Fitness training certifications to be a certified professional trainer
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Many fitness certifications in the market equip people with the knowledge necessary to take a career as Certified Personal Trainers (CPTs). Here are some of the fitness certifications to be a CPT.
- NASM-CPT
As the name suggests, the National Academy of Sports Medicine offers this certification. With this certification, a person who aspires to become a personal trainer learns how to come up with goal-specific programs and optimize client results. The NASM certification also ensures that one is in a position to design his/ her business tools and procedures that culminate in a dynamic career in fitness.
The national academy of sports medicine makes the process of acquiring the certification easy by enabling people to pay for it in installments. What is more, the NASM-CPT depends on the Optimum Performance Training model—a model based on scientific, proven research.
- NSCA-CPT
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) offer two types of certification. These are the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a Certified Special Population Specialist (CSPS).
People with the CSCS accreditation are professionals who can train athletes with the aim of improving the performance of the athletes. To acquire this certificate, you must have learnt how to conduct testing sessions that are specific to sport, undertake safe and effective strength training and conditioning programs as well as, learn how to advice on matters of nutrition and injury avoidance.
The CSPS, on the other hand, equips professionals with the expertise to use individual approach, evaluate, stimulate, inform and train people of all ages belonging to special populations about health and fitness needs. People with terminal and temporary health conditions belong to special populations. With a CSCP certification, one can design safe and working exercise programs, guide clients on how to achieve their personal fitness goals, and respond appropriately to emergencies.
- ACE-CPT
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) offers the ACE certification—a certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the European Health and Fitness Association (EHFA). The certification follows the basics of the ACE Integrated Fitness Training Model. The model assists health and fitness professionals to offer individualized programs to people who need to adopt lasting healthy habits. Professionals with the ACE certification benefit from the organization’s advocacy on their behalf; they stand a chance of acquiring employment due to the advertisement of their skills.
- ACSM-CPT
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) also offers a personal trainer certification. The certification enables a personal trainer to plan and execute fitness programs for clients with medical clearance to exercise as well clients with a clean bill of health. In addition, professionals with this certification have acquired skills that ensure motivation and adherence to the fitness plan. They can also create and implement designs aimed at enhancing muscle strength, endurance, versatility, body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness. In general, they learn about motor skills associated with physical fitness.
- CSEP-CPT
The Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology (CSEP) offers the CSEP certification of the personal trainer. The certification follows the CSEP- PATH (Physical activity, Fitness and Healthy lifestyle plan).In order to enroll for this certification; one must have a 2-year college diploma or have acquired credits in the six core areas in a 2-year university degree. What is more the professional liability insurance covers CSEP-CPTs to work within the CSEP –CPT jurisdiction.
- ISSA-CPT
The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) offers the ISSA-CPT certificate. ISSA has received accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). However, the accreditation applies to the program but not the exam. Those who aspire to be ISSA-CPT certified have a choice to study at their pace and sit for online tests. They also receive massive support while training, before and after certification.
- AFAA-CPT
Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) train personal trainers and award them with a certificate. The AFAA has so far issued personal trainer and other certifications to 73 countries. The personal trainer certification provided by AFAA enables those aspiring to be personal trainers to create safe and effective programs for a healthy population. The certification program is inclusive of a three-day certification workshop. Nonetheless, prior to the workshop, one must have pre-studied for at least 1-3 months depending on prior education and experience. Through the program, personal trainer students receive training in the following areas:
- Wellness programming and screening guidelines
- Motivational skills, listening and leadership
- Designing of programs
- Kinesiology and anatomy
- Special populations and medicine consideration
- Nutritional basics and weight management
- NFPT-CPT
The National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT) also gives certification to be personal trainers. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies has accredited the NFPT-CPT program. The program also observes standards required for business and test development practices. The certificate is also recognized and accepted in the entire world. Thus, with this certification, the job market is wide.
To get the NFPT certification, you have a chance to choose from three programs offered. These are the standard, the premium and the Exam only. The standard program provides an exam voucher, an education manual, study guide, Practice test and technical support. The premium voucher offers all the benefits of the standard plan but with the addition of exercise animations, online learning and fitness software. The exam voucher makes provision of the exam only. For this reason, the premium is the most expensive followed by the standard and then the exam voucher.
Concisely, fitness certifications to be a certified personal trainer are numerous. The certifications differ by the model applied, costs, accreditation, and requirements for enrollment as well as duration of the study.