| In part 1 we learned how to determine and | | | | accreditation, but have instead created a |
| document some realistic personal fitness | | | | central certifying board called the NBFE that |
| goals and how to round up a list of potential | | | | administers what they consider to be a |
| personal trainers. In part 2 we're going to | | | | standard exam for trainers to pass. The |
| take a look at how to determine whether or | | | | trainer must first be certified by one of |
| not the trainers on your list are qualified. | | | | these 'affiliate' certifying organizations |
| | | | before sitting for the NBFE exam. I think |
| Personal Trainer Qualifications | | | | this standardization adds a bit to the |
| | | | legitimacy of these trainers, but I still |
| The very first thing you need to realize is | | | | think it's a step below the organizations |
| that, unlike doctors, lawyers, or nurses, | | | | listed above that have been accredited, |
| there is no official government standard for | | | | because no independent 3rd party has looked |
| who can call themselves a personal trainer. | | | | over the certification process to validate |
| There's no single test or criteria, although | | | | its quality. The following organizations are |
| the fitness industry seems to be slowly | | | | NBFE affiliates: |
| moving in that direction. Because of this | | | | |
| lack of an official standard, you have chance | | | | Academy of Applied Personal Training |
| to come across a huge range of trainers, | | | | Education (AAPTE) |
| ranging from someone who has absolutely no | | | | |
| business training people, all the way to | | | | Aerobics and Fitness Association of America |
| highly intelligent, educated, and certified | | | | (AFAA) |
| individuals on par with any doctor or nurse. | | | | |
| | | | American Fitness Professionals and Associates |
| Personal Trainer Certifications | | | | (AFPA) |
| | | | |
| The biggest, most confusing thing to | | | | International Sports Sciences Association |
| understand is what different certifications | | | | (ISSA) |
| mean and how they compare against each other. | | | | |
| Because of the lack of a widely accepted | | | | National Association for Fitness |
| standard or minimum requirements, and partly | | | | Certification (NAFC) |
| due to the Internet, there are a vast number | | | | |
| of very low quality certifications. Many | | | | National Endurance and Sports Trainers |
| require little in the way of real knowledge, | | | | Association (NESTA) |
| education, or experience, and could rightly | | | | |
| be called 'certification mills'. They only | | | | National Exercise Trainer Association (NETA) |
| exist to earn a fast dollar by convincing | | | | |
| trainers-to-be to become certified through | | | | Professional Fitness Instructor Training |
| them. Beyond that they provide very little | | | | (PFIT) |
| value. | | | | |
| | | | World Instructor Training Schools (WITS) |
| There are, however, some very good certifying | | | | |
| organizations. And some are obviously better | | | | International Association of Resistance |
| than others. I'll discuss certification in | | | | Trainers (IART) |
| three groups; organizations that have | | | | |
| obtained a 3rd party accreditation, those who | | | | U.S. Career Institute |
| have joined together to form a standard, and | | | | |
| everybody else. | | | | Everybody Else |
| | | | |
| 3rd Party Accredited Organizations | | | | Instructors with certifications outside of |
| | | | these two groups, or those with no |
| A handful of organizations have obtained | | | | certification at all, should be scrutinized |
| accreditation from a 3rd party called the | | | | much more carefully. I'm sure there are a |
| NCCA in order to validate the quality of | | | | number of excellent trainers that fall into |
| their certification. I would consider these | | | | this category, but you would have to do |
| few certification organizations to be the top | | | | additional homework and find alternate ways |
| ones available, due to the more stringent | | | | to be assured of that excellence. Or even for |
| nature of their certification processes. In | | | | you to be assured of a minimal level of |
| order for a trainer to pass these | | | | competency. Some trainers may have college |
| certifications they have to prove that they | | | | degrees, or potentially even advanced college |
| have at least a intermediate level of | | | | degrees, in a field like exercise physiology. |
| knowledge and training skill. That's not to | | | | This would likely be a sufficient stand-in |
| say that all trainers that pass these | | | | for certification. |
| certifications are the right fit for you, but | | | | |
| you can at least be somewhat confident in | | | | In the 3rd and final part of this series |
| that individual's ability to teach you and | | | | we'll take a look at getting to know your |
| structure an appropriate program. The | | | | trainer and having your trainer get to know |
| following is a current list of the | | | | you. Depending on their interest in where |
| certifications that have been accredited by | | | | you're at and where you're headed, you can |
| NCCA: | | | | then make a pretty good decision about |
| | | | whether or not they're going to be the right |
| American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) | | | | fit for you. |
| | | | |
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