Hello!
I would like to become a Certified Personal Trainer and I just want to ask you do you know something about some courses or so. There are many choices for home or distance studying: ISSA, AFPA, NESTA, … but I don’t know which one is the best! If you know something that may help me, please tell me!
Thank you in advance!
Getting your certification is like getting your drivers license…it just says you have the most basic of skills. In other words, get whatever nationally recognized one (ACE, ISSA, NASM, NSCA)works best for you.
If you have no clue how to train someone then the NASM course would probably be good but if you have been reading T-mag for a while and have a stronger grasp of training concepts then the ISSA home study course would be the fastest and most convenient. Remember, though, the certification course is super basic and the real learning starts after you get the cert.
You might also check with gyms in your area to see if they prefer a certain certification. Some gyms will only hire trainers with a specific certification so if your goal is to get hired by that gym then it pretty much answers your question right there.
The only certifying bodies that carry much actual weight are…
ACSM HFI
NSCA CSCS
NASM CPT
ACE CPT
I personally hold the bottom three, but any one of them will provide you with some credibility.
Are you planning on trying to become a full time personal trainer, or do you just want to increase your knowledge base because you enjoy exercise?
Tucker
Thank you guys!
Yes, I want to be a personal trainer and for that matter I need to be certified. I have trained for 6-7 years, passed 2 years I have read and trained mostly for functional strength, speed, power, conditioning, old-shcool training (sled pulling, sandbag carrying, sledgehameer swinging,…) and so…!
I love learning new things! 
I ordered NESTA Certified Personal Trainer & Certified Advanced Personal Trainer ( www.nestacertified.com/nesta-pt.html ) I hope I didn’t waste my money…I’ll see!
I think to get as many certificates as I can: strength and conditioning, speed, agility and quickness, nutrition, sports performance, … or maybe I should find a college.
Thank you again!
One of the best ways to become a certified personal trainer to go to the National Personal Training Institute. It is a 6 month long course that trains you, in the classroom and in the gym, to be a trainer. It is a lot more expensive than the usual certification (about $5500) but then again you get what you pay for, and you get a diploma in personal training that doesn’t expire. There are a good amount of those schools throughout the country. If you can’t do that then NSCA-CPT or ACSM-HFI is good for a trainer, but all weekend courses are lacking.
Hope this helps, good luck in your new career!
Why don’t you get a PhD in exercise kinetics instead?
With the ACSM cert or the CSCS, you will end up actually learning something. But dont excpect your clientelle to really give a damn, or your potential boss.
The job itself is all about salesmanship, period. Learning something about marketing would be extremely helpful.
Good luck, when it works, its an amazing job to have when it doesnt dont get too aggravated, but definitely have another job to fall back on. Do it part-time in the beginning, most commercial gyms are fine with that and make sure YOU train yourself at peak hours to allow for more exposure.
Just a few things Ive learned.
Amir
[quote]Ni6tO_ wrote:
Hello!
I would like to become a Certified Personal Trainer and I just want to ask you do you know something about some courses or so. There are many choices for home or distance studying: ISSA, AFPA, NESTA, … but I don’t know which one is the best! If you know something that may help me, please tell me!
Thank you in advance! [/quote]