There are dozens of personal fitness training certifications out there, as listed on Local Fitness Trainer’s website. I will break it down as to the top 7 Accredited certifications, as those are the ones that are the closest thing we have to licensure in our field. Remember that these are the only Nat’l Accredited certs, as recognized by the NCCA, out there. Here they are listed below:

 

1. NSCA – They have both a CPT and a CSCS certification. You must have either an Assoc. or Bach. degree respectively, along with CPR certif. Both test have a written and video portion you must pass. Both require CEU quizzes & CPR recert. to maintain.

 

2. ACSM – They have both a CPT and a HFS certification. You must have either an Assoc. or Bach. degree respectively, along with CPR certif. Both test have a written and practical portion you must pass. Both require CEU quizzes & CPR recert. to maintain.

 

3. NPTI – They have a CPT certification. You must attend a 6-9 mo. academy program, similar to 1 yr. of college. You must have CPR certif. This involves both written and practical testing to obtain the certificate. CPR recert. is needed to maintain the cert.

 

4. ACE – They have a CPT certification. You must study their Essentials text and have CPR certif. This involves both textbook reading and workbook practice. There is a written exam you must pass. CPR recert. is needed to maintain the certification.

 

5. NASM – They have a CPT certification. You must study their Essentials book and have CPR certif. This involves both textbook reading and study guide usage. There is a written exam you must pass. CPR recert. is needed to maintain the certification.

 

6. NFPT – They have a CPT and a Nutr. Cert. You must study their Essentials books and have CPR cert. This involves both textbook reading and study guide usage. There are a written exams you must pass. CPR recert. & CEU quizzes are needed to maintain it.

 

7. AFAA – They have a CPT and an Aero. Cert. You must study their Essentials books and have CPR certif. This involves both textbook reading and study guide usage. There are written exams you must pass. CPR recert. is needed to maintain the cert.

 

I hope this clears up some questions as to what the top certs are. As for employers, essentially they can do what they want depending on their liability insurance situation. Until local, state, and federal laws and regs catch up with other professions, any gym chain or fitness center can do as they please. Some such as the YMCA have gone as far as creating their own certif. upon hiring trainers. Most reputable gyms will require an accredited cert. w/ liability insur. The NSCA and ACSM are the only ones to offer that. Most places will have to make you an employee, unless you create an LLC if you’re an indep. contracted trainer.

Good luck. My recommendation to anyone in this field…go to college, get degreed, and get certified to be legit in this field.