Personal Training Certification Programs

[Arnold]

What certifications do some of you hold?

What organizations, etc? (ISSA, NSCA, ?)

Also, what is considered to be the "best" PT certification in the industry?

 

[Ginni]

I hold an ACE PT cert.

 

[w8lifter]

I'm taking my exam w/ NSCA next month I don't think I'm ready

 

[Arnold]

Is there a most recognized, or superior certification?

 

[Tank316]

i'm hoping to be ACE certified by next fall

 

[Ginni]

Originally posted by Prince
Is there a most recognized, or superior certification?

I think probably the most recognized is the ACSM.. But ACE follows fairly close I think. I am a little bias though since my certification is thru the ACE..

 

[Ginni]

Originally posted by w8lifter
I'm taking my exam w/ NSCA next month I don't think I'm ready

Yes you are...

I'll be pulling for you

 

[Ginni]

Originally posted by Tank316
i'm hoping to be ACE certified by next fall

The test is pretty hard.. Make sure to study study study... There are alot of nutrition and program design questions on there.. Good luck to you..

 

[w8lifter]

Of the top, well-known and respected few, I think they all have their benefits. I believe, however, that just because someone is certified doesn't make them a good p/t...and of course, there are many people who are not certified that know more than some p/t's. It really comes down to what each individual does w/ their knowledge and education.....did any of that make sense? It's still early

 

[gopro]

There are some good ones and some that are not so good. I like ISSA, ACE, ACSM, NASM, Paul Chek, and IDEA. I hold certs in most of these and a few others. I do a new one every year just for the fun of it.

But remember, a piece of paper does not make one a good trainer...learning from EXTENSIVE experience, and, the TRUE desire to help people does!

 

[w8lifter]

Originally posted by gopro
There are some good ones and some that are not so good. I like ISSA, ACE, ACSM, NASM, Paul Chek, and IDEA. I hold certs in most of these and a few others. I do a new one every year just for the fun of it.

You do not think NSCA is good?

 

[Ginni]

I agree.. I piece of paper is just that a piece of paper.. The paper to me does not make the PT.. The PT does..

 

[EagleEye]

Is it a safe assumption that you guys are getting your cert. to qualify to train at a gym or health club? If not, what are reasons for the cert?

 

[gopro]

Originally posted by w8lifter


You do not think NSCA is good?

Sorry w8lifter...I left out a few good ones, NSCA included! My bad!

 

[w8lifter]

Originally posted by gopro


Sorry w8lifter...I left out a few good ones, NSCA included! My bad!

 

[Mystic Eric]

How much study is needed to pass these exams? I would like to get my certificate for the hell of it.

 

[Tank316]

Originally posted by Ginni


The test is pretty hard.. Make sure to study study study... There are alot of nutrition and program design questions on there.. [Good luck to you.. ]

thanks Ginni, some things are starting change here,now it wont be till the spring of2003

 

[Ginni]

Originally posted by EagleEye
Is it a safe assumption that you guys are getting your cert. to qualify to train at a gym or health club? If not, what are reasons for the cert?

I did it for myself.. Not to work in a gym.. My employer paying for the certification helped me along as well..

 

[Ginni]

Originally posted by Mystic Eric
How much study is needed to pass these exams? I would like to get my certificate for the hell of it.

I put in 6 months of book study for my exam. Plus over a year of just working with a PT helped me out on mine... There is soooo much to learn and it is a continual learning process. There is still alot for me to learn...

 

[fitness4life]

Hey gopro,
Are you certified by ISSA. I have been taking the coure to be certified but find doing the essay questions hard to do.

 

[gopro]

Originally posted by fitness4life
Hey gopro,
Are you certified by ISSA. I have been taking the coure to be certified but find doing the essay questions hard to do.

Sorry f4l...I missed this post. Yes, I'm certified by the ISSA in PT and Performance Nutrition. And yes, the essay questions were pretty difficult. The most difficult certification to get in my opinion!

 

[Bob Bob]

im taking an nsca exam

 

[gopro]

Originally posted by Bob Bob
im taking an nsca exam

 

[MtnBikerChk]

BUMP!

I know this is old - and covered to death - but I'm going to put together a comparison spreadsheet - with such items as cost, test location, prerequisites etc.

any input or items you'd like to see on it would be helpful.

so far I'm going to use:
ace
issa
idea
acsm
nasm
nahf
nftp

who else?

 

[w8lifter]

nsca

 

[w8lifter]

please....lol

 

[MtnBikerChk]

Originally posted by w8lifter
please....lol

it has been added to my list

 

[ponyboy]

Originally posted by MtnBikerChk
BUMP!

I know this is old - and covered to death - but I'm going to put together a comparison spreadsheet - with such items as cost, test location, prerequisites etc.

any input or items you'd like to see on it would be helpful.

so far I'm going to use:
ace
issa
idea
acsm
nasm
nahf
nftp

who else?

There was an article in the August/Sept 2002 issue of Fitness Trainer Canada that covered almost every certification out there, including costs, years active, prerequisites, etc. Their website is www.fitnet.ca, they might be able to forward it to you or something that would save you a lot of time.

 

[I Are Baboon]

MBC needs to get certified and learn more so she can explain to me why the hell I have such a hard time packing on muscle (she adds muscle by merely thinking about it).

 

[MtnBikerChk]

Originally posted by I Are Baboon
MBC needs to get certified and learn more so she can explain to me why the hell I have such a hard time packing on muscle (she adds muscle by merely thinking about it).

wait....wait.... yep, there it is.