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Does IDEA certify?
No, IDEA is not a certifying agency. IDEA is a membership
organization that provides continuing education credits once
you are certified.
Certifying agencies
administer a test, and passing the test "certifies"
that you have demonstrated a given knowledge base. The knowledge
tested is different among the 300 or more certification agencies.
Most agencies require that you continue to study and keep
current with education beyond the test. Proof of that education
is called continuing education credit (CEC) or continuing
education unit (CEU).
That's where IDEA is involved. IDEA provides continuing
education at our conferences and through Independent Study
magazine articles and book, audiotape and videotape courses.
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What is the difference
between CECs and contact hours?
Many-but not all-certification agencies base their CEC/CEUs
on the number of hours of continuing education provided. Many
of the agencies make one CEC equivalent to one contact hour
(your "contact" with the education). Other agencies
may require multiple hours for one CEC. Contact the agency
that certified you for the formula.
Some-but not all-agencies use a decimal system. For example,
ACE and NSCA call one contact hour .1 CEC and 4 contact hours
are .4 CECs. IDEA refers to "contact hours" when
describing courses so that you know the number of hours and
can convert those to your agency's requirements. However,
the correct decimal (or no decimal) is provided on your certificate
of completion.
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Do all the certifications
require the same number of continuing education credits for
recertification?
No. Check with your certifying agency. For example, ACE certifications
require 2.0 credits (20 hours) every 2 years. The ACSM Health/Fitness
Instructor certification requires 80 credits every 4 years,
and the NSCA personal trainer certification requires 6.0 CEUs
(60 hours) every 3 years.
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Why does your list show
different hours for the same course?
Each agency has its own system. Hours of education may differ
among agencies because of their decimal (or no) decimal systems,
whether or not they recognize partial hours, and course content
that may be recognized by one agency but not another.
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What do I need to do if
my certifying agency is not listed?
Your agency may recognize credits approved by other agencies.
For example, ACSM recognizes credits approved by ACE, NSCA
and the other agencies listed on our materials. Also, many
agencies allow you to petition and ask the agency to accept
credits for education you have received.
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When I attend an IDEA
conference, how do I track my credits?
In the handout book you will find a chart of the sessions,
the agencies that have approved them and the number of CECs
awarded. There is also a page for you to record your attendance.
Keep this record of the sessions you attended for the time
required by the certification agency, which is usually the
amount of time you have to acquire the credits.
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Why don’t the workouts
at IDEA conferences have CECs?
Certification agencies do not recognize workouts, because
there is no lecture or educational material.
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Can I use CECs from the
Personal Training Summit toward my Group Fitness Certification?
That depends on the agency you are certified by. Please check
with them.
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My certification expires
in a month. How long does it take to process the test?
Allow about 3 weeks. We try to grade the tests and mail you
the certificate more quickly, but can't always do so.
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How can I check the status
of my CECs?
Call IDEA membership at (800) 999-4332 ext 7. Your membership
representative can tell you if your test was received or a
certificate has been mailed.
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How long are IDEA CECs
valid?
The continuing education credits for IDEA Independent Study
Courses are available until the course is discontinued. Magazine
article courses in IDEA Health & Fitness Source and IDEA
Personal Trainer are available for 3 years as long as you
remain an active IDEA member.
The “IDEA Home
Study Courses” list on the IDEA web site shows current
courses and tells you when magazine courses will expire.
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What do CECs cost?
IDEA charges $15 per contact hour for the Home
Study Courses. There is a limit of $75 for any course.
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