1. What is a personal trainer?
A personal trainer is someone who serves as a coach for those seeking physical fitness.  A personal trainer coaches, motivates and instructs clients in areas of exercise, nutrition and exercise safety.  They help their clients develop fitness and diet plans to meet their personal needs, instruct them in exercise techniques and nutrition, and motivate them to keep working toward their goals.

2. What is the difference between personal trainers, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning specialists?
Strength and conditioning specialists train athletes for the specific goal of improving their athletic performance.  Their testing, exercise programs, exercise safety and nutritional programs are sport-specific.

Athletic trainers are allied health care professionals who specialize in preventing, recognizing and treating injuries caused by physical activity, whether it occurs on the job, at home or at play. 

3. How do I become a personal trainer?
The first step to becoming a personal trainer is education.  Many colleges and vocational schools offer programs that lead to degrees or certificates of instruction for personal trainers.  Some gyms, health clubs and fitness centers also offer the opportunity to learn on the job.  Agencies and organizations that offer certification typically offer resources for studying the information that is essential to the job.

In addition to education, you should certification as a personal trainer.  Not everyone requires certification for employment, but it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find employment without certification.  Nearly all higher paying positions require certification.  In addition, many states in the United States, as well as many countries, have started regulating the fitness industry, making it necessary to have proper certification in place if you wish to have your own business or work as an instructor.

4. How do I become certified?
In general, certification is granted to those who meet the eligibility requirements for a certifying exam and who take the exam successfully.  Eligibility requirements vary according to the certifying organization.  There are several certifying organizations, and there are different types of certification available.  Because this is such a rapidly growing career field, there are now a large number of businesses that basically trade certification for payment.  Those certifications are not recognized by most employers, and will not transfer for international positions.  To avoid potential problems, it is best to seek certification from recognized certifying agencies.

5. Who are the recognized certification agencies?
The following are some of the most common certifying agencies and information on their certifications:

• American Council on Exercise (ACE) – ACE offers four different certifications, one of which is the Personal Trainer Certification.  Applicants must be 18 years of age, have proof of Adult CPR certification and are encouraged to have at least 100 hours of practical experience.  ACE offers study materials, study aids and classes, none of which are required to sit for the exam.
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) – ACSM offers four different certifications, including the Certified Personal Trainer credential.  Applicants must be 18 years of age and have a current Adult CPR certification.  ACSM offers workshops and study materials, but they are not required in order to sit for the exam.
• Cooper Institute – Cooper Institute offers the Cooper Institute Personal Trainer Certification.  Prior to 2006, this certification was only available to students of Cooper Institute, but is now offered as a stand-alone exam given only at the Cooper Institute.  Applicants must be 18 years of age with valid Adult CPR certification.    
• National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – NATA is a professional membership organization.  The Certified Athletic Trainer credential is offered through the Board of Certification.  Applicants must have completed a CAATE Accredited Athletic Training educational program.  The exam is three parts and all parts must be passed for certification.
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) – Applicants for the NASM Certified Personal Trainer exam must be 18 years of age and have current CPR and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) certification.  NASM offers both video and CD-ROM instruction materials, but they are not required for the exam.
• National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) – NCSF offers the Certified Personal Trainer credential.  Applicants must be 18 years of age, and have a high school diploma or equivalent.  NCSF recommends practical experience before the exam, but it is not required.  They offer study materials, but applicants are not required to purchase them.
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) – NSCA offers the Certified Personal Trainer credential.  Applicants must be 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have valid CPR and AED certification.  NSCA also offers the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) credential, which requires a bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or chiropractic medicine degree and valid CPR and AED certification.

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Quick Find Certification Study Guides

ACE American Council on Exercise(ACE)
ACSM American College of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer Exam (ACSM)
CSCS Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Cooper Cooper Personal Trainer Exam
NASM National Academy of Sports Medicine Board of Certification (NASM)
NATA BOC National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification (NATA BOC)
NCSF-CPT National Council on Strength and Fitness Personal Trainer Exam (NCSF-CPT)
NSCA-CPT National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CPT)


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