A career working in the fitness field is a very rewarding line of work, but it is not all sunshine and rainbows. There are plenty of trainers out there who spew out bad advice and give great trainers a bad name. A good trainer is willing to learn new things and rack up certifications, but some are definitely more insightful than others.Whether you are looking into getting into the fitness world or just have a trainer that you’re concerned about, these “M&F approved” training certifications will keep you on track.
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No. 5: CSCS
A step up from your standard certified personal trainer (CPT) is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). CSCS is a course designed to give you detailed knowledge on training athletes on how to improve athletic performance. This certification goes in depth on how to conduct sport specific tests and shows the coach how to improve an athlete’s performance. This course is not necessary for the general personal trainer but it is highly recommended for a trainer who works with athletes. Similar to the NASM, this certification is also administrated by a proxy, which again allows this certification to remain credible. This course also gives information on basic nutrition for athletes as well. The CSCS also requires you to have a bachelor’s degree, which again distinguishes itself from other “strength courses”.
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No. 4: ISSA
Co-founded by former M&F editor Fred “Dr. Squat” Hatfield, PhD, who was a right hand to Joe Weider and one of the strongest powerlifters of all time, the ISSA helped pioneer the personal training profession as it was one of the first certifications to create a curriculum grounded in provable science. It remains the only certification provider approved for Department of Education Federal Funding.
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No. 3: CPPS
Certified Physical Preparation Specialist is a certification designed by Joe Defranco who is a famous strength and athletic coach. This program has many different parts and begins with the Level 1 course, which covers the basic of strength and conditioning. This involves a two day aggressive seminar that teached trainers how to:Properly warm up.Understand autoregulation.Train for athletic strength and power.Train for speed.This is a perfect certification for athletes, bodybuilders or powerlifters. This course can give you all the knowledge you need on how to design properly planned programs for your target client. After completing the basic Level 1 class, you can branch out and move on to various other specialties such as: kettlebell, football preparation, and weightlifting preparation.
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No. 2: UWC
The USA Weightlifting Certification has recently taken a new light in the fitness industry. Weightlifting involves Olympic barbell movements such as the clean and press and snatch. If you want to learn how to perform these movements correctly, here’s a UWC is what you should look for. USA Weightlifting is the main federation who puts on weightlifting events. Their basic certification begins with their club coach. This basic course goes over the fundamentals of weightlifting and properly demonstrates how to instruct these movements. In addition to passing their test you must also pass a background test to get certified. Once you pass their basic course you can move up to take their advanced sports performance coach, national coach, and their sport performance coach. Each course goes into more detail with weightlifting and judging of the sport.
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No. 1: NASM / ACSM
The two most well known standard training certifications are NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine). These are the two biggest certification companies when it comes to become a certified personal trainer. Both these courses go in depth with anatomy and physiology. These certifications are similar to college classes. The information is deep but very useful in the gym. You will be learning proper movement patterns, postural problems and fixes along with basic nutrition knowledge. These courses have options where you can attend class settings or you can do them self-paced. Either way at the end of the course you will be taking a proxy test and will receive a grade right on the spot. There are millions of basic certification courses out there that can be done online, but remember you want to be a trainer who knows the ins and outs. You do not want to be one who just knows how to count reps. If you are looking to get into the fitness industry start with one of these certifications.
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Bonus
Kettlebells are known as an “Amazing Gym in the palm of your hand” has redefined a whole marketing for personal trainers. The great part about the Russian Kettlebell Certification is that there is actual work you must perform in order to pass. Trainers have to pass a hardstyle pushup test, a snatch test, demonstrate a mastery of techniques for basic kettlebell work and my personal favorite, demonstrate your ability to teach. I really like the last testing point. Lots of people are good at exercising but are subpar when it comes to properly teaching someone to move correctly. SEE ALSO: The Kettlebell Insanity Workout ProgramRKC is a strict organization when it comes to getting certified but by setting the standards high it gives the certification real recognition.
Whether you are looking into getting into the fitness world or just have a trainer that you’re concerned about, these “M&F approved” training certifications will keep you on track.
No. 5: CSCS
A step up from your standard certified personal trainer (CPT) is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). CSCS is a course designed to give you detailed knowledge on training athletes on how to improve athletic performance. This certification goes in depth on how to conduct sport specific tests and shows the coach how to improve an athlete’s performance. This course is not necessary for the general personal trainer but it is highly recommended for a trainer who works with athletes. Similar to the NASM, this certification is also administrated by a proxy, which again allows this certification to remain credible. This course also gives information on basic nutrition for athletes as well. The CSCS also requires you to have a bachelor’s degree, which again distinguishes itself from other “strength courses”.
No. 4: ISSA
Co-founded by former M&F editor Fred “Dr. Squat” Hatfield, PhD, who was a right hand to Joe Weider and one of the strongest powerlifters of all time, the ISSA helped pioneer the personal training profession as it was one of the first certifications to create a curriculum grounded in provable science. It remains the only certification provider approved for Department of Education Federal Funding.
No. 3: CPPS
Certified Physical Preparation Specialist is a certification designed by Joe Defranco who is a famous strength and athletic coach. This program has many different parts and begins with the Level 1 course, which covers the basic of strength and conditioning. This involves a two day aggressive seminar that teached trainers how to:
Properly warm up.
Understand autoregulation.
Train for athletic strength and power.
Train for speed.
This is a perfect certification for athletes, bodybuilders or powerlifters. This course can give you all the knowledge you need on how to design properly planned programs for your target client. After completing the basic Level 1 class, you can branch out and move on to various other specialties such as: kettlebell, football preparation, and weightlifting preparation.
No. 2: UWC
The USA Weightlifting Certification has recently taken a new light in the fitness industry. Weightlifting involves Olympic barbell movements such as the clean and press and snatch. If you want to learn how to perform these movements correctly, here’s a UWC is what you should look for. USA Weightlifting is the main federation who puts on weightlifting events. Their basic certification begins with their club coach. This basic course goes over the fundamentals of weightlifting and properly demonstrates how to instruct these movements. In addition to passing their test you must also pass a background test to get certified. Once you pass their basic course you can move up to take their advanced sports performance coach, national coach, and their sport performance coach. Each course goes into more detail with weightlifting and judging of the sport.
No. 1: NASM / ACSM
The two most well known standard training certifications are NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine). These are the two biggest certification companies when it comes to become a certified personal trainer. Both these courses go in depth with anatomy and physiology.
These certifications are similar to college classes. The information is deep but very useful in the gym. You will be learning proper movement patterns, postural problems and fixes along with basic nutrition knowledge. These courses have options where you can attend class settings or you can do them self-paced. Either way at the end of the course you will be taking a proxy test and will receive a grade right on the spot. There are millions of basic certification courses out there that can be done online, but remember you want to be a trainer who knows the ins and outs. You do not want to be one who just knows how to count reps. If you are looking to get into the fitness industry start with one of these certifications.
Bonus
Kettlebells are known as an “Amazing Gym in the palm of your hand” has redefined a whole marketing for personal trainers. The great part about the Russian Kettlebell Certification is that there is actual work you must perform in order to pass. Trainers have to pass a hardstyle pushup test, a snatch test, demonstrate a mastery of techniques for basic kettlebell work and my personal favorite, demonstrate your ability to teach. I really like the last testing point. Lots of people are good at exercising but are subpar when it comes to properly teaching someone to move correctly.
