Which is more valuable a Bachelor’s degree or specialized certifications?
I want to be taken seriously as a Personal Trainer. I’ve obtained my certification, but I want to continue my education so I can be a better trainer especially for those clients that are just starting their fitness journey and those that have had injuries or trying to lose a lot of weight. I am wondering what experienced trainers consider the best education a four year degree or numerous certifications.
I completely agree with Susan. A four year degree can provide you with such a wealth of information and enriching opportunities I find it hard to argue against. Plus, talk about a fantastic way to build up your professional network!
This isn’t to say that numerous certifications wouldn’t also help you (or anyone else) become a better trainer. But if a Bachelor’s Degree is a viable option I’d definitely recommend it.
If it is a viable option, what types of degrees would you be interested in? Did you have any additional questions and/or concerns about what you might focus your studies around?
Hope to hear back from you soon and best of luck either way!
A degree reflects your years of education, but it doesn’t necessarily tell people what you can do (or if you are sanctioned to do anything at all). Too many people thinks that a bachelor degree is all they need. What they don’t realize is that a degree doesn’t give anyone a scope of practice to work with.
A certification will give you that. A certification reflects what an organization feels you are capable of doing (with the training that you received). Some specialized certifications actually requires you to have at least a bachelor degree or be in the final year of your program (such as the NSCA CSCS). A bachelor degree will generally open up more doorways for you and allow you to obtain a lot of the certifications that requires a certain level of education as a prerequisite.
A college degree will give you a more in-depth and broader knowledge than just any certification. It costs more and it takes longer to earn than just a certification, but you will have a better understanding of the material you will be asked to take a test on during a certification. On the other hand, a certification is more or less specific to the area and the type of training style you are looking to work in. But to become a better trainer, you will need to expose yourself to as many clients and scenarios as you can. This is something that happens with time and persistence in learning the ropes around personal training and other fitness instruction.
Good luck on your journey!
Harris
