Personal Trainer Certification ????

For pilates Power Pilates

I would start by making sure they actually have examinations you need to pass. If they don't it would be pretty meaningless certification since they would have no standards you would have to meet. Having said that, I am curious as well. I have played with the idea of becoming a personal trainer since I had my stroke. I know many people could use the encouragement and direction I could provide. I have looked at various programs, but I do have a full time job, so I have not started studying in any of them yet. I did, however, discard all that simply gave certification based on you saying what sort of experience you have. That is, in my opinion, nothing better than the degrees by mail, and would be fraudulent representation to any clients I might ever have.

I have strong opinions on this subject that most people don't like to hear, but this is how I usually respond to this type of question:

A certification should be the end of of one's training and education, not the beginning. A certificate is meant to validate that you have a certain minimum knowledge base and have achieved a certain level of competence. It should not represent the training itself.

Another perspective would be to look at one's current profession and ask: am I trained enough in this profession so that I could be a consultant to others or start an independent business? And if the answer is "yes", then the next question would be: am I equally qualified and knowledgeable in the areas of health and fitness? If the answer is not "yes" again, then IMO, that person has got some work to do before they should even consider sitting for a certification examination.

There is a difference between being a "personal trainer" and being a "fitness buddy". Unfortunately many of today's trainers fall in the latter category.

That being said, you may have those qualities and that dedication, so here is what I would recommend:

Get the study materials for the ACSM Personal Trainer Exam (The Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (8th edition) and the ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer (3rd edition). I would also get the study materials for the NSCA Certified Personal Trainer Exam. Whether or not you decide to go with either of these certifications, they are essential foundation materials, IMO. (You could also check out the ACE personal trainer study set--I am not as familiar with that and I don't think the material is as in-depth as the others, but maybe someone who has taken the ACE can provide more detail).

While you are studying, you could work on some practical skills--either train some friends and family or find a trainer to assist.

Once you think you are ready, IMO, either the ACSM, NSCA or ACE certs are the most recognized and marketable.

Good luck.

As a master trainer From the UK I have seen the fitness industry become a joke, 8 or 9 week courses then your a PT Thats worl wide, you cannot learn the origins or insertion points in that time properly never mind ALL the knowledge that it takes to become a PT. Sorry if I offend anyone on here, but it is so fustrating when you working next to people who call themselfs PT's and they dont have a clue. The british army put me through my basic Fitness instructor course and that was 4 months on its own and was basic, i then did another 6 month course for my level 2, when i left i then went and did sports science which took 3 yrs then my sports massage course, I am now nearing the end of my sports nutrition Course which has taken me 2 yrs........ I have worked all the way through as a PT and travelled the world doing it from average joe's to athletes and celebs and guess what I am still learning lol.......
To answer your question Make sure its a decent course anything that is less than 1 yr full time in my eyes isnt worth having also, any exam which is multiple choice stay away from. When it comes to having to know your stuff in a gym there is no multiple choice you have to know whats wrong with your client there and then.

I will do some digging around for you, were are you located in the world???

These cert's remind a lot of Information Technology certs. There's rarely an "internship" required. In the IT world my experience is someone with all the certs in the world is useless without experience. And i think all certs are the same, Class or boot camp, test, cert = good at taking a test.

I agree with Azdak

Considering what some people say there PT's say in these forums makes it quite clear what their PT' s real world experience is with each individual on a case by case basis.

I was given a catalog by the instructor at my church who leads the Aerobics classes there as I too have set a goal for myself to become a certified Personal trainer. My goal is to take some health and fitness classes at our local college to further my knowledge before taking the PT Courses though... The instructor is a retired Health and Fitness Instructor from our local college. The program she first became certified though and still uses to remain certified is through NETA. National Exercise Trainers Association. They have many courses to choose from. Their website is www.netafit.com