Teaching Fitness Certification

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I am just taking my ACE certification now....I just got all the course material in the mail....seriously it's no joke. The fail rate iss aorund 50% and looking at all I need to learn I understand why.

The cert is just an accreditation of passing the test. Almost any nationally recognized organization will be accepted, but it's more about you as a person and how you instruct.
I've been in fitness since '82, got my cert through A.C.E. first in '98, then ACSM and AFAA then back to A.C.E. again. At this point it's been more about spending as little as possible since the cert is just a piece of paper. One should still work on learning more information and studying peer reviewed clinical studies.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Jess, In my case I chose World Instructor Training Schools. The reason being it is not just a piece of paper as most others are and as was mentioned. With WITS you actually attend a local college or university. You either go twice a week for 3 hours or once a week for 6 usually on a Saturday. I took the Saturday option. With WITS you spend your time in a classroom(not at home) learning or relearning material and then as you advance into actual exercise portions of physiology, etc.. half the class is spent in the classroom and the other half in a nearby health club where you demonstrate your ability to actually perform what you are learning. Upon successfully passing the written and functional (not required by most certifications) exams you must then get your CPR/AED certification and then be accepted into a health club (usually one that a person works out at) to serve a 40 hour internship which is normally lead by senior or master level trainers. They too must sign off on you. After that you receive your certification after completing one of the most thorough processes in the industry. Every two years after that you are also required to take additional courses related to the field with a minimum of 10 - 12 CEC's needed in order to recertify. Beyond that if you work for yourself (and even if you don't) you would need liability insurance. I usually carry $1,000,000. Although most health clubs cover their trainers that does not prevent an individual from suing you if God forbid they should be become injured.

To answer your question about studying for the ACE group fitness instructor certification while also being a a full time student, it's absolutely doable. If you have any background knowledge of anatomy and physiology, that will definitely make it easier, but I feel like they give you plenty of time to study before having to schedule your exam. There is a lot of information and knowledge, but as long as you're self-motivated to study, you'll be able to get through the material!

A friend of mine took the test for her illiterate and mentally ill cousin, who spent years doing the job in various places.

Personal Trainers don't know as much as people think. Some might, but little to no knowledge is necessary to get the job.