To All Personal Trainers/please Read

[cytrix]

can anybody tell me how to become a personal trainer? do you take courses for PT at a college, or are there special schools for that? what about the certification, do you take the exam at the school you took the course or do you choose an assossiation , for example the ACE? or maybe someone can give me a web site address where i get the info needed? thanx a lot, i appreciate all replies!

 

[Not Me]

Becoming a personal trainer can be as easy as going to your local YMCA and applying for the job.

You could do all of the things you mentioned to become a personal trainer. You should consider what type of trainer you would like to be before pursuing certifications. There are numerous, from numerous sources. Some all you have to do is take an online test and pay the money for the paper.

Others are a bit more intense.

College degrees work great if you aspire to become more than just a YMCA trainer.

But there are still plenty of trainers out there that don't have any certs or degree.

 

[ballast]

Most certifications involve a home study course and to become certified you either take your test online or go to a certification seminar and test there.I have persued multiple certifications from different organizations, as each has something different to offer.The International Sports Sciences Association is the best one I have come across that does not require a college degree.Go here: http://www.issaonline.com/
Their seminars have such speakers as Charles Staley and Tom Platz.First day of the seminar is all classroom.Second day is hands-on training in a local gym followed by a test that evening.The cost is a bit high, but the information you recieve is worth it.

 

[Maki Riddington]

Most peole take the ACE route.



All you have to do is read the book , then take their 4 hour multiple choice test.
It's recognized worldwide which is a bonus especially if you want to work overseas.

I wouldn't say it's the best out there but it's somewhere to start.

 

[Large And In Charge]

There are gyms and fitness centers that offer their own certification programs to work in their facilities if you wish to take that rout. Also there are organizations like ACE (American council on Exercise,) NSCA (National Strength & Conditioning Association,) ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine,) etc. and they offer a wider range of certification programs. Also UCLA offfers a personal trainer degree and I think that they're still the only college that has this type of degree but don't quote me on that. The main thing is that you want to go through an organization that is highly reputable because in this business, people not only judge you on your skills and knowledge but also the certificate that you hold. That may or may not seem fair but who said life was fair.

 

[cytrix]

thanx guys, does anybody know, which organisations are the most reputable and also offer the course itself? i live in chicago, is there something around here? i rather not do it on-line, at least not the course.

 

[Large And In Charge]

ballast already gave you a reputable organization and here are the ones I meantioned:

(ACE) http://www.acefitness.org/
(NSCA) http://www.nsca-cc.org/
(ACSM) http://www.acsm.org/index.htm

The testing sites for these exams are all over the country as well as internationally. There are a few others out there but these organizations are the tops when it comes to certification in my book

 

[cytrix]

thanx sp much everyone. would you agree, that without having a college degree ISSA and ACE are best in regards to having a good reputation of giving you a good education in fitness? they both offer study material which they sent to you, but ACE is less expensive, are they similar to what they teach though? ACE is about $300.00, ISSA about $600.

 

[w8lifter]

IMO, NSCA is the best, but what really matters is what YOU do w/ the information. You can become certified w/ any of the above reputable organization and land a decent job, but it doesn't make you a good PT. You really have to read everything you can, gain as much experience as possible and attend every seminar & conference you can afford.

 

[Large And In Charge]

If you want to be a good personal trainer instead of just fair, one of the secrets to my sucess is, not just keeping up with the latest info out there, or at least trying to lol, but to try to emphasize on the personal aspect of this job! When people know that you truly care and are behind them 100%, most likely they will give 100%. If this is just a job to you and you're really in it for the money, your clients will notice. It's just like a good doctor, most doctors anymore try to get you in and out ASAP because their basically in it for the money they don't really care that much about their patients. But the good doctors take the time to listen to their patients and really make an effort to help them. So go the extra mile when you do get certified, you will not only start to get a reputation for somebody who gets results but you might make some life-long friends along the way.

 

[Maki Riddington]

So true Large.

 

[cytrix]

large and in charge, i agree completely with what you are saying. i have been interested in health and fitness ever since i can remember. i spend a lot of time reading/on the internet etc. to learn more about those subjects every day, because i love it. i also love helping people, it's not about the money with me. actually, i want to change carreers because being a personal trainer is where my heart is. i always have someone here and there asking me to work out together so i can show them and motivate them, and i enjoy it very much. i want to study the material of a good association, to get a good headstart, and i am looking forward to taking seminars and learning new stuff.