Awesome, thanks!
I just got a NASM-CPT cert and I have to say that while its looked upon well by gyms, it is in NO WAY possible for someone who isn’t already knowledgeable to take that course and become a decent trainer. Also, when I had to answer that a high protein, low carb diet is bad for your kidneys on the test I think a part of me died.
All legit points. just would like to have something to hang on the wall, so clients can brag about their trainer ha ha, and makes it a much easier sell if you are “certified”. Yes I do not expect to learn much from a course, just have some paper behind me, and they are really poor in comparison to how the strength game really is IMO. What are some good ones available online?
If I wanted to find a class that teaches (preferable hands on) Olympic Lifts (this is more for my general Knowledge than for anything else) what would I look for?
thanks
[quote]bibby wrote:
If I wanted to find a class that teaches (preferable hands on) Olympic Lifts (this is more for my general Knowledge than for anything else) what would I look for?
thanks[/quote]
USA Weightlifting club coach or even sports performance coach courses.
Yeah, I agree with most of what people have said. Anything NSCA is top notch. I have a BA in Phys Ed and a MS in Exercise Science. Currently studying for the CSCS. If I were to recommend anything it would be the NSCA-PT or the ACSM PT cert. Even then, you need some real hands-on training to be a good trainer. Not everything is as neat as what you read in the books. There are a wide variety of people and conditions out there. If you are serious, get the cert and find a damn good mentor and remember you will most likely be training middle-aged overweight women.
I would suggest you get the NSCA-CPT and get a year under you belt. Get some clients good success and then leverage that to make a lot of money. I found this ebook - Wealthy Trainer - a few months ago and I doubled my income! I can’t believe how much money you can make in this industry - if you do things differently. YOu can buy the book at www.lulu.com. Just search for Wealthy Trainer… or just Google wealthy Trainer and I’m sure you’ll find it.
[quote]Pluto wrote:
Didn’t know where to put this…but places to become a certified personal trainer. Am from Canada, up north, so Canadian courses, would be great, and can you do it if you are not yet the age of majority?[/quote]
CanFitPro only requires that you be 18 years of age and pass two tests. While it doesn’t really compare to the other certification that exist it does allow you to get insurance which is something uncertified trainers probably don’t have - even if they know way more than someone with a weekend course.
[quote]mahwah wrote:
JBPOWER wrote:
Mahwah…your right that i wasnt clear…However with over 15 years running my own training business i can tell you having a cert does not mean your legit…Most head strength coaches at major universities dont have anything…I have my cert as a Health Fitness specialist with ACSM and it does nothing for me except to say that i have a cert…Real world and practical training ( having to put yourself through the rigors) with a college degree in either kinesiology and or physiology is much more important…Passing a test to say your a certified pro is not applicable to the real world…however i do understand that in order to work at some commercial gym and teach people how to stand on a bosu ball that you need a piece of paper to get you in…Or more importantly if you wish to work in a university strength program you need your CSCS ( which is outdated by about 10 years)
I cannot say that I disagree with any of you. I have my fair share of credentials and throughout 10 years in the business, I have had only 1 client ask about certification (he didn’t ask for proof though). Hell, I even started out with the dreaded ACE cert.
Knowledge along with results are the most important things in this field, not initials behind our names, yes. However, our profession has to deal with ignorance on a daily basis, from the public to other “trainers”, so to tell a peer that a certification is unneccessary is not prudent.
No certification has all the answers, it is up to the trainer to become a professional. The piece of paper is the first step, even if only to provide legitimacy.[/quote]
The problem with Tmuscle.com is it really breads a lot of ‘meatheads’. Some of the responses here are absolutely terrible, unfounded, uneducated, and just flat out ridiculous.
Most certifications that you can take will teach you more about training then some of the garbage on this site will. That is if you’re professional and you WANT to learn. I will agree though, that getting certs. are highly priced and make companies loads of money.
However, it is up to the individual to learn and if you pick a good cert. you can’t go wrong. To the OP I would strongly suggest taking an American certification. I don’t like what Canada has to offer and they probably all fall into the category most people here speak of. With that said I’m big on the NSCA. All the material can be mailed to you and a few times a year they come to Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver so you can write your exam. They also have a strong system to STAY certified which is comforting. Most Canada certs like Can-Fit-Pro don’t even really care… just hand over the cash.
I would also stress that you strongly consider where you will work. This will play a big role in your work as a trainer. If you wish to know any more about that, feel free to PM me.
[quote]Modi wrote:
Some decent certifications: NSCA-CSCS & CPT, ACSM-HFS (Health Fitness Specialist) & CPT, NASM-CPT, and maybe a half step down ISSA-CFT. [/quote]
I obtained my NASM cert last August, I would recommend any of the above.
[quote]brownab wrote:
I just got a NASM-CPT cert and I have to say that while its looked upon well by gyms, it is in NO WAY possible for someone who isn’t already knowledgeable to take that course and become a decent trainer. Also, when I had to answer that a high protein, low carb diet is bad for your kidneys on the test I think a part of me died. [/quote]
Haha, I share your sentiment concerning high protein diets!
I tend to read a lot of post up here and never post…but, I’m a personal trainer have a BS in Exercise and Sports Science and have ACSM HFS cert…here’s the thing with certs, none of your clients know the difference, there are trainers who have NASM, NSCA, ACSM certs and are terrible trainers. A certification does not mean that a trainer is going to be good at training people, it just proves a basic knowledge of tested material. If you really want to be knowledgable go get a degree, will you ever use the respitory exchange rate in real life, probably not but at least you will know what it is without having to google it.
Employeers such as gyms and corporate fitness centers tend to look more for ACSM HFS and NSCA CPT, or any cert that requires a 4 year degree in a related field. Also certs are EXPENSIVE, I believe NCSA is around $500 just for the test alone, not inculding study materials. Once you have a cert it’s a real hassle at times to keep them current, CEC’s can be a real pain in the ass…if you even remember to get them before the last 3 months of your current certification. Some places will pay for your certification if you have a degree or a cert that is not their preffered cert.