Most gyms and fitness centers require that their personal trainers to be certified and an ACSM Personal Trainer Certification is one of the most reputable certifications. This is because ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) has been around since 1954 and is quite stringent in their certification exams. A serious personal trainer who wants to advance in his career would do well to get this accreditation both for himself and his clients’ safety. Both the personal trainer and the prospective client will want only the best personal trainer certification.
How to get Accreditation
If you are a personal trainer and desire a long and profitable career as one, the first step is to get accreditation. This means that being a personal trainer is not just a job for you, but a career. Getting the proper accreditation will ensure that you are able to establish your credibility and market yourself right away. There are a number of choices like NSCA, NASM, ACE, ISSA, AFAA, NFPT and Cooper Institute. But with ACSM personal trainer certification means you are joining the largest and most respected organization specializing in exercise science and sports medicine.
If you want to apply for an ACSM personal trainer certification, the basic requirements are that you are at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma, and have a current American Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR certification. You should purchase materials that you can study which are available online. There are several kinds of reference materials that you can choose from and these will help prepare you before you take the certification examination. When you feel you are adequately prepared you have to register for the examination which usually consists of computer generated multiple choice questions.
As in anything, be careful when choosing what organization you align yourself with. Those that offer accreditations too easily and do not require much studying and effort are not what you desire. These are not the reputable ones like an ACSM personal trainer certification. You can consult with other professionals in your line of work and industry because their experiences with accreditation should help you.
Mutually Beneficial
For clients they are on the lookout of the best personal trainer available to them. They usually ask around to know which ones are highly trained and are certified to do guide them in their training. For example, if they are into sports training, they should not hire a personal trainer whose area of expertise is physical rehabilitation. They ascertain that the trainer they choose have the best personal trainer certification and get references from your gym or fitness center and your friends. Personal experience is always the best recommendation.
The proper ACSM personal trainer certification will ensure that you and the client are protected and safe from bodily injury. This is because a good trainer will push the client beyond their comfort zone in order to get results but not to the point of them getting an injury. And as a personal trainer, you are confident that you are doing your job properly because you have an ACSM personal trainer certification.
