How do I become a personal trainer?
Q. I am intrested in becoming a personal trainer, but I've no idea where to start. I live in south Miami, can somebody please advice me or help me.
A. 1. Who certifies aerobics instructors and personal trainers? The two major certifying bodies in the US for Aerobics Instructors and Personal Trainers are the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). Many other organizations provide certifications as well, including the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and a number of regional organizations. 2. Are they licensed? Currently, there is no license (as in a medical license) required to be an Aerobics Instructor or Personal Trainer. Periodically legislation is drafted, but the industry has done a remarkably good job of policing itself. While most clubs require certifications of their instructors, there is no law against teaching without a certification. 3. Why get certified then? In the time since the dawn of aerobics, when people still exercised in bare feet, drawing from dance classes, and having soaring injury rates the industry has grown up, gotten educated, and as a whole approaches exercise very differently. While certification is required to work at the majority of clubs these days, that alone should not be a reason to obtain one. Preparation for any of the major certifying bodies' exams will require the candidtate to grasp the fundamentals of the exercise sciences - anatomy, kinesiology, physiology. In addition, the latest research and trends in exercise testing and programming will be covered, and the standards and guidelines for exercise for different populations will be discussed. We know a lot more about group and individual exercise now than we did ten years ago, and a lot more is expected of today's instructors than to look fit and know a bunch of exercises and choreography. 4. Who should I certify with? Either ACE's Aerobic Instructor Certification or AFAA's Primary Certification are excellent starting points for aerobics instructors, and either organization's Personal Trainer Certification for Personal Trainers. There may also be other organizations in your area. In the northeast (New Hampshire and Massachusetts) there is an organization called Fitness Resources, based in Bow, New Hampshire. (Not to be confused with Fitness Resources Associates in Needham, MA - another excellent organization). Fitness Resources offers an aerobic instructor certification program specifically targeted at new instructors that is not terribly expensive (see How much does it cost?, below). There may be other such organizations in your area. Another consideration is the preferred certification in your area. While both organizations are well-respected in the industry, some clubs (and some geographic regions) prefer one or the other. If you've got a specific place to teach in mind, find out who most of their instructors are certified by. Other organizations offer certifications at the national level. The American College of Sports Medicine offers six different certifications (three on the health and fitness track, three on the clinical track), which range from Group Exercise Leader to Cardiac Rehabilitation Director. The National Strength and Conditioning Association offers Personal Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certifications. 5. What kind of training and preparation do I need? Do I need a degree in exercise science? None of ACE or AFAA's certifications require a degree in a fitness-related field, nor does the ACSM Exercise Leader certification. Other ACSM certifications and the NSCA Certifications have different requirements, depending on the depth of knowledge and experience expected. You should contact those organizations for more information. If you are an experienced instructor or personal trainer, you may be able to pass AFAA or ACE's exams merely by studying their materials and taking the exam. If you are inexperienced, it is strongly recommended that you take a training course before attempting any of the exams (except the AFAA Personal Trainer Certification, which is a 3-day workshop complete in itself). 6. What is the format of the ACE exam? When is it given? The ACE exams are written only, and consist of 175 multiple choice questions. Do not be fooled by this - they require a thorough knowledge of the material, and the ability to not only remember facts but to apply them to specific situations as well. ACE offers sample examinations that can give you a good feeling for the types of questions the exam will ask and their level of difficulty. The ACE exam is given quarterly in many cities across the US, and in conjunction with several major fitness conventions. 7. What is the format of the AFAA exam? When is it given? The AFAA exams include both written and practical components. The written exam consists of 100 multiple choice and matching questions, and is similar to the ACE exam, though the scope is more limited. The practical exam for the Primary Aerobic Certification includes a group exercise demonstration for appropriate warm-up, aerobic exercise, and muscle strengthening for the major muscle groups. The practical exam for the Personal Trainer Certification includes a demonstration of a fitness- testing protocol and an oral component requiring the candidate to answer questions demonstrating a knowledge of exercise science. The AFAA Primary Aerobic Certification is usually given in conjunction with an AFAA-sponsored Primary Certification Review (1-day) or Primary Certification Workshop (2-day), though it is possible to "Challenge" the exam by paying a reduced fee and just taking the written and practical components without the workshop. The Personal Trainer Certification is given as a 3-day workshop. There is an optional course presented during the first day called "Introduction to Exercise Science". If you do not have a strong background in anatomy and kinesiology, it is recommended that you take this course as well. AFAA tours the country, presenting many workshops each month in every geographic region. 8. What training courses are available to me? ACE does not provide training directly, but offers ACE accreditation to independent organizations to provide preparation for its exams. You can obtain more information about these by contacting ACE. AFAA provides certification reviews, workshops, and instructor training courses periodically. Independent providers also offer training to prepare candidates for the AFAA exams. AFAA clearly states in its literature that the 1-day reviews are intended for experienced instructors who merely need a review of information before taking the exam. Do not expect to be able to absorb enough material in the one-day review to pass the exam if you are not already an experienced instructor. 9. Is it expensive? ACE's exam costs $145. To challenge the AFAA Primary Exam is $99. AFAA's one-day review is $229, and the Personal Trainer Workshop is $299. Intro to Exercise Science is $90. Prices on training courses vary widely, but $300-$400 is not at all unheard of. 10. What else do I need? You'll need to be certified for CPR. The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross both provide acceptable programs. 11. What sort of study materials are available to me? ACE publishes two excellent textbooks, their "Aerobic Instructor Manual" and their "Personal Trainer Manual". Each is about $40, and an excellent investment. AFAA publishes a single texbook, called "Fitness: Theory and Practice". It's also about $40. 12. Who can I contact for more info? You can reach ACE at: American Council on Exercise 5820 Oberlin Drive, Suite 102 San Diego, CA 92121-3787 1-800-825-3636 You can reach AFAA at: Aerobics and Fitness Association of America 15250 Ventura Blvd., Suite 200 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 1-800-446-2322
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