seen people with minimal certification being wonderful. What it all comes down to is the trainer.
I can't think of ONE TIME in my entire 21 year training career that a single client has asked me with whom I was certified. You only sell yourself to gyms, other trainers or publishers with your certs. Your results are what talks with the clients, and all they care about is that you are certified.
I can't think of ONE TIME in my entire 21 year training career that a single client has asked me with whom I was certified. You only sell yourself to gyms, other trainers or publishers with your certs. Your results are what talks with the clients, and all they care about is that you are certified.
I 100% agree with JP. The only reason I have continued to get most major certs is because it helps me make more money at my gym. The only time certification comes up is during casual conversation after I am training a client.
I feel that the biggest issue to most clients is your ability to communicate exactly what you can do for them. This is where most trainers struggle.
Danny
__________________
Limitations are for people who have them.
NFPT. I'm a testing official and a "subject matter expert" for them as well (meaning I meet with their SME team from time to time to examine and rewrite the test to maintain national accreditation).
I didn't take it badly. I don't have the greatest list of credentials. It was actually an issue years ago when I was trying to get into MH. Their minimum standard was the CSCS, which I feel quite confident I could pass, but since I dropped out of college I can't take it. They have a rule that there is no getting around... You have to have a degree, even if it's underwater basket weaving, before you can take the test. I don't like it, but I can understand why they do it.
It wasn't really necessary in my market either. I imagine in a bigger market with a more sophisticated clientele who is asking about certs and all, it probably would behoove me to certify-up. One of these days I will probably grab an NASM cert, but I'm not real motivated since it doesn't really mean much to my bottom line.
I totally agree with the certification just being the beginning. Ive seen trainers with more degrees than a thermometer but they cant train anyone worth a damn. However ive seen people with minimal certification being wonderful. What it all comes down to is the trainer.
Totally agree!!! You could have never said it better.
The essence of being a trainer is from within, you should have the passion to it. Papers are only good for displays and all.
Funny thing is, one of the most successful trainer I know ( makes about a quarter million a year training about 20 hours a week ) isn't certified ( and yes, he trains groups and charges about $45 per person for groups of anywhere from 4 - 12 people... too many in my opinion at one time but it works for him) No one EVER asks him if he's certified either.
I know plenty of other trainers with countless certs who barely have any clients and are almost always broke
I personally learned most of my training techniques from my own research. MM2000 (back when it had 2000 in the name), T-mag, Ian King, Poliquin, West Side Barbell, Michael Boyle, Siff and so on.
Also in the gym experience.
I think the certs give a trainer the confidence to say "I'm certified" and teach them some basics. But most of the real learning is best done outside of the curriculum
That said, if I were still training and were to go back and do it again I'd go NSCA, but I'm too lazy
Do you have to be a certified trainer to attend the Perform Better seminars? or any pt seminars for that matter? I am currently studying for my cert. and feel like i could seriously benefit from attending any and all seminars possible.
I don't think certs are the be all and end all, it is the application of what you know that is important. Many trainers know it all in theory (some do not) but have real problems applying even the very basic skills of PT and getting the results for thier clients.
I am a strong beliver in constant self development, you need to keep pushing your boundaries, keep adding to what you know. And a great way of doing that is to attend courses and seminars, but it is not the only way! Books, the internet and mentors can be great too!
All a cert means is that you have passed a specific test, not that you know it all, the great thing is that you will never know it all. Just keep learning and constantly improving the experience for you and your clients!
Do you have to be a certified trainer to attend the Perform Better seminars? or any pt seminars for that matter? I am currently studying for my cert. and feel like i could seriously benefit from attending any and all seminars possible.
You don't have to be certified to attend. I would encourage you to go, you are correct, you will benefit quite a bit.
Danny
__________________
Limitations are for people who have them.
I don't think certs are the be all and end all, it is the application of what you know that is important. Many trainers know it all in theory (some do not) but have real problems applying even the very basic skills of PT and getting the results for thier clients.
I am a strong beliver in constant self development, you need to keep pushing your boundaries, keep adding to what you know. And a great way of doing that is to attend courses and seminars, but it is not the only way! Books, the internet and mentors can be great too!
All a cert means is that you have passed a specific test, not that you know it all, the great thing is that you will never know it all. Just keep learning and constantly improving the experience for you and your clients!
TOM
Yes, I absolutely know that a cert. really doesn't mean much. Which is why i continue to seek learning tools DAILY, i'm like a sponge ready to soak up all the knowledge i can get. I've been trying to find someone in my area who knows their stuff and will allow me to shadow them but so far i've had no luck Anyway these forums are so wonderful and i've learned so much these past months and its good to know i can attend all the seminars i want..
Funny thing is, one of the most successful trainer I know ( makes about a quarter million a year training about 20 hours a week ) isn't certified ( and yes, he trains groups and charges about $45 per person for groups of anywhere from 4 - 12 people... too many in my opinion at one time but it works for him) No one EVER asks him if he's certified either.
I know plenty of other trainers with countless certs who barely have any clients and are almost always broke
I personally learned most of my training techniques from my own research. MM2000 (back when it had 2000 in the name), T-mag, Ian King, Poliquin, West Side Barbell, Michael Boyle, Siff and so on.
Also in the gym experience.
I think the certs give a trainer the confidence to say "I'm certified" and teach them some basics. But most of the real learning is best done outside of the curriculum
That said, if I were still training and were to go back and do it again I'd go NSCA, but I'm too lazy
I can't think of ONE TIME in my entire 21 year training career that a single client has asked me with whom I was certified. You only sell yourself to gyms, other trainers or publishers with your certs. Your results are what talks with the clients, and all they care about is that you are certified.
Haha that's funny isn't it? That's my experience too - with all this debate about certs, does the client actually care?? In almost all cases, the answer is no -
I'm currently taking NASM and I like it a lot! There's a lot of scientific reasoning behind their training model and a lot the principles that they talk about agrees with what I have learned in the real world so far. I basically chose them because they have the highest recognition from my own research. If you're not working for a gym then, I agree with everyone that the cert probably won't matter. But, whether you learn some basics and advanced knowledge from your cert course still matters.
I'm curious about all this as well. Just took classes not too long ago for a certificate in personal training. It was 12 weeks long to prepare for the ACE certification. Anyone have any feedback on this kind of cert?
becoming a personal trainer tips?
Anyway these forums are so wonderful and i've learned so much these past months and its good to know i can attend all the seminars i want..
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