How many CEUs are required to maintain credential?
Hi Cynthia,
You will need to decide which certification/organization you want to add to your credentials and then go for it. Each one requires a certain number of CEUs that you’ll need to acquire in a certain number of years. For example NSCA requires 6 CEUs every 3 years in order to be in good standing with them. Before deciding which one to get you can do some research to see which one will serve your interests the best.
Hi Cynthia,
while being an RD will not help you with whatever certification you choose, having the personal trainer certification in addition to the RD will make you a very valuable commodity. It is beyond the scope of practice of a personal trainer to give any SPECIFIC nutrition advice, and you will have an enormous advantage having both credentials united.
There are a lot of personal trainer certifications but I would recommend that you look at ACSM, NASM and ACE with ACSM probably my #1 for your special circumstance.
As for your CECs, I am not sure whether there are any that would apply to both credentials. I know of some CECs that apply to personal training and massage therapy. There are also nutrition specialty certifications that can be applied to a personal training certification. Sometimes it is a matter of applying to have it recognized so that you can minimize the double expense.
I wish you good luck.
Karin Singleton
Hello Cynthia Lopez-Pettorino,
Yes, being an RD will make you more valuable as a PT. Something to consider is who your future employer prefers a PT to be trained through. It is typically 20 hours of CEUs every two years, which is measured differently according to the organization. Your best bet is to be trained through a NCCA organization.
Something to look at:
https://www.ideafit.com/accreditations/ncca
Take care,
Natalie aka NAPS 2 B Fit.
Hello Cynthia,
As a certified trainer through the ACSM I can tell you it takes 45 CEC’s every 3 years to keep current. They can come from ACSM, other types of organizations, and IDEA , which offers free CEC’s every year to members. And with so many disciplines covered by the ACSM I would think that many can be used for both. I know I took a nutrition course that netted me 5 or 6 CEC’s.
Wish you well,
Paul