With strong emphasis on personal trainer education and certification the number of certifications and educational programs at colleges and universities continues to grow. Although there is no statutory legislation for personal trainers (legislation has been introduced to license personal trainers in a number of states but none of which has yet passed) a formal education and/or certification is of paramount importance when finding a job in a fitness or a healthcare establishment. An academic degree in a related field or a certification from an accredited organization would also boost personal trainer’s credibility and help to stay on top of the competition. There are advantages and disadvantages when considering an academic degree versus a vocational degree versus a certification.
Getting certified is the fastest and least expensive way of becoming a personal trainer. A personal trainer certification can be acquired from a huge number of certifying agencies. To have the best shot at getting the job the certifying organization must be accredited by a third-party agency, such as NCCA or DETC. Getting certified requires much less time and money when compared to getting a degree. It can take from one week to 12 months to complete the program, depending on the course, your knowledge, experience and pace of studying. A reputable personal trainer certification enables a person, who wants to work in a local fitness or healthcare establishment, to jump start their career. Most certification programs are self-study courses that allow studying at the comfort of your own home and at your own pace. Studying for a certification can be easily combined with a job or other responsibilities. However, it may not be the best option for those who have very little to no experience as a trainer. Firstly, such courses offer very little to no hands-on experience (some certification programs, but not all, offer a two-day workshop). Secondly, it can be challenging for a person who has no previous knowledge in exercise science to understand and absorb all the study material on their own. Generally speaking, a personal trainer certification course would mostly benefit those who already have some basis in fitness or personal training and want to deepen their knowledge and/or need a formal document for their employer.
Getting a degree from a college or an university is an alternative route to becoming a personal trainer. At the moment only two colleges in the U.S.A. offer a Personal Fitness Training Program that are accredited by CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, which provides a third-party accreditation for academic programs in health sciences). Currently Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH) and Lake Region State College (Devils Lake, ND) offer an Associates degree in Personal Fitness Training. An alternative to a certificate or a degree in Personal Fitness Training is a baccalaureate or masters degree in related disciplines such as Science of Health, Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, etc. Most large universities and colleges across the country offer similar programs. The benefits of studying for a degree is acquiring in depth knowledge in the chosen field. On the other hand, an academic degree is the most expensive and a prolonged way of becoming a personal trainer, when compared to a certification course or a vocational program. It would mainly benefit those who are planning to embark in a scientific research or an academic activity, or are seeking a managerial position.
Personal training vocational schools is an alternative to a college or university. Typically, those schools offer 500-900 hour curriculum that prepares students for taking a personal trainer certification exam. In some cases, a vocational school provides significant discounts to the certification or reimburse some amount of money of the certification cost. Main benefits of attending a vocational school when compared to a certification course is obtaining practical experience in the gym setting, studying and sharing experience with other single minded students. Price wise a vocational course is significantly more expensive than a certification but cheaper than a college or university. A degree acquired from a vocational school has not the same weight (if any) as an academic degree, therefore it is not reasonable studying for the sake of a degree. A vocational school would mostly benefit those who lack practical experience and/or find it challenging to prepare for a personal trainer certification test on their own.