I think online PT Certs are complete bogus. It takes years of experience to fully understand the human body and how it should be properly handled. AS A CLIENT, (I am not a trainer), I WOULD NOT LET A TRAINER WITHOUT A QUALIFIED DEGREE (a masters or BA) TRAIN ME.

I find there are too many people trying to dive into the fitness industry simply b/c they like to workout and have nothing better to do. Those are the type of people who will get online certs and ruin your body in the long run. Would you let a dr. with an online degree diagnose you? ABSOLUTELY NOT, why the hell would you let a trainer train you - it's the exact same thing.

I believe each state should have a certification test, no matter if you have your masters or an associates degree or simply your own knowledge - each trainer should have to pass this test, just like lawyers/doctors etc.

I agree with the general point in the video that it is too easy for unscrupulous "professionals" to acquire credentials. Like other well reputed professions it is time for a higher level of formal accreditation. Although there are organizations that provide credible training and certification, there are many that do not, and the average client is not always equipped with the knowledge to be able to tell which is which. Like all maturing industries, there comes a time when a more rigorous process of assessment and certification becomes necessary. Now is that time. Failing to do this will compromise the reputation of those of us who have invested time and effort to attain appropriate and effective training.

nsca, nasm, acsm. These are just 3 organizations that pride themselves on providing certifications for personal trainers. Are you going to tell me that these organizations and what they stand for is bogus. Many doctors and attorneys consistently participate in unethical practices every day even though they have a well decorated wall. That, however, doesn't deny the fact that we still have doctors and attorneys who hold very true to their calling and are a blessing to the profession they represent. If you are destined for a quick buck and not the interest of personal health, you will be a bad trainer. Whether your certification cost $40 or $400 is irrelevent.

Yes, I do think that some of these certifications are bogus. There are over 300 personal trainer certifications out there, yet you would be hard pressed to find a gym that would hire a "trainer" who doesn't have a certification through one of the major certifying organizations. If, as a client, you are concerned about safety, then EDUCATION NOT EXPERIENCE is the major determinant of the safety and efficacy of the exercise program. Thus, as an industry, we should be pursuing educational requirements and national licensure for personal trainers. Stylists, manicurists, and massage therapists need to have a license to work, and they are not responsible for their clients' health and well-being. It is time for us to move forward as an industry, and become the professionals that we claim to be.

I personally feel that just a certificate is not enough to determine if a trainer is qualified to work with certain populations. Just because a Trainer claims to be a certified personal trainer,how much experience can that person gain from a weekend course or a online test? I feel that all trainers should have at least a Bachelors degree , and also either have a license or a state wide test to work with such individuals instead of just a piece of paper that is printed out from an online course. Most clients have health problems and should be handled by professionals with education as well as experience. Not just a trainer pushing the next diet or fad onto the client.

I am a Personal Trainer through National Academy Of Sports Medicine. It is one of the hardest certifications to get and you have to know alot about creating a safe program design for clients in the test. The certification has it's own method and it works. The NASM-CPT certification is proudly accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Also, a few other certs you can take the NBFE test to make sure you are on a national standard. Those two are out there to assure the public that a certification is recognizable and their trainers are within the Gold standard.

I fully support the comments made above. The fitness industry needs to become just as standardized as the medical field. When you hear someone is a personal trainer, you need to know that they have acquired a certain level of education (enforced through certification exams following completion of bachelors/masters programs in the field). Those of us that do take the time to obtain degrees and certifications are undermined by those "personal trainers" that are granted PT certifications after taking a one-day course. I believe it would be in the best interest of us in the field, as well as consumers of our services, to standardize & regulate the fitness industry just as stringently as the medical field.

I agree that most certifications out there mean very little. The govorning body of these certifications are looking out for there pockets rather than the state of the profession. The "Gpld Standard" has been set by the NSCA and ACSM then a coulple others are pretty good as previously stated. My 4 year degree as well as CSCS and NSCA-CPT are good predictors of my knowledge, but my ongoing continuing education helps me keep my status as a responsible trainer.

I believe the time has long since passed that personal trainers should be licensed in their state of operation. In my state, for instance, a cosmetologist must be licensed and personal trainers do not (and my state is not alone in this). My question has always been, who has a greater chance of (possibly permanently) injuring you, me or someone doing your hair and nails? So, wouldn't you want to be as certain as you possibly could that I KNEW what I was doing?

We as trainers should want accountability out of self-preservation to set "us" apart from "them". I don't want to in any way be associated with some yahoo who received his/her training certification "out of a Cracker Jack box". I was required to have at least a bachelor's degree in an exercise-related field to even sit for my certification test.

It is already our responsibility to inform an almost entirely uninformed public what sets us apart state licensure (at least) would go a long way toward making that undertaking easier.

I am a personal trainer who obtained my certification through ISSA. If you look at the board of directors and the staff in there main office, you would be impressed. I pride myself on my certification through ISSA. I ahve been training for 8 years now and have never caused an injury or hurt any client. I would put my knowledge that I gained through ISSA against anyone. I do believe there are some questionable certifying agencies out there, and potential clients should research the agency there trainer is certified through.

As bad as online certifications may be, some of what is being taught as exercise by major organizations such as the NSCA, ISSA, ACE, etc. isn't much better than no education at all. Either way - no education or an "education" that consists of much misinformation and unsubstantiated assumptions and opinions - results in incompetent trainers.

Most certified trainers couldn't find their own ass with both hands if they had a map and an indian guide leading the way, much less teach anyone how to exercise properly. The company I work for has been trying to hire a new trainer for months, and despite hundreds of applications and several dozen interviews from people who claim to be experienced, we haven't found anyone we'd consider competent - including many with NSCA, ACE, ISSA, AFAA, and other certifications, and graduates of "schools" like NPTI.

With a few exceptions, the whole industry is full of clowns pretending at being trainers.

NCCA accreditation means absolutely nothing about the quality of education that comes with a certification. All it means is that the accredited organization could afford accreditation, that it was in good financial shape, and that the exams were structured properly. Whether they were teaching or testing competency in valid instructional knowledge and ability is something entirely separate.

Accreditation in the fitness industry has less to do with standards and more to do with trying to force out competitors to the bigger organizations.

I live in area that has 24hour, LA Fitness,YMCA and many small gyms they all are doing their own certifications paying like 12.00 an hour and not caring about clients. I have moved out of the gym world because I can't make a living and move to the Phyiscal therapy side of the bus. to make the same imcome I was and it more secure and stable . As long as coorprate gyms can do in house cert . clients at theese gym won't know the differance and it all about the money they pay . I know a lady who worked with me for two years moved to the YMCA and for exchange of a membership she a life coach never taking a class using the imput I gave her to change her life or the gal who took indoor cycling class for five years who now teaches never taking a cert class. and I have a friend in the bus who works for LA Fitness and got like six cert in two days from Pilates kick boxing cycling ect I spent two days in a class and pedaled for 16 hours to get mine.What is even more wrong our cert course well give them CE points . We need to be more regulated and require a higher standerd for trainers and instructors.

Licensing is not the answer. Physical therapy is a licensed profession, and much of what they do with regards to exercise is complete nonsense.

I'm studying for Aqua certification (have not yet taken the exam) I've actually been a substitute for 10 years. Everyone is required to get cleared by a doctor before joing class. I have not had any adverse reaction for myself or anyone in the class. I don't know about personal training, I might want to be certain about their credentials

One word...Accredited. This is what a good certification should be.

Experience is another trait I look for in a trainer. I am a fitness director myself as well as a personal trainer, and I know how to spot a poor trainer in the field by looking at their techniques and listening to their instructions to their clients.

My advice, do your homework and ask questions. If you are a little unsure about the trainer, doctor, attorney, whatever the profession, go with your gut and keep looking. Word of mouth sometimes is a good indicator of quality. But remember, if the trainer helped your friend lose 10 lbs., doesn't mean they can help rehab your knee!

The certification is meant to show you have a minimal understanding of the subject matter. As professionals these certifications do not mean much compaired to a nationally recognized licensure given to an R.D., Physical Therapist, R.N. etc. Our industry needs to set a higher standard that is nationally recognized. Until that time all of our certification will be questioned and compared without solving the problem. Too many organizations/people don't understand there is a difference between someone who spent 4 years getting a degree and someone who studied and took certification, but yet we want to be looked at/treated as the same professional as some of the other organizations. If that is the case we need the same standards - a BS or associates degree in an exercise or similar health related field before you are able to sit for the license. Until those requirements are met than you can't work in the field. This is how all the other licensed fields work - why shouldn't we set the same standard. Not to mention it will also require higher pay for those that reach this level.

I agree, each person should do there homework on who they choose as a trainer. FYI, there are doctors, lawyers, dentists, take your pick in any profession, and you will find some bad apples, do you question there degree or do you go to another doctor. Of course some clowns get throught he system, it happens, but you can find that in any profession

This is an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, but we are spinning our wheels: "my XYZ certification is good, but cerfitications ABC and DEF are terrible." Blah, blah, blah. Don't get defensive.

Obviously, anyone having put less time in at their chosen profession will have less experience and knowledge (they are synonymous). There is no substitute for wisdom.

We need licensure and we need "degrees" of trainers. "Junior" (licensed) trainers can gain knowledge and experience under the watchful eye of 2nd degree or "Master" trainers (also licensed). Master trainers will be charged with assessment and programming, while those trainers under him/her would administer these programs ensuring proper form, while supplying motivation.

When these Junior Trainers pass the probationary period (2/3 yrs.) they are eligible to test for the next higher licensure step, and so on.

There are a lot of BS (and I don't mean bachelor of science) personal training certs out there, and our clients should be cautious of who they train with.
I make a personal promise to each and everyone of my clients before they ever write me a check.
That promise is that if they are not happy with their results and they can honestly say they gave it their best shot, then I will refund every penny they paid, out of my personal account. I offer to drive them to the atm and watch me withdraw the money.
It is a bold statement, but I have the experience and knowledge to make their dreams come true!
6 years later, not one cent paid out!

My responce would be that the issue is serious and that solutions are in the works - in terms of self regulation by the fitness industry by developing national board testing and accreditation. We seem to be way ahead of theraputic massage and chiropractic in this process. If standards are eventually adopted, then a coherent Scope of Practice and Ethics can perhaps be agreed upon.
The issue of profit centered fitness club chains is a much tougher nut to crack. Not all owners, general managers and fitness directors adhere to any rigor in recruitment, hiring and training practices. There are no rules and regulated stepwise training in place to compliment the need to be profitable except the fear of legal action. If the certifying organizations can ever get together and produce a position statement regarding fitness management behavior they might be able to exert some pressure for change.
As Fitness Professionals we need to be willing to keep educating the public on how to pick a good trainer. As clients they need to be willing to pay for training by those of us who keep up and care about safe training towards the individual client's goals.

The fact is even a 4 yr. degree doesn't guarantee you are well qualified to train someone. I have been doing this for a long time and I can't tell you how many people with so-called relevant BS degrees couldn't pass the NSCA or NASM certification exam on their first attempt. Quite frankly, it is a combination of experience and education (continuing education I might add) that determines whether the trainer is going to do well by their client. State licensure or certification might not be a bad idea if done properly and without the profit motive involved.

I agree with most of you. Most certifications are meaningless. I see a lot of personal trainers, who became trainers because they like to workout, but don't have a clue how to train someone. I've also seen health clubs have their own certification and the people they are certifing are not qualified. It gets pretty scary. States should have their own licensing for trainers and a college degee in exercise science should be required.

I think the newsstations are exagerated just a bit. I've yet to find an online certification that only costs $40. With that said, there are some certifications that do not require extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology or the fundamentals of human movement, which could be a disaster waiting to happen. If personal trainer certs were also mandated by state (or national) licensing - it would most likely "weed out" those who do not take the industry or the "certification" process seriously.

My opinion is that we need a national certification examination just like ailed health professionals go through before they can be licensed. Thereby no matter what certification you already have, you will be compared with your peers and the gold standard through this national exam. The NBFE has promoted this concept, but has failed to come up with a suitable practicum exam for now. If personal trainers don't get their act together, soon the physical therapists will take over as so called exercise experts check the APTA website as they are already claiming that they are the future to health and wellness.

I honestly don't think it was fair for the news to come on there and bash all personal trainers out there. They didn't have one positive thing to say, or bring up anything about certifications, or how to go about checking out a personal trainer's past experiences. I am sure that whole 10 minute episode on the morning show was damaging to all gyms, and PT's world wide.

I would have been ok with it, if they would have been more CLEAR of both sides. I even had a couple of clients ask me about it that night in class!

Certifications are important, but I agree, there should be some kind of state cert. to take, to qualify someone, if they don't have a 4 year degree. Not everyone can afford that kind of schooling....

A four year degree should always accompany any certification for a personal trainer. Anyone who chooses to hire a trainer who does not have that education and time invested in study and hands on training is "training at their own risk". Knowlegde is power, asking about the credentials of anyone you hire to do a job for you is basic. We do it for our doctors, lawyers, etc and people should do it for a personal trainer. Most of the time, the certifications seem to be milking money from fitness professionals and not really giving them the hands on opportunities to do a great job at training.

I understand and respect the consumers concerns regarding certifications. That's one reason I require at least a bachelor's degree in exercise science (or a related field) for the trainers I hire. I opened Kansas City's first personal training center in 1986 and have maintained that standard since day one. National certifications are fine, in addition to but not instead of, a college degree.

YEs there are some "bogus" quick online personal trainer certs but if you are well-versed in the world of fitness, you know that ACSM, NASM, NSCA, ACE are just a few of the nationally accredited personal trainer certs. ACSM in particular is extremely hard to obtain as this organization is more medically-based, while NASM is more program design based and in my opinion both needed in the fitness industry to be a good personal trainer. By advice is for anyone looking for a trainer to look for trainers with these certs. Trainers should not be giving medical advice outside of their scope of practice, we're not doctors!
We're here to provide expert advice on exercise and health and to encourage a healthy lifestyle, but i always refer out when need be.

I feel most certifications are not worth the paper they are printed on. (as a former trainer).

I think personal trainers should be required to have a 4 year degree related to personal training or a certification from NSCA or ACSM. I feel the rest of the certifications fall flat.

If there is an exam (government licensure) it should be nationwide, so you can train clients in multiple states without having to take a test in each state.

Has anyone ever watch this so called certified trainers. More like "paper trainer". They are small and young that's all they have going for them. I don't think they even know how to log their clients progress on a "cookie cutter" exercise log. I see most of them talking about the current issues of politics instead of showing the client the form and breathing technique when performing the exercise.

These online certification has made a joker out of the institution who molded the fitness industry. As a martial art practinioner I am specially offended when they include martial art technique in their routine and made them look like some "break dancing" movement.

If your at the age and half of that you spent discovering the opposite sex and then decide to part take in this industry which the general public is in need of. Do the general public and spend your money on a week end in Mexico instead of getting certified and start training.

The general public and the 3% active adults out there needs prefessional as trainers not "Ken and Barbie". I bet they have more common sense not to be a trainer.

As a Certified Personal Trainer for only a little over a year now, I can't say that any of my clients have even asked to see my certification or where I earned my certification.

I believe all trainers should be certified by an accredited institution. Any cert you see only availible on-line, chances are it's not feputable. I agree with the writer Deanna, You specific certs that are @ the top, and definitely don't give out advice that your not qualified to give. your trainer should also be 1st aid, CPR & AED certified. If your going to train you should also have insurance. Some gyms will also tell you who they prefer regarding acceptance with their trainers certs. The news piece bashing trainers and their certs don't give the whole picture. i feel that if the news was serious about certifications, then they'd have interviewed a trainer with the right credintials ... I can say that I'm certified with NASM,kettelebell certified, and have 1st aid, CPR & AED certs. To bad the news crew couldn't find anyone on this board!

With so many of the "certifications" floating around out there it has become a very cloudy horizon on what is a good cert and what is bad. Until we have a unified National Cert, National licensure or even better a state by state board license we as professionals must be out there educating John Q Public about the importance of certification. Even more importantly who provided the cert. As a Fitness Director for a large DC Metro based health club, we only approve of 9 certs. If you do not have one of those 9 you can't work for us. Even then once you become employed we give everyone who is not NASM certified 6 months to do so. Certs are important but so is there credibility.

Certification-BS-or Associates? Business owners?
I've taken many certification test and attended NPTI.
I've been working in fitness for 15years, on a full time basis.
The past 7 months a facility run by a Chiropracter.
Physical Therapy RX is done by any employee that the doctor chooses to speak to that day, or his girlfriend that likes to workout.

Business owners buy franchises with no previous experience in business or of how the human body should work during exercise.
Apply for that job and the qualifications are
Out going personality! (I'm shy) They hire you for minimum wage, follow you around to hear and see how you work, hire another employee to follow you around so they can learn too! Oh the lady that lost 5lbs in a year is now the expert. Of course she's a member-owner will refer other members to her/him.

The 4 year degree program? Elemetary School Teacher. He/She qualifies to do presentation for AFFA, ACE on the weekends for extra income.

Certification/Accreditation/work expierience-
still below poverty level income.

http://www.fitchicago.com/chicago_personal_trainer_certifications.htm

The whole fitness industry is gotten out of hand. Gyms and health clubs don't recognize a college degree only certifications. I have a Master's degree in Phys. Ed. and Dance and when applying to several gyms all they wanted was a certification. I was shocked that my college degree didn't mean anything. I started looking due to my husband (who with a MBA) losing his job. I couldn't get a job in the beginning as I wasn't "certified"... I only had a Master's degree and have taught at several Universities. That wasn't important...Go figure!

In the US many think that everyone has to be "certified"... The whole certification industry is ridiculous and just big business. Certifications and their tests don't prove everything. It's what you do with a degree, your knowledge and people skills. Teaching is an art.

Someone mentioned should be like the medical practice... If so, hopefully the pay reflects the same. That won't happen. I think only those with actual college degrees in the field should be allowed. I can't practice medicine nor give nutritional recommendations by taking a "certification" on a weekend course why should realtors, nurses and others be able to "practice" fitness because they took a "cerification?

The other problem is salaries. In many areas people are paid $10.00 to $15.00 to instruct a class because anyone can teach a fitness class or train with a certification. The market of trainers and instructors is totally devalued. We don't need a Universal Certification.

I am getting the same pay as a person who took a "certification" with no degree in Phys Ed or related exercise field. This is because anyone/everyone and their dogs are gettiing jobs in this field...qualified or not.

I think we all want to see some type of change - how do we go about doing it? The people who are spending time to reply obviously care enough about the profession to make their comments. I would agree with most of them - so how do we do it and what would be the next step?

I am certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and while it is a good certification with great credentials and teachings, I still feel strongly that my 4 year bachelor of science degree in Exercise and Sports Science is much more important. Such courses as kiniesiology, exercise leadership and exercises evaluation and prescription cannot be learned through any certification period! These types of courses are what teaches safety and gives you understanding of the human body. Good certifications will test you on these principles and may give you good training ideas, but they will not teach you this in one weekend seminar, trust me. A degree is ten fold more important than a certification.

I have fired trainers with degrees in Kines. they knew the academic aspect ( repeat big words) but the ywere sadly lacking in their pratical skill. A good combination of academic and pratical application is necessary. And it does take years to develop the necessary skill to help others, but who has the right approach? Even the PhD don't agree on which is best...

Then the next step is really to form a panel that includes only those in the practicing profession and not from organizations and businesses that certify. The main reason being... the person with a degree and practicing in the field will be over-shadowed by big business and individual voices will not be heard.

What needs to happen is a position paper or some type of statement be formulated and given to the press. However, finding media to print it is a big job. I have done a lot of advocacy and the Media for the most part likes to cause a stir... not inform

I've had to fire "trainers" with M.S. in Kinesiology - those eggheads can't train at all. They keep nitpicking the form like it's got to be just so perfect or you're rotator cuff will explode, and your ACLs will blow out. Next thing you know, they have you lifting 1 pound weight to correct some perceived imbalance. The client leaves the "workout" without working at all! Get over yourselves.
To paraphrase Alwyn Cosgrove, who is ten times the personal trainer than anyone here: Do you see ambulances lined up around the gym because someone didn't retract their scapula properly before doing a lat pulldown?
One of my favorite articles about this is at

http://www.naturalphysiques.com/cms/index.php?itemid163

I feel that regardless to what type of certifications a person has doesn't mean that they are good or bad trainers. There are no governing bodies that says a person even has to be certified to train someone. Someone with a degree could be worse than someone who learned by working with or under another trainer. Reading books is reading books and learning is learning. the results a "trainer gets speaks for them selves". If you are not certified and getting people the results they desire without injury then there are people who will hire you. If you have a Masters degree and can't get results or frequently filling out injury reports then you need to choose another career, anyway!

Personal trainers have been working with clients for many many years and the demand for personal trainers is still on the rise so whatever is going on with certifications is working for the majority. Who are we to judge others or to stop someone who may be providing for his or her family just becasue they don't have a piece of paper with ABC on it although they do have a piece of paper with CBA on it...

This undercover story was presented as if it's a true epiphany!

Of course there are trainers who hold bogus certifications. Of course there are online "certification" mills that entitle uneducated idiots the opportunity to potentially harm their clients. But guess what? There are also bogus Ph.D. "graduates", as well as phony Master and Bachelor degrees holders who never cracked a book open even once to obtain their credentials.

No profession in the world is immune from such schemes.

But just because there are trainers out there who have little knowledge does not mean that all trainers hold bogus certifications. That's like saying that all Bachelor Degree holders are inept fools because some are not the real deal!

I think (for those that work at gyms), the real blame lies with the person who hired them. If they don't know what they're doing, then I think that would become perfectly clear when a real Personal Trainer was interviewing them. But sadly, many genuine trainers are not hired because what a club owner most cares about is SALES and not a professional, highly knowledgeable trainer to join his or her staff.

In fact, most of the people hiring the "trainers" are not even personal trainers themselves! So of course many of these bogus certification people would slip by them! Especially if they have the right type of personality.

My husband is a traineryou know, that type of fitness professional who really does know their stuff. But he's also NOT a salesman. He can motivate his clients to lose weight and finish a set, but he can't push a prospect so hard that they rake over $2 grand in session fees! (He is too easygoing and does not have that aggressive, salesman mentality.)

Fitness has become more about money than about health. Most people, especially many of those gym and club owners, care more about making lots of bucks through training session fees than about getting the right guy (or gal) to do the job.

So I think they are the real group that's to blame for this negative perception that's building within the public.

My husband doesn't work as a trainer. He tried it for a few months and because he had to find his own clients, gave up because he realized that you can't support a family in this industry unless you have a perfect outgoing personality in your favor. He knew his stuff, but his boss cared more about making those SALES. And who can make sales best? Only a small percentage of people with that special charismatic personality.

Hmm. Here's an epiphany: How about those business owners make a wise business decision. Hire trainers to train your clients. REAL trainers who know how to properly complete an exercise without hurting someone. Real trainers who are properly certified through a nationally recognized expert school or certification group. Then, in order to get those clients, hire aggressive and outgoing salespeople to line up your client base.

Ironically, just about every other profession does have a separate sales department that lines up clients. So why can't this profession do the same thing?

Hmm. Salespeople that sell. Trainers that train. Maybe then there wouldn't be this barrage of unskilled numbskulls flooding the marketplacedummies who are ultimately going to cause business owners to LOOSE money because of the bad publicity they are now causing them.

But of course, I'm talking here about logic and what really makes sense. But maybe what I'm saying will sink in as those who have the power to hire realize that they are messing everything up for themselves because their SALES, SALES, SALES mentality is now messing things up for their paying customers.

I am a owner of a wellness center. I only hired degreed fitness trainer's and they also must have a national certification. My membership population are older individual with life history of play / injuries / child birth and so on.

I am also a Licensed Pilates Training center where
we teach other's to become Pilates Trainer. A Mat Cetification will take 40 class room hours, 10 observation hours, 40-75 practice and teaching hours before they can take the certification exam.
The rest reformer and other pieces are just as long or longer. They must pass a written and a practical exam. They must demostrate the knowledge on
all types of bodies.

I have been in the business since 1973, first teaching PE in the Elem Schools and progressing to club owner. I've seen lots of bad Trainer's .. I've fired two last month. Even a GOOD TRAINER CAN BECOME BAD. They get lazy, focus on the $$ instead of the training, they get bored.

This year I've invited all of my fitness trainer's to become Pilates Certified to bring a freshness to their trainings. Some have taken me up on the offer .. the one's who haven't has lost clients to others.

Why do I want my staff to be the best? We charge $95 -$105 per session. We promise our members we will do our best to get them back to NETURAL.
How do we do that if we aren't the best in what we do.

Other clubs have their place. My Wellness center is for the Professional who's passion is helping others find their netural while having fun doing it.

We don't need liscensure, or more stringent guidelines. The story is a bunch of crap and will go away soon enough. Being a successful personal trainer for many years now, I still remember there being plenty of barriers to entry into the field when I started. The hard part is getting clients. The way to get clients is to demonstrate competency and experience. As far as I'm concerned, all trainers should come from an athletic background, not a bookworm background. Plus they should understand physiology and nutrition. They should know this stuff by doing as well as reading about it. The trainer should be passionate about training people. It should not be just about the money.
Now about money: the trainers that work for corporate gyms suck because they don't get paid squat. Low pay High turnover. High turnover green trainers as someone needs to be on that floor. Consumers should be aware that if they want competent training, the first place to look is for an independent trainer. Survival as an independent trainer requires athe bare minimum more skill than working for a club.
Anyhoo, what I'm saying is that education is not what makes a great trainer. Experience and passion do.

Those of you lashing out on those who have degrees and knowledge of kinesiology and other course work from exercise degrees shouldn't generalize and say that anyone with a degree or this kind of knowlege is not going to give anyone a good workout. I have been in this industry for 6 years and have done it all from training 10 hours per day to currently working in corporate fitness. I have trained many clients that have gotten excellent results and believe me when i say I work my clients very hard but most importantly in a safe manner. Again i'm not knocking a certification as like i stated before a well accredited one is important but a degree should still hold precedent. The combination of school and experience are going to make you a good trainer and not what certification you have. I have worked with many trainers who not to say where bad trainers, but did some things that put their client's safety in jeopardy. Some of them had just as good a certification as i did but that's about it. Just because you played football or know how to workout or whatever doesn't always mean that you are gonna be a great trainer, and the same goes with having a degree as i've seen trainers that weren't good trainers who had masters degrees in exercise. Its a combination of things and experience is a big part of it. I'm not biased towards trainers with a degree because i have one. One of the best trainers i've ever seen did not have a degree in exercise but he took it upon himself to educate himself on the human body, shadowed and learned different techniques from many trainers and applied that to the practical experience to safely and effectively work with people.

The trainers credibility will be validated by the results their clients get.
If a trainer is fully confident in what they offer their clients it my help to have a satisfaction guarantee (money back) in place. We're using one now and it enhances credibility, while we earn their respect.

Reading these comments has been very interesting. I started working in the fitness industry when I was a teenager in 1980 and starting my undergraduate degree. Since then I have never left the industry but have had many different jobs in the industry while getting graduate degrees in the field. So all of my formal education is in exercise science. I was a college athlete also for those who say that athletes are the only ones that should be trainers. So with a number of degrees in the field and with a number of different certifications plus almost 30 years working in the profession I've seen it all. When I started there were only about 6 organizations in fitness and wellness, now there are hundreds. Why is this? Money! At that time only 3 certified exercise professionals and none of those were for personal training. I've worked in research, corporate wellness, professional strength and conditioning coach and taught as a college professor for ten years. And during most of that time I worked as a personal trainer. Depending on the time I had. I have never been hurting for clients. Now I work with a business partner who is a professional in her own right. She is a LD, RD. I'm in gyms and other fitness centers all the time. And the trainers I see and hear with just a certification constently give incorrect info and advise. This profession requires a formal education with certification AND experience. All the experience in the world done incorrectly doesn't make it correct. And all of these trainers with just a certification don't want to take the time to get a formal education. There is no way you can learn everything you need in a two week certification class and say it is equal to 4 years of lectures and study. When I was teaching college forten years I used to get students who would come into my class and say that they had a certification and that they didn't really need this class because of the certification. I would then ask them 5 questions that most upper class individuals in exercise science could answer and ususally the couldn't answer one of the questions. Maybe one at best. If a formal education is really unnecessary and easy according to most trainers with just a certification. Then why not take one or two classes a semester and just take the exam. They won't have two study since they already know everything. Pass the exams and within a few years they will have there degrees.

THIS PROFESSION IS A BALANCE BETWEEN A FORMAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE PERIOD.

Certifications just enhance a formal education they don't give all the knowledge you will need to be a safe trainer. I'm an exercise physiologist, I'm NOT a physical therapist, dietitian, doctor or psychologist but I do work with all of those professionals everyday because they know that I don't over extend my bounds and they don't intrude on my turf. We respect each others profession.

The things I've seen untrained trainers do over the last 25 years would make yu just shake your head. I watched a certified trainer try and read an MRI for a client in the middle of a gym by holding up to the light. It was a joke to listen to him. He couldn't even get the anatomy right much less explain to the client what the problem was. There are so many things wrong with that I don't even know where to start. This is just one of hundreds of issues like this. I have found that uneducated trainers are afraid of loosing money if they have to go back to school and maybe realizing that they don't know everything they think they know.

But the biggest lobbyist against any formal education and standardization in this profession is the association for health clubs and gyms. If you made the minimum standard an undergraduate degree health clubs and gym would loose 85% of their trainers. What does that tell you?

I saw the article and it made me so mad. It was scare mongering at its best. I have been a trainer for 10 years with several certifications and a degree in the field. THere should be a national Exam that everyone has to sit which alows them to carry insurance both written and practical. Every trainer should then have to carry insurance.

Yet on the sidebar of this very webpage are links to companies who provide $99 certs... It's all about the $$ - don't let anyone tell you any different. From the "trainer" to the companies providing the training, it boils down to the money.

I started working as a strength, and aerobic, trainer in 1984. It was a young industry, and as a short, blonde, female, it was difficult to prove myself. I was coordinator of the strength department, so someone believed in me.

In 1999, I certified with ACE, a certifying organization that prided itself on such a difficult test, that most did not pass it the first time. Due to my hands on experience, and a great deal of study, I did pass the first test I took.

I have since taken many courses to keep me up to date with the industry, and improve my knowledge base. Now that I am 55 years old, I can fully relate to the problems of Baby Boomers.

Through my years of service I have learned to be creative with my programs. I have dealt wih some very interesting clients, all in need of an individual program that suited their needs and barriers.

If I were a client looking for a trainer, I would look for one with a few years of experience. The more people you have worked with, the more empathy you have for your client's needs.

For sure a client should check out the certifications of a trainer, and stick to the main certifying organizations. Don't hesitate to ask for proof. A good trainer will proudly give you all the proof you need.

I believe if you are willing to learn you can learn anything, the question is, are the program learned well written and have all the requirements that will help the person become a trainer or a good trainer?

I took ICS presonal training program and learned the hard way that online and Coorespondence courses are weak, limited and a waste of money. Going to a school or certification course that has a good reputation that is tried tested and true will teach a person the right way instead of the ignorant way.

I have met many trainers that have the skills, but not the human factor or care about their clients. I worked for a gym that cared about the profits and not the clients. So I quit! So when I look at trainers, I would look for not only a reputable educational background, but also that he/she treats their clients with care. I would ask their current and former clients about their character and heart.

One thing for sure though that being a personal trainer is always an ongoing learning process.

"Many news stations across the country recently aired an investigative video about sub-standard personal trainer certifications and the incidence of injury that they can cause." Certifications do not cause injuries - trainers cause injuries. It's like saying guns kill people... Doctors and lawyers with advanced degrees and years of experience can still commit malpractice. Certification, degrees, experience - all good, but ultimately it comes down to the ability of the trainer to apply a knowledge base with personality and motivational skills sufficient to obtain results with an individual.

I recieved a Bachelor's in Exercise Science before taking a Personal Training certification test. I spent a month studying the materials from the institution before taking the exam. I felt that a lot of the material was different from what i had learned in my college courses. I spent a lot of time just trying to reprogram myself to pass the exam. It would be nice to have one governing body for it all that would develop set guidelines for a certification.

I think that the fitness industry should definitely have a higher standard for their education and certification requirements, I happen to be certified with ACE and have a bachelor's degree. Having said that, we are not doctor's, so to say that trainer's should be regulated as "stringently" as the medical field would be a little ignorant, if we were regulated that much we would be doctors, trainers should not try to be doctors, they should refer clients to their doctors if need be. I do agree wholeheartedly that there are MANY bogus cert's out there unfortunately and a standardized testing system may definitely be in order. Someone mentioned the NCCA accreditation earlier as meaning nothing, well I strongly disagree with that. You don't just have to afford to be accredited, you have to pass through their accreditation process, that's why it's called accreditation, the NCCA accredits companies in the medical fields, nurse practitioners, etc. Again please try not to speak ignorantly, I have been in this industry for a few years now, have trained many clients, no I have not injured any client I have trained. Now does that make me better than a doctor because I have never injured anyone and many doctors have injured people, you see, you can't base your reasoning on knowledge alone. Being a very well educated and experienced trainer in the fitness industry I agree on one hand that bogus certifications exists, but there are great cert's as well, I am a fitness manager and I confidently use the NCCA list to help me consider people for a trainer position, but they still have to be a good trainer, not just an educated one. Just because doctors are educated doesn't mean they are good at what they do, it's just knowledge, it's a great place to start and you HAVE TO HAVE PROPER KNOWLEDGE, but proper knowledge alone does not make a good trainer, or a good doctor either :)

A consortium of leading "high stakes" certification organizations and IHRSA, International Health Racquet & Sports Club Associaiton undertook a 3 year industry initiative regarding the accreditation of certification organizations to put to bed once and for all this argument of what a viable and legally defensible in a court of law certification is for liability purposes. The unanimous choice was NOCA/NCCA, www.noca.org, www.ncca.org This was ratified by the IHRSA Board and also supported financially through Philadelphia Insurance by reducing facility premiums to facilities who employed trainers of accredited organizations. NSCA was first, ACE was second and at least 5-6 other organizations have followed in this costly and extensive and practical unbiased process. If our industry, facilities, professionals alike would do a better job of publicizing this information regarding consumer protectionism, etc then far fewer people, consumers, members, would be taken advantage of and worse yet, injured as many are everyday. The above are the facts and not meant to denegrade anyone or any group that has not followed this path but too merely state that this is the way the "Industry Leaders" saw fit and prudently to act in a unbiased and legal way...when it comes to consumers and health matters, there can be no deviation from best practices as in any other industry. Anything less is lowering standards and contributing to the ongoing disrespect that is prevelant in the fitness and exercise professional segments of the industry.

"THIS PROFESSION IS A BALANCE BETWEEN A FORMAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE PERIOD." Good point of previous lister. Teaching and training is an art. I can't practice medicine without going to medical school or be a nurse without going to nursing school...so why isn't it the same in the fitness industry. I feel anyone in this field needs to have a formal education. Plus continuing educational credits.. NOT CERTIFICATIONS.. such as many other fields require.

Just what composes an "Accredited organization"? Can you provide a link? The NCCA link is to National Christians Counselors Org. The other doesn't list Colleges or Universities that may be accredited. I couldn't find them. Maybe I was in the wrong spot...can you provide that link?

Thank you,

Just a note here. In the state of MD you need a license to cut hair, which grows back. The damage a trainer can do to the human body can be irreversible. Having taught exercise science at the college level for over ten years and have been asked to be an expert witness in some malpractice law suits it amazes me that anyone can be a trainer. And the ease in which someone says they are an expert. I have yet to meet a 45 year old and up with out some problem that needs to be addressed in an exercise program. It could be very minor but it still should be considered.

I have been in the fitness/health field for 16 years, over 24,000 hours of hand on experience. Four nationally reconized certifications, zero claims or injuries, 2 nationally reviewed books, a network of over 30 doctors as clients that refer their patients without reservation, and over 50 clients have gone on from my sessions to pursue their own personal training careers, I would put my experience up against ANY degreed individual in this field, anywhere. I do NOT have an exercise science degree, however, when I went to college, there was no such degree (My degrees are in Forensic Science and Criminalistics). Does this mean I am incapable of developing the skills to work with people? To assume that a college degree will automatically produce better trainers is no better than believing that college degrees turn out nothing but successful business people. The real world seems to indicate otherwise. I have worked with, and fired trainers with exercise science degrees, their education did not provide them with all the tools they needed, and it seemed they felt they knew everything they needed to know. I have also worked with uncertified trainers and bodybuilders who really and truly understood the needs of their clients.The best in their field did not get to be the best by sitting in a classroom anymore than they did by taking a mail order certification test. They pursued their interest in the field with a passion and continued to apply themelves. Any chimp can pass a test if they have enough time to work on it, so just passing a test does not confirm anything. The best solution is to encourage the clients to ask specific, pointed and direct questions about what there trainer has for experience, references, degrees, certifications, etc. We specifically ask our prospective clients to consider twenty specific points on a custom made form to make sure THEY feel like they are making an informed decision when they choose a trainer. And as for requiring an athletic background? It doesn't automatically qualify a trainer for anything but teaching about sports. It does not mean that they cannot become great trainers, but it should not be a qualifier to pursue the field. The people most influenced by this media report are not likely to be pursuing a trainer anyways. Most likely just banging away on a keyboard looking to make their lack of conditioning someone else's fault. An informed consumer is the best tool the training industry can use...the best will rise, the underqualified will find work in another field. I am all for national standards when they can agree on a test to validate the need.

I can't believe people would be ingnorant enough to claim that education is not a priority. Of course you can learn by having hands on experience, but this is about creating a standard in our industry that will lead to respectability. It's not about patting yourself on the back because you fired a trainer who had a degree or complaining because you heard a trainer with a cert. give bad advice. The industry needs to produce a level of respectibility by creating a standard that our society and educational establishments can place value on. It will only help the pay and respectability of trainers in the long run. What is the point in saying we don't need a standard and moving forward with the same old system. It is obviously broken. You need multiple skills to be a good trainer - we need a license that measures and prepares trainers in all aspects which we clearly are not getting through certifications or our higher education establishments. This is not a personal issue it about creating a better working enviroment for all of us.

If you click on www.noca.org it will lead to the National Organization of Compentency Assurance that will lead to NCCA accreditation and list all the organizations from allied health care and other industries that relay on accreditation as a yard stick for best practices. KG

thats "competency" and "rely"...oooops :-)

This was copied off a study done by the NBFP in 2006

"This randomly sampled group of 2730 respondents revealed interesting findings. An overwhelming majority of respondents (76%) agree or strongly agree that licensing of personal trainers will increase the perception of professionalism of personal trainers in the public eye. Similarly, 75.4% feel that licensing of personal trainers will facilitate referrals from traditional health care providers, and 61% feel that insurance companies will be more likely to reimburse for services if personal trainers are licensed. 62.7% agree or strongly agree that they would like to be denoted as a “licensed personal trainer” however, less than half (47%) of respondents believe that licensing will lead to better pay for personal trainers. Overall, the majority of the respondents support the idea of having a national board exam over the alternative of state-specific exams, with 62.5% favoring a national exam and 19.5% of respondents being neutral on the issue. Among those who favor a state-specific exam, 79.5% believe that the specifics of the exam should be guided by a national board of experts, rather than the states themselves."

Having a degree doesn't mean you are a better trainer. But it does mean you have been exposed to and taught the necessary information needed to provide safe exercise programs. I've been brushing my teeth at least twice a day since I was a little kid that doesn't make me a dentist. I know it is wrong to kill someone that doesn't make me a lawyer. I've done my own taxes this doesn't make me a CPA. I can change a light bulb this doesn't make me an electrician. I could keep going. If you don't have a degree and you feel it is so simple and you already know everything, most universities would probably let you sign up for the classes you need and just take the tests and pass to get the degree. Why waist space in the classroom. But after ten years of teaching exercise science at the college level I have never seen anyone do it. Nor do I see these so-called experts lecturing at the top conferences. I seen exercise books written by PhD's, and if you look closely at the PhD it may not be in the exercise field. Try english.

I agree with those who say that whether degreed or certified, there are both good and bad personal trainers out there. I also agree that we should create a national board exam for personal trainers. In reading through these blogs, I couldn't help but smile at the fact that many of the degreed people did not use great grammer and spelling in their blogs. It just makes you wonder if their education really worked!!!

Brushing your teeth making someone a dentist? Are you kidding? You claim to be an "educator" for ten years teaching exercise science, but you spell "waste" as "waist". This is the problem with this type of forum...people pretending to be experts making ridiculous arguments that accomplish nothing. And most colleges do not let you "test-out" just because you think you know the material. Not sure what type of program you are teaching, but this may explain why some of the exercise science graduates may be struggling. People become successful by applying themselves, not by putting on blinders to the possibility that others can succeed without their help and expertise. And, as a last thought, there is a reason why a lot of lecturers have degrees...it is often a requirement to get paid by some organizations, it doesn't mean they are the only ones who know the material.

I am a personal trainer accredited via a MS degree in Exercise Science. I do have a national certification in Group Fitness but fell into the role of PT because lots of women and men who take classes feel comfortable with me. So the evolution was necessary in our to get women mainly to reduce the cardio classes and get some weight training and nutritional guidance under their belts. My comment is that I do think it takes years of training - education and first hand experience to be a good PT - for those who do take the time to get the knowledge and experience (and continue that thruout their career) we know it is not about the money - it is about helping people. And there are exceptions to every rule - you will have people fully knowledgable who want to make a quick buck. These online places hurt the people looking for knowledgable PT's and thus the industry. I am not opposed to some state or national regulation of the PT industry because I would be right there front and center taking whatever exams or practicals that I needed to.

I don't think anyone is saying "education" only thru school. Clearly education can be gotten in many ways. And yes hands on experience is a way to learn - but that brings up a mental image of Thomas Edison failing many times before he got it right. In this industry you do not have the luxury of failing many times before you get it right - you could injure, maim or even kill someone before your learning is thorough enough to be effective. I think many are saying that if the online certificate is your only education and training and or exposure to PT - you should not be practicing PT.

Everyone is just repeating someone elses comments and going around in circles. Yes we need a national board exam requirement test for trainers, and yes we should also require hands on experience, and YES it would even help if the consumer would strive to make themselves more informed about the person providing the services they are purchasing. Now lets see if the powers that be can come up with the proper solutions. Hey look at that, I have a bachelor's degree in exercise science and nationally accredited certification in the fitness industry and I spelled everything "rite", oops I mean "right." Great, now I must be an idiot because I spelled a word wrong when I typed this, give me a break man, what a stupid stereotype, try educating yourself before you step on someone else. You'll probably end hiring one of us one of these days to train you because you know you don't know what your doing, except you might know how to type.

I am not a personal trainer, I am a group fitness instructor and have been for twenty two years now. Years ago, we had to go through all day workshops to earn our certification, pay tons of money and pass college level tests, go through hard practical and single exams and for many years, earned a lot of money, at least in Phoenix.

Now that I am in Knoxville, Tennessee, the pay is half what I earned in Phoenix and fitness centers have no respect for instructors like they used to, or at least the people in charge do not.

I have two certifications with A.F.F.A. a leader in certifications for a long time and I have two certificatoins with FITOUR, an online certification company. If I pass their hard test online I can get all the certifications I want for $69.00 each. Because of the low pay in Knoxville, I simply will not spend the kind of money I have in the past. Coordinators look at someone of my caliber as they do someone who has been teaching classes for one month.

When it is time to re-certify, all I need to do is answer 25 questions and pay $25.00. Why would I want to sit in an all day workshop for the CEC's?

It does take many years to work in the business of fitness and if I were paying money for personal trainers, I would want to know who certified them and how long they have worked in their fields. I have personal trained people when I ran my fitness center in Phoenix but preferred the group setting.

I have worked in so many clubs and watched incompetent trainers do exercises with people that they should not, unsafe and not age appropriate in my opinion and I have seen wonderful trainers. The coordinators and managers need to be more involved, sadly it is about the money and obtaining memberships.

I think the lack of a unified national license or certification is hurting our industry. I agree with an earlier comment - that physical therapists are trying to paint themselves as the future of wellness. They are doing this by discrediting many of us since we are not "licensed" - It is the same arguement many of the degreed exercise phys. individuals have with the trainers with just certification. Having worked in a few different setting (cardiac rehab, commercial, and rehab.) There is definitly a need to provide a national norm that we all can feel confident about each others knowledge base - we just do not have that right now and the people that we work along side of in the health care industry know that as well. There has to be a credible criteria for having to sit for the exam x amount of time with hands on (maybe in the form of an internship) and x amount time in a classroom. It does not necessarily have to be a 4 year degree - but I don't think a weekend or on-line test is getting our industry in a better position to work along side the other health care professionals. We would be able to set a higher pay rate as well as carve a nitch in the future of healthcare instead of not only battling one another but the other professions as well. Right know the industry is not looking out for us as trainers but looking out for what ever puts the most money in the corp. owners pockets. Change is always the most difficuly aspect of any organization but look at how many of us are struggling over pay or just not getting the opportunties we want. If you are not a good trainer you most likely would not be able to meet or complete the critieria a national exam would place on an individual whether you have a degree or not - it can not and should not be an exam that anyone can sign up for and pass with out being prepared.

Unfortunately, many clients think just by holding a Master's or Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science gives a trainer the credentials necessary to be a good trainer. While these degrees provide much of the science, they do not focus on application or program design this is where NCCA accredited Personal Trainer certifications fill the void. On-line certifications are not accredited, thus they do not meet the rigorous standards set-forth in NCCA guidelines. However, there are many certifications that offer home study or live, hands-on training for fitness professionals to obtain an accredited PT certification. Clients who seek a trainer with an eclectic mix of both school knowledge and accredited certification knowledge are sure to receive a program that is much more diverse and specific to their individual needs and goals. Companies like The National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), provide the best mix of science, application, and program design principals available.

As many have alluded to, the real message in the news reports is not the legitimacy of certifications but the legitimacy of personal training and personal trainers! This is a big concern but we have only ourselves to blame.

Problem is that a certification from a recognized certification body is no guarantee of even a basic level of competency and too many trainers (and clubs), certified or not, just don't take the profession seriously enough and convey a poor image.

Based on my 25 years in the industry I would estimate fewer than 20% of all trainers truly add value sufficient to justify an $80 to $100 rate. Too many trainers use canned workouts and lots of "attaboys!" rather than personal evaluation and judgment with their clients. Too many clubs are more interested in selling promises rather than delivering results. Honestly, most clubs just don't care and barely acknowledge members when they check in.

The truth is that the average consumer is better off researching and developing their own fitness routine rather than rely on the average trainer. I know, a legion of trainers will quote their anatomy charts and warn of the vast complexities of fitness - "exercisers need to understand the antagonist and synergist elements of muscular force and stabilizing the subscapularis and the trapezius and have a comprehensive gait analysis before starting their walking plan, etc..." For God's sake, and you wonder why members think we're a bunch of hustlers.

Stop trying to impress your clients with mindless babble and show them results. Consumers have been bombarded with one hyped fad after another – pilates, power pilates, hot pilates, the “ramp,” hot yoga, extreme group x, bosu balance board ramp pilarobics...etc. Where will this end?

Members I talk to in the club are sick of it and just want results. Because too many trainers have been BSing members for so long the genie is out of the bottle.

Although govt mandated licensing may help, will the average consumer care whether their trainer is "certified" or not? Will the govt outlaw personal training by all but “certified” trainers? The salvation of our profession lies not in a puffed up "govt certified" nation of trainers (or claims that "XYZ" certification is best because they....") but in setting aside the marketing and PR and simply delivering quantifiable results to our clients.

I've seen phenomenal trainers who are not certified but they do have a BS and MA in kinesiology. Conversely, some of the worst trainers I've seen have multiple certifications which only proves they can pass a test and pay some cash. Seriously, what's the value of being a "certified" XYZ group x dance instructor? Members think its ridiculous and now unfortunately don't respect our profession.

I've been earning my living as a trainer and PT manager for 25 years. It's really not that tough providing you have the education, attitude, and discipline.

Key for every client are (1) thorough assessment, (2) log EVERYTHING you do with the client (I use FitSync but you have to use something to keep good records!) (3) regular analysis of client goals and progress, and (4) frequent presentation of detailed reports to the client documenting their progress.

In my experience, clients don't care (nor respect) certifications. They care about results and professionalism. Let's all vow to try and be a little better out there, a little more patient, a little more polite, a little more professional and we just might save our profession.

k,,

I am familiar with that "news" piece, I watched it in one of my classes at school. I felt that the reporter was very irresponsible presenting only one side. Like any field one will find "hacks", it's no different when it comes to personal training. I am in the process of getting my ACSM CPT. In addition to studying their curriculum I am also getting a two year degree in health and wellness. I am getting a two year degree because I am a returning student (37 yo) and am not able to pursue a four degree. Also a four year degree is not necessary to be a trainer, it certainly doesn't hurt though. This degree is prmarily focused around priciples of exercise science we learn biomechanics, kinesiology, program design, fitness profiling, nutrition, teaching techniques such as andragogy and pedagogy, this list goes on and on. With that being said i am confidant to start traing soon however I realize how little I know. In fact I have had seasoned physical therapists tell me how little they feel they know, I quess it's all relatve. I truly believe that formal education should be mandatory, as well as licensure by state. and of course certifications. there are too many certification options out there and most of them are garbage. Most people know which certs. are the good ones. Finallybeing able to learn teaching techniques as i am is invaluable after all a good/ great personal trainer is a teacher

AMAZING to see so many opinions! I started looking into this industry and researched it extensively. Any certification should be accredited by NOCA. I looked into the two best, most reputable and respected: ACSM & NSCA. I bought the NSCA textbook and wow! I attempted to study on my own and found it challenging. I have a serious background in the industry and still had a hard time with NSCA. I live in Phoenix and found a school - School of Exercise, Training & Science (SETS) they give a state approved program based on the NSCA material. I took the program and passed the NSCA-CPT exam on my first try with flying colors!! Now I'm studying for my CSCS. It's amazing what kind of doors having the NSCA credentials will do for you!

Its amazing how uniformed everyone is. ISSA and AFAA are the only big name companies seeking accredidation from a U.S Dept of Education recognized accredited body.

Furthermore, ISSA is the the organization that is helping push the industry to license trainers via the NBFE (NBFE.org) which they hope will get adopted by states as their licensing board.

Also, all you morons who think that a college degree is necessary, maybe you should read some work by Mark Rippetoe (starting strength, Practical Programming etc)

Trainers are wasting their time acquiring one of these so called advanced medical certifications because absolutely no certification is required to become a personal trainer, who is really just a fitness technician. The trainer enters a gray area of practicing medicine without a license by applying some of the information contained in these courses, as does the certification company, by allowing the trainer to believe that they can diagnose injuries, etc. That said, even a minimal certificate course that covers safety, liability and contains model-training routines should be enough help for anyone who has experience in the gym to get their business started.

What a bunch of hogwash. I guarantee you that if there were not so many easy and online certs available there would be many non-certified trainers training clients, just as there always have been, because many good hands on trainers may be unable to pass the medically biased certifications mentioned above. Weightlifting is not rocket science, and the trainers are not physical therapists, they are individual coaches motivating clients.

Good grief!