What is the best personal training certification to have
Hi Trish,
I would sit down and make a list of the types of training you want to do, and a list of certifications and what their specialties are. You can then compare what you want to do with the certifications you’ll need. You also need to take a look at what the employers in your area are accepting if you plan to work for a gym/community center/private studio, etc.
I also agree that you want to get a certification that is NCCA accredited.
Good luck to you!
Christine
What do you want to use it for?
What is most important to you when you ask for “best?” Best price, best quality (although quality will depend largely on your goals as a trainer), easiest test, easiest to get CECs, access to more advanced programming, etc.
This has some good information about many certifications
http://www.starting-a-personal-training-business.com
Another one that’s oft-overlooked but excellent is PTA Global. I’ve attended lectures by many of their contributors and they’re top-notch therapists, trainers, physiologists and scientists.
Hello Trish. This is a question that has been asked quite often on this site (you may want to search for prior answers here as well). To my mind, the answer really depends on YOU. There are so many certifications out there, and so many factors to consider. For example, your budget, the educational requirements for the certification, the recognition that the certification has or will receive from any potential employers in your area, Continuing Education requirements, the ‘support’ that the certifying agency gives to its members such as forums, articles, continuing education, job listings etc.
Take a critical look at each organization that you’re considering and make your decision based on your comfort level. A word of caution: as Karin says above, all things considered, your best bet may be to go with a certification that is NCCA accredited, although that is NOT an absolute necessity. Good luck!
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com