Personal training certification

Does anyone here have personal training certification? If so, what program did you use to get certified?

Also, do you think its worth the money to get certified? Is it easy to get a personal training position?

Thanks!

Re: Personal training certification

Hofstra has a good certification program:
http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/CE/ProfessionalDevelopment/ce_personaltraining.html

I think it is a good idea to get certified if you are serious aboout training people. I have a few friends who do personal training...two do it privately and one is a manager of a gym.

Re: Personal training certification

Re: Personal training certification

I'm certified through NASM. I wouldn't recommend doing that as your first cert. unless you have a strong background in exercise physiology, or can dedicate a lot of time to it, it's the hardest one.
ACE is pretty highly recognized and a lot easier to pass, as is ISSA. Those are the two I recommend to my staff.
If you are serious about training, and do not have a college degree in a related area, you should def. get certified.

It's fairly easy to get a position if you are certified. However, it is not that easy to get clients, and maintain a client base. But if you love it, and you want it, you can do it.

Message edited 2/10/2011 6:46:04 PM.

Re: Personal training certification

I.S.S.A. I did it online except for a three day course in NYC.

It was self paced and while that made it easy, it is a lot to learn. Good Luck!

Re: Personal training certification

Thanks for the input! I spoke to a PT at my gym who told me NASM is the best. He mentioned it was a very hard test, so I wanted to be able to take courses with it.

I think its just a matter of determining if the expense will be worth it in the end. I have the drive to do it.

Re: Personal training certification

NASM is highly recognized.