Any Personal Trainers out there?

bmontgomery87

I've been thinking about getting certified for personal training and was wondering which certification you guys would reccommend.
I really enjoy helping people out, and I think it would be a fun part-time job.

ObviousIndigo

bump

agataarchangel

I'm in the same boat!

In Canada (Ontario, at least) there are a few options.... including college programs. Which path is best to take? College? Through Can-Fit? What do you guys think?

JesaGrace

I also would like to know.....

bmontgomery87

I'm in the same boat!

In Canada (Ontario, at least) there are a few options.... including college programs. Which path is best to take? College? Through Can-Fit? What do you guys think?

Not sure what route to take. I know in the states you can go thru college or just get the learning materials and study on your own then take a test.

kmshred

do it brandon. you seem super passionate and have so much knowledge on fitness already, it seems.

my bro looked into it and they just do courses outside of school here. talk to the trainers at the gym maybe and find out!?

rileysowner

I have been considering this for a while. I have informally studied exercise since high school, but got out of it when I got fat. I am studying it more and more now, but have a job that requires lots of reading every week so it is slow. Here in Canada my tendency would be to go for Can-fit as I could fit that in my schedule. I would suggest that whatever you do make sure you take the time to study. I find a lot of the trainers I have run into who have just done the minimum show that is all they have done. I would actually think that multiple certifications would not be a bad idea.

bmontgomery87

do it brandon. you seem super passionate and have so much knowledge on fitness already, it seems.

my bro looked into it and they just do courses outside of school here. talk to the trainers at the gym maybe and find out!?

yeah I've thought about talking to the trainer at my gym.
I'm just really shy about it because even though I'm fit, I consider myself to be really small, so I almost feel silly approaching a trainer and telling him I want to train people.

It's something I really enjoy doing and I'm really passionate about it, so I know I'll end up with a fitness related job at some point in the future.

kmshred

they had to start somwhere too, and probably went about it the way you're going to. nothing to lose, brandon. i'm sure they'd be nothing but stoked that it's on your mind. it's part of their job. talk it out

AEROBICVIC

i have my PT cert thru ACE and they have a very in depth study program but honestly, what i learned about PT did not come from that book. lifting is my life. i learned most from my husband who is a prof powerlifter and lives the life as well. in my opinion, you need both book and experience in order to be a great personal trainer. if you are doing it for the $, make sure you area that you live can back it up. my area is small town, money is tight in our area and ppl are not spending the extra $ in this field. it's hard to get $3 per aerobic class out of them let along $40-$60 per hour for personal training. largers cities do well with clients who are dedicated and have the cash flow. i help ppl and don't charge because they don't have the extra. i've been teaching aerobics for 14 years, owned a gym, compete in powerlifting and still have the passion for what i do because it comes from inside. if this is what you really want, keep doing research, studying and do what you love. take it to the next level because it's inside, not for the $. good luck with your research!

SHBoss1673

I am also ACE certified, but I don't pretend to say it's the BEST cert. out there.


Generally
The National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA)

and

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

are considered the best by everyone that I've talked to in the industry,
but they both require 4 year degrees so that's a lot harder.

The Cooper Institute is another great Cert to have, also very tough to get though the exam but you don't require
a degree. ACE and NASM are the other two that I would recommend, neither of these two require a degree
but both require good knowledge and are available to test via computer test centers. All of these are NCCA accredited(vital to almost any cert).

But as Aerobicvic said, most of your real training will come after the degree. Make sure you find a good mentor and shadow them for at least 10 to 15 sessions before ever attempting to train someone (I'd recommend more than that, but that would be the minimum), also, do some research into what you want to specialize in. Personal training is great, but nobody's good at everything, if you try, most likely you'll end up spreading your self very thin and not being great at anything.

bmontgomery87

Thanks for the help above you two.

I definately figured most of it would come from experience, as I've heard from PT horror stories about trainers who didn't know a thing. I don't see myself pursuing a 4 year degree, as I won't be making a full-time career from it. I just want to help people and I feel like I'd be good at it.
I want it as a part time job. Not really worried about the money, I know it won't be great

Nataliethin81

Check out this website:

http://www.afpafitness.com/index.php

missy204

My hubby is, if you need any help or anything I can ask him for u!

bmontgomery87

My hubby is, if you need any help or anything I can ask him for u!

if you wouldn't mind finding out what certification he has, how long it took, and if he has any tips.
I'd love the hear what he has to say.

Thanks

SHBoss1673

FYI, once I started really studying, ACE took about 3 months from start to finish, but remember, for almost all of them you must have your CPR and AED certifications.

bmontgomery87

^^ Awesome.
I need to get those certs this year anyways. Thinking of making a career change.
I've been debating taking the firefighter test for a while now, and there is one this fall.
So I've gotta have those certifications to have that job.


EDIT: 1000th post. wooo

parvati

Hi everyone,
I am in Canada, like several of you & I got certified this year through BCPRA but was quite dissapointed with their organization. So I started from square 1 with CanFitPro & am happy so far. I completed my fitness theory, weight training & personal training, along with the exams... I just have my practical exam to go & them I'm certified through them as well.