A consequence of economic change and vitality in the late 20th century, an increased prevalence of inactivity-related diseases and disabilities, and an aging baby boomer populace, Personal Training has become one of the fastest growing professions in America. It is also one of the most controversial. Many healthcare professionals question whether most Personal Trainers are qualified to deal with the challenges of the modern customer.
Today, the average Personal Training client is between the ages of 40 and 65 years old, is overweight and has one or more pre-existing medical conditions or health concerns. No longer are Personal Trainers sought after to facilitate vain requests for a celebrity body. Now, Personal Trainers help clients following physical therapy and facilitate a customer’s battle lose weight or even treat diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
It might not be as contentious if exercise was limited to a brisk walk. However, the evolution of exercise science has resulted in higher risk during physical exercise as Personal Trainers use Resistance Training and High Intensity Intervals to stimulate results faster. Due to these factors it is essential that prospective personal training clients understand who their Personal Trainer is. I decided to write this article to empower people across America with information to make an educated decision when hiring a Personal Trainer. I hope that, as a consequence, you will have a more satisfying exercise experience.
What You Need to Know
So, what exactly should you know before you hire a Personal Trainer to coach you towards your weight loss or performance goals? I’ve had the opportunity to meet, evaluate, and employee thousands of trainers nationwide over the past decade, and as a result have personally seen the variation in ability within the profession. The first item you MUST assess when hiring a Personal Trainer is competency. For most professional careers competency is evaluated through comprehensive testing and licensure. Not so for Personal Training.
It might surprise you, but Personal Trainers are NOT required to possess a formal education to provide fitness services. In fact, Personal Training is the only healthcare profession that doesn’t require at least some college or other advanced education to sit for certification/licensure. Consequently, many Personal Trainers lack the basic Exercise Science knowledge to develop an effective exercise program while simultaneously managing health risks. As a consumer of Personal Training services, you have reason for concern about general health, exercise and nutrition information received from your Trainer if he or she lacks a formal education.
Recent research conducted at UCLA determined that only 40% of certified trainers interviewed could answer basic questions about exercise science. Many of the trainers who participated in this study had at least 5 years of experience. Interestingly, those with at least a B.A./B.S. in Exercise Science along with a certification answered >80% of questions correctly. Those holding National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) & American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) certifications and a college degree had the highest percentage of correct answers.
When selecting a Personal Trainer, insist on finding a professional with at least a degree in Exercise Science or a related field (i.e. Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Sport Physiology, Physical Therapy). Currently, there are a few community colleges that offer specialized education for students interested in Personal Training as a career. This would also be acceptable.
Understanding Personal Training Certification
In many states a person can legally provide fitness services without the proper credentials as long as they don’t mislead customers (i.e. they don’t tell you they are credentialed). Because Personal Training does not currently require Federal or State Registration or Licensure, the consumer must take caution to ensure the trainer they select has demonstrated the basic knowledge necessary to perform his/her job. Personal Training certifications are designed to assess competency.
Regrettably, there are too many Personal Training certifications to count (I believe more than 600 to date) the vast majority of which are insufficient in performing this function. So, how do you know if your trainer’s certification is representative of his/her knowledge and ability? A branch of the National Organization for Competency Assurance, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) was developed to evaluate certifications that measure professional competency in a variety of fields. In 2007 the NCCA began to offer evaluation to fitness credentials. Currently, the following 10 Fitness organizations are the only ones to have achieved recognition by the NCCA.
NCCA Accredited Certifications by Organization
American College of Sports Medicine (acsm.org)
Certified Personal Trainer
Exercise Specialist
Health/Fitness Instructor
Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist
American Council on Exercise (acefitness.org)
Advanced Health and Fitness Specialist
Group Fitness Instructor
Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant
Personal Trainer
National Academy of Sports Medicine (nasm.org)
Certified Personal Trainer
National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association
Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
National Exercise Trainers Association
Certified Personal Trainer
National Federation of Professional Trainers
Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certification Commission (nsca-lift.org)
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
National Council on Strength and Fitness
National Certified Personal Trainer
International Fitness Professionals Association
Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
The Cooper Institute
Personal Trainer Certification
NCCA evaluates a diverse group of factors when considering a certification for inclusion. For example, how is the test given? Is it taken on computer? If so, was it taken in a testing center or at home, unsupervised? Are there practical and written components to the exam? What is required by the agency as pre-requisite to sit for the exam?
In order to be eligible for any of the above certificates, a trainer must have completed training in CPR with AED instruction. However, few require college education to sit for the exam.
At a minimum, the trainer you select to interview should maintain one or more of the above credentials. Interestingly, in my 13+ years as a Fitness Professional I can count on one hand the number of times a prospective client has requested copies of my certificates. To protect your interests, in this case your health, you should cross-check prospective Trainers against the databases available on the above organizations websites.
In Part 2 of this series you will learn how to objectively evaluate the value of experience in Personal Training.
Chris Marino is a Personal Trainer in Downingtown, PA, and Education Director for Exercise Etc., Inc., the largest provider of continuing education to fitness professionals in America. He holds a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science and the Top 3 Certifications from the NSCA, ACSM, and ACE. For more information please visit http://www.chrismarino.net or [http://www.strong2run.com]
