anyone a personal trainer?

[ehirsch83]

Alright, so I have decided that I want to get my certification as a personal trainer, but I am not sure which certification to go through.
I'm looking at ACE, but I was wondering if anyone out there has any actual experience and worldly advice for me. Down here in South Florida there is a good school that I know a few people have gone to(i work at a gym) and it is really good, you do mini semesters of classes to get you prepared for your certification, but I am moving to Albuquerque and can't seem to find anything like that and I am not sure about doing a program that only has a 2 day seminar, with teaching the rest to myself- doesn't seem very good....


Along with going to get my PT certification, I am getting my spinning certification in June, and will be getting my bachelors in Nutrion in a year and a half or so.


Please help!

[han-grrl]

Hi There

I am a certified personal trainer, here in Canada. I got my certification through CanFitPro which is widely accepted around here.

Here are my many cents on certification and education.

Awesome on your nutrition degree, that will go a long way.

Do not rely on one weekend course even the ACE course to get you through your education. Yes get the certification through a reliable certifying body (ACE is very good), but i would recommened to supplement it with some college level courses. I took a program called Fitness and Lifestyle Management, which is a shorter version of a Kin degree. Based on some "questioning" from some of my physio friends, they are pretty impressed with my knowledge.

Remember that the certifying bodies ARE businesses as well, so choose carefully. They get you with cont ed requirements and conferences after you "sign up". yes its good to encourage cont ed, but when fees get very high very quickly. So research research research (which is what i did).

Also, remember liability insurance as well. You are working with human bodies, and there are inherent risks. Even if you take reasonable care, you can't predict who you will tick off, (or their families).

I love doing what I do. I teach spinning and yoga, and do personal training and coaching. I feel I am in my element, and I can tell because i can never stop talking about it.

I hope you enjoy your journey as well!

Hannah

[ehirsch83]

hey thanks!
Yeah the people I know did a school, and have gone back to the same school for their continuing ed, and they are certified through NASM.

I am hoping to find a school like the one they went to when i move, because I would not be comfortable going to someone who only had a weekend course, so I would not expect someone to want to go to me if that is my qualifications.
Hopefully I will find something in Albuquerque:-) otherwise I will go and take classes at either UNM or the community college for backgroung and then get my certification through NASM or ACE or someone.