Hey everyone, I want to hear from everyone that has gone through getting certified as a personal trainer. I know there are a bunch of different options out there (around 12 decent) for getting certified and it seems difficult which one to choose. According to a site I have been reading the personal training pioneer, there are about four highly recognized certifications which are ACE, NASM, ACSM and NSCA. We Have any of you gone through either one of these four certifications? Or possibly a few of you have gone through more than one. Which one do you guys think would be the best for someone just starting out? The typical person that comes to my gym ( where I want to work) is overweight and in their 50s probably. Those seem to be the individuals that are purchasing training in my area so I guess those of the people should be focusing on.
I went through ISSA years ago, but this article talked specifically about the pros and cons of those four certs.
Really doesn’t matter. No client is going to ask where you’re certified through and gym management just wants to know that you have some kind of certification. I actually lucked out that my first gig was at a gym run by another ISSA-certified trainer who contacted me after she received a list of local people who recently completed their certification.
Definitely take a read through the Personal Trainer’s thread and bump it with any other specific questions.
It’s good that you recognize this ahead of time. A lot of guys fall into the trap of expecting to train their ideal clients or versions of themselves right out the gate, which just doesn’t happen.
So knowing your most likely demographic, I’d brush up on your toolbox of mobility drills, practical real-world nutrition tips (depending on if you’re allowed to tackle nutrition as a trainer), and get familiar with working around common pre-existing conditions like arthritis and hypertension.