Getting a Personal Trainer Certification

Before you embark on a successful career as a personal trainer, you need to show the world that you are serious about your trade. It’s one thing to have a passion for helping others to achieve their fitness goals; it’s another to prove that you offer legitimate services. These days, no successful personal trainer can hope to get anywhere without having at least one personal trainer certification under their belt. Luckily, there are many options for earning a personal trainer certification; you can learn more in-depth information below.

Finding the Right Program

Price should not be the be-all, end-all when it comes to selecting a personal trainer certification program. While you can certainly take price into consideration, you shouldn’t stick strictly with courses that have the most rock-bottom rates. Your chief concern should be finding a personal trainer certification program that is accredited by a respected and reputable organization.

In order to become accredited by a reputable organization like the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, or NCCA, a certification program must demonstrate certain characteristics. Most importantly, it must prove its merit in terms of the protocols and procedures under which it operates. If you inadvertently choose to earn your certification from an unaccredited institution, it will not carry as much weight – and it could end up being a huge waste of time.

Top Personal Trainer Certification Programs

A quick online search will reveal that there are many personal trainer certification courses out there. In fact, your local community college could offer one that is accredited by the NCCA. To get an idea about what is available, though, the following list of NCCA-accredited organizations is a great place to start.

American Council on Exercise (ACE) – The average cost for this course – which can be taken online or on-site – runs between $219 and $249. You have to be at least 18 years old and be certified in CPR/AED.

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) – While you can take this course online, the exam may only be taken on-site. Pricing ranges from $219 to $279. You have to be at least 18, have your high school diploma and be certified in CPR.

National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT) – This flexible program allows you to study and take your exam from home. Its cost varies, but averages $450. You need to have a high school diploma in order to complete it.

In addition to the preceding examples, there are many other certification programs out there. Take your time and find the one that has the right balance of accreditation, price, location and flexibility. In the end, earning your physical trainer certification is a very smart move to make.