Personal Trainer Certification

[RoJoHen]

Does anyone here know anything about becoming a certified personal trainer? RAMA, you got certified not too long ago, didn't you?

It's something I'm very interested in, but other than myself, I don't really know anybody in the real world who knows anything about fitness. I just got done checking out ISSA.com, and their program almost sounds too good to be true.

If it's something I can accomplish completely online, that would be ideal. I'm not really in a good position to attend classes.

 

[Triskelion]

I'm ISSA-trained, and I've been extremely satisfied with the course content - very professional, very substantive - and also the support from the organization.

They are right there to answer any questions or assist you in solving client problems, and have a very active community. ISSA is a fantastic option for someone who doesn't have a kinesiology degree. But you will be studying biology, anatomy, muscle mechanics and all that.

It also covers the business end very effectively. Further, it will qualify you a job in most gyms - or they might call the gym and talk 'em into it! So yeah, highly recommended! Also they offer so many CEU programs, specialization certificates, and seminars. They are true industry experts and very nice people.

Absolutely worth it! PM me if you need any more info. Good luck!

(No, I'm not getting paid for this.. I've been a satisfied customer of ISSA for several years).

 

[RoJoHen]

Yeah, I have an Accounting degree, and the last thing I wanted to do was have to enroll in a full college program all over again. The online aspect, and the fact that it's only "one course" really appealed to me. I have no idea what I'm doing with my life, and I figure this summer would be a perfect time to work on this.

I also really liked that they offered additional courses, so you can get your certification and start working, while at the same time increasing your knowledge.

They also have a sale on tuition (which seems weird to me), but it ends on Monday! $100 off the normal cost for one course. Not too shabby. But it's enough to make me want to make a decision, and since you have 2 full years to complete the program, I wouldn't need to start right away if I didn't want to (but I'd still take advantage of the discount).

Are you working as a trainer now?

 

[Triskelion]

Well if you don't finish the course, and it expires, it costs $199 for another year to reinstate it; you wouldn't have to pay the full thing again. So actually with your discount you would just be down $100 if you took the course late.

I'm not working as a trainer since I'm in teaching in Shanghai right now, but I plan to return to the US pretty soon and be a trainer once I get home.

 

[RoJoHen]

Right, but you have 2 years to take the course after you sign up before it expires. I definitely wouldn't need that much time.

 

[DarkHelmet]

Does anyone here know anything about becoming a certified personal trainer? RAMA, you got certified not too long ago, didn't you?

It's something I'm very interested in, but other than myself, I don't really know anybody in the real world who knows anything about fitness. I just got done checking out ISSA.com, and their program almost sounds too good to be true.

If it's something I can accomplish completely online, that would be ideal. I'm not really in a good position to attend classes.

RoJo - I have a degree in exercise science, minor in nutirition. I was a personal trainer for nearly 8 years before getting out of the business two years ago.

In other words, I know something about personal training.

Fire away.

 

[RoJoHen]

I don't have a whole lot of questions right now aside from advice on where to start. ISSA seems to have the best program for my lifestyle. As much as I wish I could go back in time and redo college and earn a different degree, it's just not going to happen. Do you know of any better programs besides ISSA that I could use?

My ideal plan (that I just came up with at 3 in the morning) would be to earn my certification over the summer and work part-time as a trainer for the winter/spring until my lease is up.

I really want to leave this area and move somewhere else, but I don't want to do that if I just end up with another serving/bartending job. While building up a little experience in this area over the winter and spring, I would hope to start applying for jobs in other parts of the country so that I actually have a plan when it's time to move out next May.

 

[RoJoHen]

So, no more than 16 hours after visiting the ISSA website does one of their representatives call me to see if he could give me any information. I was at work, so I couldn't take the call, but he left one of the best voicemails ever. Definitely made me think this was a worthwhile organization. I'm probably gonna call back tomorrow and figure some stuff out.

 

[RAMA]

Does anyone here know anything about becoming a certified personal trainer? RAMA, you got certified not too long ago, didn't you?

It's something I'm very interested in, but other than myself, I don't really know anybody in the real world who knows anything about fitness. I just got done checking out ISSA.com, and their program almost sounds too good to be true.

If it's something I can accomplish completely online, that would be ideal. I'm not really in a good position to attend classes.

ISSA is a good option based on your needs. I almost got a NESTA certification: http://www.nestapft.com/get-pft-overview.html#buy
I got a http://www.aaai-ismafitness.com/ certification and I plan on getting more.

RAMA

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm doing more research, and it seems that ISSA, while a good program, is not very widely accepted because it is not recognized by the NCCA. They do have job placement for members, but most of the big name gyms don't accept it.

The most popular ones to get seem to be NASM and ACE. Now I'm even more confused.

 

[RAMA]

I'm doing more research, and it seems that ISSA, while a good program, is not very widely accepted because it is not recognized by the NCCA. They do have job placement for members, but most of the big name gyms don't accept it.

The most popular ones to get seem to be NASM and ACE. Now I'm even more confused.

Yeah ACE is one of the bigger ones, NESTA can be done online mostly and is accepted by a lot of national gyms.

RAMA

 

[DarkHelmet]

I'm doing more research, and it seems that ISSA, while a good program, is not very widely accepted because it is not recognized by the NCCA. They do have job placement for members, but most of the big name gyms don't accept it.

The most popular ones to get seem to be NASM and ACE. Now I'm even more confused.

I am ACE, and yes, they are NCCA accredited. Since you have a degree, you can also look into NSCA.

 

[RoJoHen]

Well, after doing a little more research and inquiring from some other personal trainers, I decided to go with NASM for now. Their timetable is a little more strict (120 days to take the exam), which will force me to focus, and the program seems very comprehensive. The only real downside is that I will have to travel a bit to take the exam (maybe 45 minutes - 1 hour away), but I think it's a good place to start.

So...hopefully I will be certified by mid-June!

 

[RoJoHen]

Well, the UPS guy just delivered all my study materials. I'm committed now.