Personal Training Certification

While this site usually focuses on topics like which is the best personal trainer certification, there are times to look at other issues within the fitness industry. We recently experienced the one-year anniversary of the passing of one of the most famous personalities in the fitness world, Jack LaLanne. LaLanne was known as the “First Fitness Superhero” and the “Godfather of Fitness” by his friends and followers. Born on September 26, 1914, he was regarded as one of the first nutritional and physical fitness experts who motivated and inspired millions to exercise and stay in the best possible physical shape. He passed away at age 96 on January 23, 2011, but his legacy still lives on in the personal trainer community to this day. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are looking at different options for personal training certification, it is easy to get lost among all of the options that exist. There are lots of different certifying bodies and personal trainer schools that can provide you with education and prepare you for a certification exam. Here are some mistakes that people can make when trying to choose the best path toward personal trainer certification: Read the rest of this entry »

The practice of fitness trainer certification has undergone a lot of changes in recent years. The number of options for getting certified as a fitness trainer has grown tremendously. Over 100 organizations now offer personal training certifications. Because of this, it is important for potential personal trainers to understand how to evaluate trainer certification programs.

One of the first characteristics of a fitness training certification program to look at is whether it is accredited by the NCCA (National commission for Certifying Agencies). This body gives legitimacy to certification organizations in many different fields, not just personal training. However, even NCCA accreditation is not the only factor to consider; in fact, there are now 13 certifying bodies with NCCA approval. Read the rest of this entry »

For anyone looking into how to become a personal trainer, one of the first things you need to figure out is which is the best personal trainer certification for you. There are lots of different certification programs being offered, so how can you choose which will be the best for your specific situation? Here is a list of questions that should be answered when you are investigating this issue:

Where do you hope to work? By looking at places where you would like to be employed, you can see which personal training certifications they accept. This should narrow down what you want to a handful of certification options. Read the rest of this entry »

Most of us know that personal training certification programs have grown popular in recent years because of the booming fitness industry. People everywhere are trying to get in shape, whether by losing excess weight or trying to put on muscle. While we might think of the “typical” fitness fanatic as someone in their 20s or 30s, there actually are a lot of people in all age groups looking to get fit. In fact, many Americans in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are committed to exercise and could utilize the services of a personal trainer. This means that there are a number of opportunities for current and prospective personal training professionals. Read the rest of this entry »

It is difficult to say with certainty which is the best personal trainer certification program because hardly anybody goes through all of them. If a person gets certified through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), for example, he or she most likely won’t have first-hand knowledge of other certification organizations, so any comparison will be somewhat incomplete. Furthermore, people can have very different opinions on the same certifications based on different experiences and goals. That said, it still can be useful to take a look at recommendations from people, and thanks to the internet, we can easily see what people are saying. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are looking into how to become a personal trainer, by now you know that your education and certification are very important. However, there are lots of people who get certified as personal trainers everyday. What can you do to separate yourself from these people and make yourself the most desirable training professional available? Here are a few areas that will ensure that you are in high demand once you become a personal trainer:

The first is the ability to work with clients of all ages. Older adults comprise one of the fastest growing groups of people who are looking to hire personal trainers. The baby boomer generation understands the positive impact of exercise on health, and they are now beginning to retire. They have the money and the time to invest in personal trainers, so being able to serve this age group is a definite plus. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are in the process of evaluating personal training certifications, one area that is often overlooked is nutrition education. You might want to think about what each certification program offers as far as classes about diet, nutrition, and related subjects. While nutrition is not specifically part of personal training, the two subjects do go hand-in-hand because what you eat (and when you eat it) can have a direct impact on the results you and your clients will get from their training. If you are working with someone who is trying to reach specific physical fitness goals, you will need to consider their eating habits to help them get to where they want to be. Read the rest of this entry »

For some people, a fitness trainer certification is the last thing on their mind. They have no desire to make a career out of exercise.

These people see staying in shape only as work. However, other people really enjoy working out, even if they are beyond what many might consider their athletic primes. These people with a passion for fitness would be terrific personal trainers, but many of them believe that they have missed the opportunity to attend a personal trainer school and get certified. This is not the case; it is not too late to get a fitness training certification, and here are three reasons why.

The first is that people today are going back for education at older ages all the time. Even if you are busy with a different career and a family, there are many training and learning programs that are flexible. The technology that is now available makes it easy to study at just about any time in just about any place, including at home. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are thinking about obtaining a personal training certification online, you undoubtedly have looked, or are planning to look, at a number of different factors to choose the right program for you. One big mistake that people often make is not taking the time to look at personal training specializations. While becoming a personal trainer without a specialization might be fine for most people, there is a chance that you could specialize in an area that is just perfect for you. Here are some types of specializations that are offered by some personal trainer certification organizations.

Specific types of exercise: not all kinds of training have the same health benefits. There are many different forms of exercise, and there are specializations for some of them. You can become a personal training specialist in strength training, athletic conditioning, and other subcategories of exercise. Read the rest of this entry »