Virtually every personal trainer will have a series of letters after their name that indicate some, if not all, of the physical fitness certifications they hold. Often it will be CPT, that is, certified personal trainer. The organization awarding the title is more important than the CPT letters. This article will give you an idea of ​​what to look for AND what to look for in a Personal Trainer certification. With this information, you will have a much better chance of hiring the right personal trainer for YOUR needs.

Currently, there are only seven organizations in the exercise industry that meet the strict requirements of the National Commission of Certification Agencies (NCCA). The American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, the Cooper Institute, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the National Council on Strength and Exercise, the National Federation of Professional Trainers, and the National Association for Strength and Conditioning .

Having a certification from one of these organizations does not mean that you have found a great personal trainer. It means that the person meets one of the criteria to be a great personal trainer (see my article on the five traits of a great personal trainer) and is possibly the person to help you get in the best shape of your life. Getting in the best shape of your life does not include limitations of age or your current physical condition. Unless you are afflicted with an ailment that prevents you from exercising, a great personal trainer can help you get in the best shape of your entire life, in the safest, most painless and convenient way possible, regardless of your age or current physical condition. . That is the personal trainer we are looking for!

A certification from one of the above organizations means that the personal trainer has followed a strict and comprehensive process to become a certified personal trainer. They have a knowledge of anatomy and physiology, whose exercises work various muscle groups, a basic understanding of designing an exercise program for a variety of clients with varying physical abilities, and the knowledge to implement those programs. Importantly, organizations also require CPR certification and continuing education to maintain certification. CPR certification is important for obvious reasons … and not just in an exercise environment. If you are not certified in CPR, consider doing so. You will learn how to potentially save a life with a few hours of training.

The continuing education requirement for Personal Trainer certification is vital because exercise science is a dynamic discipline. Ongoing research studies conducted by unbiased entities, such as universities and hospitals, provide constant updates of information on our understanding of how exercise affects the human body. This promotes more effective program design and more efficient results for the client. In other words, by staying informed about updates in exercise science, your personal trainer can continue to help you achieve peak performance, improving your fitness level in the most proficient way possible!

There are too many “Certified Personal Trainer” programs to list that do not meet the standards of the National Commission for Certification Agencies. The reasons they don’t meet the standards are too numerous to list, but let me give you a few: For $ 99 you can take an online test to get certified and become a CPT instantly. If you do not pass the first time, you are allowed to continue taking the exam until you pass it. Various organizations design their own educational materials, administer their own tests and score them, without external supervision. Think about that for a minute.

Would you like your doctor to be educated, examined, and licensed without some objective external supervision? I do not think so. Other programs are made by bodybuilders or weightlifters and are aimed at that audience. The problem is, they are only “qualified” to work with that small segment of the population, but their business card says “Certified Personal Trainer.” When your rent is due, they may decide that you are eligible to become one of their clients. This is a short list of potential problems encountered when dealing with a Personal Trainer certified by someone other than the seven NCCA certified organizations. My advice is to avoid them.

Certification from one of those seven groups does not guarantee that you will get a Great Personal Trainer from them, but it does mean that the person is at least qualified to have the title of Certified Personal Trainer. Use the list of organizations as a shopping guide when looking for a personal trainer. If you want to find a great personal trainer, someone who can really change your life, read my article on how to find that person on EzineArticles.com and then do some interviews with qualified personal trainers. I wish you the best of luck in your search!

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