Getting into Personal training/ certification etc.

[JimDugba]

Hello, I am currently a college student set to graduate at the end of the year with a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience from UCSD with a concentration on Human physiology.

I plan on going to grad school in the field of Kinesiology or Exercise science and plan on working in the fitness industry in some shape or form...

On the other hand I really dont feel ready to enter grad school immediately after I graduate and need a source of income that will provide valuable experience for my future. That's where personal training comes in.

I would like to get certified and hopefully get a position somewhere but I'm not sure where to start. From my research it seems like there is a wide range of how qualified personal trainers are, dependent on their education level or client base.

I'm particularly interested in getting the CPT certification from NASM. Does anyone with experience with NASM know how long the process of becoming certified takes? Are Classes necessary? Cost of becoming certified? Benefits in the hiring process or pay?

Also any general tips from personal trainers would be appreciated as well.

Thanks,
Albert Shin

 

[Dale Mabry]

NASM is great, the test is difficult, but with your background you should kill it. It is peppered with functional anatomy and you can probably get by with just taking the test which, last time I checked, cost like $300. It is one of the certs that you can get a job anywhere with.

 

[JimDugba]

nice, Do they sell booklets that u can study from or they require a class?

 

[Dale Mabry]

Most come with study materials, I believe NASM does too.

 

[Double D]

Class isnt required. I will tell you that a few years back they upped the test alone to about 600 bucks. And to buy the stuff is like an extra 50 bucks. I studied and passed the NASM about 3 years ago and it took me about a week. I have since gotten recertified through them and I use Cloud9 based out of St.Louis Mo. I get 1.0 CEU with only one class (you can get it online as well), for only like 100 bucks. Thats just a heads up in the next 2 years when you have to recertify.

 

[JimDugba]

600 bucks for the TEST!! Damn, I guess you have to look at it like paying a fee for the certification.