The Short Answer:
NASM – offers self-study and online materials. The NASM certification is widely known and accepted at most fitness centers.
ISSA – is recognized internationally. Accredited by DETC, offers several training classes, and certification is accepted in various fitness industries.
AFFA offers distance education/online studies. Its primary focus is personal training and group exercise, perfect for fitness centres and individual instruction.
Are you considering a career as a personal trainer and wondering which certification is the best? This article attempts to clarify things for you.
While there is not ONE answer to this question, the best programs are those accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The NCCA requires certifying agencies to meet a demanding set of standards to prove their programs and exams adhere to the highest industry standards.
Most (but not all) other programs should be avoided because many organizations, especially online, sell worthless “certifications” for as little as $49. Not only are these “certifications” meaningless and totally lacking in credibility, but they will not prepare people with sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively and safely succeed as personal trainers.
Best NCCA-Accredited Personal Trainer Accreditation?
Below is a review of nine of the most credible, widely accepted certification programs in the country. This article’s focus does not highlight data for each program that is readily available elsewhere online, or that is standard information and generally valid for all nine certifications. For example, all have the prerequisite that a person must be 18 years old to become certified. All require recertification within 2-4 years and have various levels of online study options and course materials available for additional purchase to prepare for the tests. Within each program, the cost of study packages depends on the options selected. Most programs require adult CPR/AED certification.
Instead, this article looks at each program’s strengths and weaknesses and examines for whom each may be “best.”
Most of which certification is best depends upon the setting you want to work, your budget, and the populations you are most interested in training. Do you want to work in a large gym or hospital or be self-employed? Do you envision yourself working with the general population, most of whom will want to focus on weight loss? Would you work with older people with illnesses and limiting health issues who may need corrective and functional training? What about a strength and sports training focus for working with athletes?
1. ACSM: American College of Sports Medicine – www.acsm.org
Recognized as the most extensive exercise science and sports medicine organization globally, ACSM sets the gold standard for personal training (PT) certification. This certification is ideal for individuals interested in working in clinical settings such as a hospital or university or those who plan to pursue a career in medicine or healthcare eventually. Hospitals and wellness centers sometimes require this certification.
Rigorous and technical, the exam is one of the most difficult in the industry to pass. The cost for taking the test is between $219 and $279, depending upon membership. Additional study materials can cost up to $800. Notably, certain requirements, such as learning metabolic calculations and teaching body fat testing through skin fold callipers, are considered slightly outdated and less relevant to those planning to work in gyms or those who are self-employed.
2. ACE: American Council of Exercise – www.acefitness.org
Perhaps the most widely accepted and well-known, ACE is considered one of the “easier” certifications to obtain. This certification provides a solid foundation of basic personal training fundamentals. ACE certification is best for individuals who are first entering the industry and plan to work with a wide variety of generally healthy clients.
The price for this certification is moderate. The exam costs $399, and recommended study packages range from $499 to $699.
3. CI: Cooper Institute – www.cooperinstitute.org
This certification differs from the others due to its emphasis on educating children and adults to view and use exercise as a form of preventative medicine. Methodologies focus on training to promote health benefits more than improving optimal athletic performance. Holistic in approach, this certification may be most advantageous for those interested in working in integrative medical facilities, public health institutions, and holistic wellness centres. The exam costs $289. Study materials range from $599 to $899.
4. NSCA: National Strength and Conditioning Association – nsca.com
The NSCA certification is a comprehensive, in-depth program. While this certification prepares trainers to work with populations of varying fitness levels, it is geared more toward training healthier, active people. The exam, priced from $250-$435 (depending on membership), is one of the most difficult to pass.
Like NASM, this certification is ideal for people interested in focusing on power training and peak performance for sport-specific training. Many NSCA-certified personal trainers also eventually obtain the NSCA’s more advanced certification, CSCS–Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
The CSCS requires a four-year degree and is most appropriate for professionals interested in training sports teams and athletes.
5. NCSF: National Council on Strength and Fitness – www.ncsf.org
Reputable and widely accepted, NCSF offers one of the most affordable quality certification programs available. The exam costs $249. Packages that involve purely home study and those that include a two-day interactive workshop both cost $535. In addition, NSCF offers a 32-hour course on select college campuses and career institutes for people who learn best with classroom structure and teacher-student interaction.
Oddly, this certification differs from the rest on this list in that it lacks adult CPR/AED certification as a requirement. However, many trainers must get CPR/AED certified anyway because almost all gyms require that.
6. NASM: National Academy of Sports Medicine – www.nasm.org
Considered one of the country’s best programs, NASM certification may have the highest recognition in the industry. This program differs from others because it emphasizes corrective training to address muscle imbalances. Though geared towards training healthy, active individuals and competitive athletes, this program is also ideal for those interested in teaching special populations.
NASM provides a more in-depth study of special needs populations, such as pregnant women and the elderly. The exam is one of the hardest to pass. Exam and study packages range from $699 to $999.
7. NESTA: National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association – www.nestacertified.com
The NESTA program is unique because it emphasizes integrating technology to track personal training results. Trainers use a heart monitor watch, for example, to obtain data to evaluate and chart a client’s progress in a tangible way. A newer NCCA-approved certifying agency (since 1992), NESTA lacks some of the wide recognition by gyms that NASM and ACE have.
Considered a bit less rigorous than NASM or ASCM, NESTA has one of the “easier” tests to pass. A study package with a proctored exam voucher costs just $449, making this a more affordable option. A drawback, however, is that the exam must be taken within 90 days of package purchase. Unlike most other programs, recertification is required after four instead of two years.
8. NFPT: National Federation of Personal Trainers – www.nfpt.com
The NFPT program is one of the most affordable options on this list. The test costs $263, and the premier self-study package is $455, which is less expensive than many other programs.
Providing a solid basic foundation for personal training, this option is best for those looking to earn entry-level certification.
FAQs – Personal Trainer Certification
Okay, now that we’ve covered some of the basics of the more widely popular personal trainer certification programs, we want to dig deeper and answer your burning questions about the certification process.
Is Choosing an Accredited Certification Program Necessary
Questions about the benefits of accreditation prompted our curiosity about this issue. So, to find out the answer to this somewhat ambiguous question, we decided to go right to the source. We called the folks at The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), which was created in 1987 by The Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE)—the results might surprise you.
If you’re comparing accreditation at educational institutions to the personal trainer certification process, don’t.
Accreditation of educational institutions carries benefits quite different from the personal trainer programs. The most significant difference is transferring units.
Here’s a summary of what the representative at NCCA said, “as a third-party accreditation agency, we make sure that the personal trainer certification programs adhere to the best standards and practices for the industry.” They say,
“Our accreditation is not on par with educational accreditation, so units usually can’t be transferred to another school or college.”What does this mean for you?
This means that accredited certification programs carry some weight within the personal trainer industry. Employers may favor applicants who gained their certification from an accredited program. As far as transferring credits, the NCCA accreditation is not recognized.
This distinction is essential for students who aspire beyond a personal trainer position.
Health and fitness management, exercise science, kinesiology, and physical education positions require a bachelor’s degree.
The differences we’ve cited do not diminish the time and energy these certification organizations put forth to gain accreditation.
The value you place on getting certified is the same value these organizations place on getting accredited, which is essential to note.
Who is the DETC?
DETC stands for Distance Education and Training Council. This is an accrediting agency nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education (CHEA), and the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA)The personal trainer certification agency, International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), is the only organization we found at this time that has this accreditation. This means ISSA courses can be transferred for college credits. This also means ISSA is listed with DANTES, and their programs are fully approved for military tuition assistance. Another interesting fact that has no bearing on the subject is that ISSA now has the extension EDU after their URL instead of ORG.
What Are The Best Personal Trainer Certification Programs?
This is probably the most asked question among potential personal trainers. The reason, no one knows the answer. To complicate matters, it depends on what was popular with the fitness center or the employer. You must remember that competition among fitness centres is quite fierce, and marketing plays a big part in their certification requirements for potential fitness trainers. Having said that here are five organizations that surfaced most often in forums as being the best:
- NASM – offers self-study and online materials. The NASM certification is widely known and accepted at most fitness centres.
- ISSA – is recognized internationally. Accredited by DETC, offers several training classes, and certification is accepted in various fitness industries.
- AFFA offers distance education/online studies. Its primary focus is on personal training and group exercise, which is perfect for fitness centers and individual instruction.
- ACE offers a wide range of certifications, including personal trainers. Home-study/online learning fits students’ schedules. ACE certification is widely accepted at most health clubs and fitness centres.
- NSCA – focus is on strength and conditioning. Has affiliations internationally, offers career services, well respected in the industry.
The next logical question is, why are they the best? Why isn’t ACSM, a well-known, widely acclaimed sports medicine certification agency, on the list?
Many people who have taken and passed the ACSM personal trainer certification test speak highly of it. To correctly answer these questions, we will have to examine the differences and similarities between the various certifications.
Certification Reviews
Employment is a significant factor in determining the type of certification one seeks. As mentioned, most employers favour organizations that are NCCA accredited. So, we first want to look at NCCA-accredited organizations accepted at most gyms and fitness clubs. Four organizations fit this criteria, they are:
- ACE
- NASM
- ACSM
- NFPT
There was some discussion about what certification would be more adaptable for working with seniors, and the votes went to NASM. There’s also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification (CSCS) for personal trainers who wish to train professional athletes.
How specific can a personal trainer get? Did you know you can get certified by ACSM as a cancer exercise trainer? Maybe NSCA’s tactical and strength conditioning trainer certification program sparks your interest. There are many speciality areas personal trainers can branch off into, but the four above-mentioned organizations are well-rounded and top the list for basic personal trainer certification.
Best Online Personal Trainer Certification Programs
Technology and the Internet have opened more doors for online learning, also known as distance education. Some people still prefer the traditional classroom setting, but more and more are finding that online educational courses offer more flexibility. Then there are those situations where there are no local classes, which leaves the student with only one choice – online learning. Reputation means everything when you’re looking for an online certification program. Employers only care that you pass the exam they require for employment in their business, but you need to look at the support and cost of the education you’re paying for.
Here’s an example: Penn Foster is a vocational school offering a personal trainer certification course for the NCSF certification. The cost is approximately $1000 for the course, which includes exam fees. Compare this to getting the same materials from NCSF for $299, plus $199 for the exam fee; this savings is $500. Penn Foster has online resources students can access, whereas NCSF is a home study course, but the material is basically the same.
Regarding online personal trainer certification programs, most major organizations offer online or home study learning. The two that keep getting the most thumbs up are ACE and ISSA. ACE has three programs ranging from $599 to $799. They all come with exam vouchers.
The two most expensive programs include a video lecture series, two practice tests, and exam vouchers. The most costly program also includes a retest voucher. Remember, when scouring the marketplace for the “best of,” we’re looking for certification programs with good reputations that prepare future personal trainers for a wide range of job opportunities.
Still Struggling With Which Certification is Best?
We’ve presented a lot of information to you, and you’re not alone if you are still in a quandary about which certification is the best. If you look at forums and other venues where they entertain conversations about certification organizations, you’ll find pros and cons for all major organizations. If you take ACE as an example, you see students stating that even though the exam is pretty straightforward, the material is comprehensive enough to be useful in their daily training.ISSA is another case of being caught between the two views. Some say the open book, online test lends itself to cheating, lowering the standard for quality trainers. On the other hand, there are popular fitness centres like Gold Gym, World Gym, Lifetime Fitness, and many more that accept ISSA-certified trainers. There’s also a list of well-known trainers who hold ISSA certifications, such as Andrew Penner (Pittsburgh Penguins), John Schaffer (coach Apollo Ohno), Lee Haney (Former Mr. Olympia), and Lou Ferrigno (Bodybuilder), to name a few.
Narrowing Your Choices – the only way to find the best certification program is by asking yourself some questions. Below are a few questions to start with:
- Where do I want to work? E.g., health club, gym, school.
- Do I want a career or a job?
- Location, what state/city will I be working?
- Do I want to work with special needs clients? E.g., seniors, disabled, handicapped.
- Do I need classroom training or distance education?
Answering these questions will help you focus on your goals and, in turn, find the best certification program to achieve them.
The location where you will seek employment can play a significant role in what certification you need. As strange as it may seem, one certification will take precedence over another in some parts of the country. As mentioned earlier, this competition among certification organizations involves marketing. In either case, it would be prudent to see what organization is widely accepted if you’re locked in on working in a specific location. Talking With Local Employers – if you want to narrow things down, talk with the hiring folks. Especially the ones that you might want to work for in the future.
From all our research, getting certified as a personal trainer is only half the battle. For those getting their personal trainer certifications for the fitness industry, your expertise in creating a fitness program for individuals and groups extends well past what you learned in books. Personal training is a people business. The economy, competition, personalities, and results are contributing factors in the fitness business. All the articles we’ve read from professional personal trainers come down to one thing – they love to help people. With this core passion, becoming a personal trainer and getting certified is the first step to a rewarding career. And it doesn’t stop there.
There are so many areas trainers can branch off into. Many who started as personal trainers were certified in sports medicine, senior fitness, health services, and many other fitness/health industry areas. There’s one other thing we haven’t talked much about…costs. Unlike some other industries, where their programs can cost upwards of $10,000 and you’re stuck with one certification, you can achieve several different trainer certifications with each one costing under $1000.One article we came across said it best, “if you do what you love, then you’ll love what you do.” Find the best personal certification program for you, then go out and do what you love.
It is ultimately up to you to choose the best personal trainer certification, but we hope the information above helps you understand the differences and pros and cons of each accreditation agency.
