The Quality of a Personal Trainer Certification
When hiring a Personal Trainer it is highly advisable to seek out a professional that has demonstrated their ability and knowledge through an accredited certifying agency.
Their are many certifying agencies that offer certifications for Personal Trainers, but only a handful of these certifying agencies have been able to become accredited.
Professional Standards*
The NCCA is an independent non-governmental agency that accredits certifications in a variety of professions, including nursing and athletic training. NCCA reviews the certification organization’s procedures, protocols and operations, and determines if the certification properly discriminates between those who are qualified and those who are not qualified to be awarded the respective credential.
The fitness industry stands behind accreditation. The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and Medical Fitness Association (MFA) both recommend that club owners and medical fitness facility operators only hire fitness professionals with certifications from agencies accredited through NCCA or an equivalent accrediting organization.
Accredited Certifying Agencies:*
Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
American College of Sports Medicine
American Council on Exercise
American Fitness Professionals and Associates
Aquatic Exercise Association, Inc.
International Alliance for Fitness Professionals
International Fitness Association
International Pilates Certification
National Academy of Sports Medicine
National Athletic Trainer's Association Board of Certification
National Council on Strength and Fitness
National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association (NESTA)
National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA)
National Federation of Professional Trainers
National Fitness Professionals Association
National Strength and Conditioning Association Certification Commission
Pilates Method Alliance, Inc.
Private Trainers Association
Professional Golfers' Association of America
Furthermore;*
In 2003, ACE was granted accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for its Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant certification programs. It remains today the only fitness certification organization to offer an accredited certification for Group Fitness Instructor and Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant.
Their are many other qualities that a Professional Personal Trainer should posses besides an accredited certification, which I will address in future posts, but when starting the process of finding a Trainer for yourself or loved ones, make sure that the certification that they hang their shingle on is included in the above list.
*The above information has been excerpted from the certifying policies and procedures of the American Council on Exercise(ACE), International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)
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2 comments:
It's important to note that in the March 2007 issue of Club Business Industry on page 29, IHRSA noted that personal trainer certifications either pursuing accreditation or accredited by NCCA **or an equivalent organization such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education** would meet IHRSA's recommendations for accreditation. For instance, ISSA is currently pursuing accreditation through a CHEA (Council on Higher Education) and U.S. DOE (Department of Education) approved accrediting body. This accreditation is widely considered to be a much more stringent level of accreditation than the NCCA.
Anonymous, from your comment I assume you are a Personal Trainer certified through ISSA. I am glad to see that ISSA is pursuing accreditation, as they are a large certifying body.
As our industry continues to grow it is important that we as Personal Trainers and our certifying bodies uphold the highest of standards in education and accountability.
Thanks for the comment.
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